Permits: St. Louis, MO

Running a vendor market in St. Louis.

To run a vendor market on public property in St. Louis, the organizer applies to the Office of Special Events at least 30 days ahead with $1,000,000 in liability insurance. Food vendors need Department of Health temporary food permits, vendors need a License Collector permit or waiver, and sellers need a Missouri sales tax license.

Updated October 10, 2026

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For the organizer

Event permit.

Special Event Permit

Applications go through the city's online system. Organizers must show $1,000,000 in liability insurance naming the city as additional insured and hire their own traffic control, restrooms, waste cleanup and any tents or stages.

Who: Organizer
From: City of St. Louis Office of Special Events
When: Events open to the public on public property (streets, sidewalks, parks) that include food service, liquor, street closures, tents, staging or generators. The page does not address events held only on private property.
Fee: $25 non-refundable if submitted 90 or more days before the event; $100 if submitted less than 90 days before
Timing: No later than 30 days before the event; 90 days recommended

Official page

For the organizer

Fire safety, tents and cooking.

Special event fire, tent and generator policies

The Office publishes separate policies for propane and fire safety, tents and temporary structures, and generators that organizers follow as part of the special event permit. Specific limits were not read.

Who: Organizer
From: City of St. Louis Office of Special Events
When: Events using propane, tents, temporary stages or structures, or generators

Official page

For the organizer

Other rules.

Security staffing for large or alcohol events

Licensed security personnel must be hired. Liquor service at special events is limited to nonprofits and businesses that already hold a liquor license.

Who: Organizer
From: City of St. Louis Office of Special Events
When: Events serving alcohol or expecting 500 or more attendees

Official page

For your vendors

Vendor and business licenses.

Vendor permit or waiver from the License Collector (festival vendors)

The organizer submits a vendor list with the permit application, and vendors obtain their vendor license or waiver from the License Collector before they can apply for a temporary food permit. Fee for the festival vendor license was not stated on the pages read.

Who: Vendors
From: City of St. Louis Office of the License Collector
When: Vendors at a permitted special event. A licensed vendor cannot sell within 300 feet of a fair or festival without the permit holder's written permission or a festival vendor's license.

Official page

Itinerant Vendor License

Seven-step process: Missouri sales tax number, owner's written permission, application, Collector of Revenue clearance, health permit if selling food, fire permit if using propane, then return for the license. Payment is cash, money order or cashier's check only.

Who: Vendors
From: City of St. Louis Office of the License Collector
When: Temporary sales on private property inside a building or enclosed structure, with written permission from the property owner. The city's sidewalk vendor license is a separate license for public rights-of-way and does not cover special-event vendors.
Fee: $25.00 per day, up to 3 consecutive days per license period

Official page

For your vendors

Sales tax.

Missouri sales tax license for special events (Form 2643S)

Anyone selling retail to the public at a special event must collect Missouri sales tax and hold a sales tax license, even for a hobby. The license covers sales in all Missouri cities and counties, and vendors report the city or county breakdown of event sales when filing.

Who: Vendors
From: Missouri Department of Revenue
When: Individuals and general partnerships selling at craft shows, farmers markets and similar events who do not sell in Missouri continually. LLCs and corporations use Form 2643A.
Timing: Contact the Department 3 to 4 weeks before the event

Official page

For your vendors

Food vendors.

Temporary Food Permit

Apply online or at 1520 Market Street Room 4051 after completing the city's food safety training video and evaluation (75% or better). Organizers cannot get vendor food permits until the special event permit is issued, and permits are displayed in the booth.

Who: Vendors
From: City of St. Louis Department of Health, Environmental Health, Food Control
When: Anyone distributing food to the public in St. Louis. Variants include Traditional, Specialty (popcorn, lemonade, shaved ice), Sponsored, Farmers Market, Low Income Low Access and Charitable Feeding permits.
Fee: Traditional: $50 per day per vendor, up to 14 times a calendar year; Specialty: $100 annually; Sponsored: $50 per day for the sponsor and $20 per day per vendor; Farmers Market: $350 annually for the organizer and $100 annually per vendor; $10 expedited fee
Timing: Application and payment at least two business days before the event

Official page

Organizer duty

What the rules ask of organizers about vendors.

St. Louis requires the organizer to submit a list of every vendor with the special event application (business name, address, Federal ID or 501(c)(3) number, and what they sell) and to make sure all vendors have the proper permits. Missouri's Department of Revenue also expects organizers to see that every retail vendor has a Missouri tax ID number.

Official page

Timeline

When to apply.

Special Event Permit: No later than 30 days before the event; 90 days recommended
Missouri sales tax license for special events (Form 2643S): Contact the Department 3 to 4 weeks before the event
Temporary Food Permit: Application and payment at least two business days before the event

On bzar

Collect the paperwork with each application.

Ask vendors for their sales tax registration, business license, food permit and insurance certificate as required documents on your application form, so you can check them before you approve anyone. Booth fees, tickets and day-of check-in run from the same dashboard.

For vendors

Selling at markets in St. Louis, MO?

The vendor license, sales tax and food permits above are yours to get before the event; the organizer will usually ask for copies with your application. On bzar you apply to markets and pay booth fees by card in one place, and keep your licenses, permits and insurance certificates on file to reuse on every application. Free for vendors. Join bzar free or read how to become a market vendor.

Check with the agency

Where the sources are unclear.

St. Louis is an independent city, so there is no county health department or county sales tax filing; the city Department of Health issues food permits.
The sales tax requirement above was read on dor.mo.gov (shared with other Missouri jurisdictions); the same page says event organizers do not sell but must ensure vendors hold Missouri tax IDs.
The city's Festival Vendor license page was not found (a guessed URL returned 404); the vendor permit-or-waiver step is described on the Food Sales and Service policy page. Ask the License Collector, (314) 622-4528.
The special event page lists no fee for fire, tent or generator permits and does not discuss private-property events; ask the Office of Special Events.

Questions

Common questions.

Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in St. Louis?

Special Event Permit (City of St. Louis Office of Special Events): Applications go through the city's online system. Organizers must show $1,000,000 in liability insurance naming the city as additional insured and hire their own traffic control, restrooms, waste cleanup and any tents or stages.

Do vendors need a license to sell at events in St. Louis?

Vendor permit or waiver from the License Collector (festival vendors) (City of St. Louis Office of the License Collector): The organizer submits a vendor list with the permit application, and vendors obtain their vendor license or waiver from the License Collector before they can apply for a temporary food permit. Fee for the festival vendor license was not stated on the pages read. Itinerant Vendor License (City of St. Louis Office of the License Collector): Seven-step process: Missouri sales tax number, owner's written permission, application, Collector of Revenue clearance, health permit if selling food, fire permit if using propane, then return for the license. Payment is cash, money order or cashier's check only.

Who handles sales tax at a market in St. Louis?

Missouri sales tax license for special events (Form 2643S) (Missouri Department of Revenue): Anyone selling retail to the public at a special event must collect Missouri sales tax and hold a sales tax license, even for a hobby. The license covers sales in all Missouri cities and counties, and vendors report the city or county breakdown of event sales when filing. For organizers: St. Louis requires the organizer to submit a list of every vendor with the special event application (business name, address, Federal ID or 501(c)(3) number, and what they sell) and to make sure all vendors have the proper permits. Missouri's Department of Revenue also expects organizers to see that every retail vendor has a Missouri tax ID number.

Do food vendors need a separate permit in St. Louis?

Temporary Food Permit (City of St. Louis Department of Health, Environmental Health, Food Control): Apply online or at 1520 Market Street Room 4051 after completing the city's food safety training video and evaluation (75% or better). Organizers cannot get vendor food permits until the special event permit is issued, and permits are displayed in the booth.

How far ahead should I apply in St. Louis?

Special Event Permit: No later than 30 days before the event; 90 days recommended Missouri sales tax license for special events (Form 2643S): Contact the Department 3 to 4 weeks before the event Temporary Food Permit: Application and payment at least two business days before the event

Keep reading.

Permits in Kansas City, MOPermits in Springfield, MOMissouri state rules: sales tax and cottage foodPermit checklist for St. LouisWhat event permits cost across US citiesCollecting vendor insurance and permitsHow to host a vendor eventVendor application form template

Sources

Sources.

This page summarizes official government sources and isn't legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and forms change; confirm with each agency before you apply.

Special events contact: Office of Special Events (314) 589-6640; License Collector (314) 622-4528; Department of Health food control (314) 612-5100

Every fact on this page comes from these official pages, checked on 2026-10-10. Details change; tell us at hello@bzar.app if something here is out of date.

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