# Vendor event permits in St. Louis, MO

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.

_Sources checked 2026-10-10. Not legal or tax advice; confirm with each agency._

## 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: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-service/special-events/permit/special-event-permits.cfm

## 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: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-service/special-events/permit/index.cfm

## 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: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-service/special-events/permit/special-event-permits.cfm

## For 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: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-service/special-events/permit/food-sales-service.cfm

### 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: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/license/business-license-info/Vendor-Itinerant-Business-License-Process.cfm

## For 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: https://dor.mo.gov/faq/taxation/business/special-event-sales.html

## For 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: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/health/environmental-health/food-control/temporary-food-permits.cfm

## 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. (https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-service/special-events/permit/food-sales-service.cfm)

## 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

**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

## Sources

- https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-service/special-events/permit/special-event-permits.cfm
- https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-service/special-events/permit/index.cfm
- https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-service/special-events/permit/food-sales-service.cfm
- https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-service/special-events/ordinances.cfm
- https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/license/business-license-info/Vendor-Itinerant-Business-License-Process.cfm
- https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/license/business-license-info/Vendor-Sidewalk-Business-License-Process.cfm
- https://dor.mo.gov/faq/taxation/business/special-event-sales.html
- https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/health/environmental-health/food-control/temporary-food-permits.cfm
- https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/health/environmental-health/food-control/requirements-for-temporary-food-establishment.cfm
- https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-safety/special-events/all-you-need-to-know.cfm

All cities: https://bzar.app/permits