Running a vendor market in Tallahassee.
To run a vendor market in Tallahassee, an organizer applies at least 30 days ahead to the City's Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs Special Events Division for events on city property, with a City tent permit for tents of 900 square feet or more. Food vendors get a Florida DBPR temporary event license, and vendors register for Florida sales tax.
Updated
Event permit.
Special Event Permit Application
Organizers check date availability, then submit the Special Events Application by email; staff reply with a checklist of items still needed and a cost estimate. The City supplies services such as trash cans, electric hookups, street closures and security, which are requested on the application, and the organizer must supply police barricade service for street closures.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Tallahassee Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs, Special Events Division
- When
- Public events such as festivals, block parties and fundraisers on City-owned or City-controlled property. Street closures use a separate road closure application, and closures on state roads also need Florida Department of Transportation review.
- Timing
- Submit at least 30 days before the event; the Events page says to allow 30-60 days for most permits
Fire safety, tents and cooking.
Temporary Use Tent/Tarp/Canopy Permit
The permit form covers fire and land-use review, caps temporary uses at 20 calendar days unless extended, requires temporary sanitary facilities and site clearing afterward, and bars temporary structures within 500 feet of a residential property line. Smaller tents over 200 square feet and canopies over 400 square feet go through a land-use review only.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Tallahassee Growth Management (with Fire Department life-safety review)
- When
- Any tent, tarp or canopy of 900 square feet (30 x 30) or larger, including vendor tents; the event application also says tents may not be staked into the ground
- Fee
- $202.60 for tents 900 sq ft and larger (fire and land use review); $43.00 for tents over 200 sq ft and canopies over 400 sq ft (land use review only)
Other rules.
General liability insurance for public events
The applicant must carry general liability insurance with the City named as certificate holder and additional insured, and food vendors and caterers must give the organizer a copy of their own general liability certificate. Alcohol service needs separate liquor liability coverage from whoever serves it.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Tallahassee Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs, Special Events Division
- When
- All public events permitted by the City
- Fee
- $1,000,000 per occurrence
Vendor and business licenses.
No City of Tallahassee business or occupational license
The City says it does not require or issue business or occupational licenses, though county, state or federal agencies may require a license for some business types. Vendors still need state registrations such as sales tax.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of Tallahassee
- When
- Vendors operating in Tallahassee city limits
Sales tax.
Sales and use tax dealer registration
Vendors who sell taxable goods or services must register with the state as a sales and use tax dealer to collect, report and remit tax. Registration must be done before starting business, and the page does not describe a separate temporary or special-event registration. The Department states Florida's general state sales tax rate is 6%, plus any county surtax.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Florida Department of Revenue
- When
- Any vendor selling taxable goods or services in Florida, including at markets and events
- Timing
- Register before you begin conducting business in Florida
Food vendors.
Temporary Food Service Event License
The state, not the county, licenses food vendors at temporary events: inspectors issue the license at the event after a passing inspection, and the vendor pays by cashier's check or money order. Sponsors must email the division the type of food service, event time and location, vendor list and each vendor's license number. Food prepared in a private home or under the Cottage Food Law is not allowed.
- Who
- Organizer and vendors
- From
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Division of Hotels and Restaurants
- When
- Food vendors at a temporary food service event of 30 days or less advertised to the public; exemptions include some permitted vendors, popcorn and prepackaged items, and 1-3 day events hosted by churches or nonprofits
- Fee
- $91 for a 1-3 day event; $105 for a 4-30 day event; $456 annual
- Timing
- Event sponsors notify the division no less than three business days before the event
What the rules ask of organizers about vendors.
Florida's Department of Revenue says anyone selling taxable goods at a flea market must be registered as a sales tax dealer and collect and remit tax directly. Under that notice, market operators keep collecting tax on space rentals but are no longer required or authorized to remit vendors' sales tax.
When to apply.
- Special Event Permit Application: Submit at least 30 days before the event; the Events page says to allow 30-60 days for most permits
- Sales and use tax dealer registration: Register before you begin conducting business in Florida
- Temporary Food Service Event License: Event sponsors notify the division no less than three business days before the event
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.
Selling at markets in Tallahassee, FL?
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.
Where the sources are unclear.
- The City's tent permit form is a 2014 version (form code 01/14), so its fees may have changed; confirm with Growth Management.
- The event application states no application fee amount; staff provide a cost estimate after review. An older City policy attachment lists a $25 non-refundable application fee, which is not repeated here because it is undated.
- Blocked: https://www.leontaxcollector.net (HTTP 403 from Leon County Tax Collector) and https://cms.leoncountyfl.gov (HTTP 403). Whether Leon County levies a separate county local business tax was not confirmed; ask the Leon County Tax Collector.
- The City's Mobile Food Vendor Program (food trucks and carts on designated City sites) is separate from event food vendors and was not summarized here.
- Florida's flea-market tax notice (TIP 99A01-27) is dated July 1999 and is the only flea-market-specific operator guidance found, so confirm current practice with the Department of Revenue.
- Florida repealed the state sales tax on rent or license fees for real property for periods starting October 1, 2025 (Department of Revenue TIP 25A01-04), so the 1999 notice's reference to tax on space rentals may no longer apply to booth fees; confirm with the Department.
Common questions.
Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Tallahassee?
Special Event Permit Application (City of Tallahassee Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs, Special Events Division): Organizers check date availability, then submit the Special Events Application by email; staff reply with a checklist of items still needed and a cost estimate. The City supplies services such as trash cans, electric hookups, street closures and security, which are requested on the application, and the organizer must supply police barricade service for street closures.
Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Tallahassee?
No City of Tallahassee business or occupational license (City of Tallahassee): The City says it does not require or issue business or occupational licenses, though county, state or federal agencies may require a license for some business types. Vendors still need state registrations such as sales tax.
Who handles sales tax at a market in Tallahassee?
Sales and use tax dealer registration (Florida Department of Revenue): Vendors who sell taxable goods or services must register with the state as a sales and use tax dealer to collect, report and remit tax. Registration must be done before starting business, and the page does not describe a separate temporary or special-event registration. The Department states Florida's general state sales tax rate is 6%, plus any county surtax. For organizers: Florida's Department of Revenue says anyone selling taxable goods at a flea market must be registered as a sales tax dealer and collect and remit tax directly. Under that notice, market operators keep collecting tax on space rentals but are no longer required or authorized to remit vendors' sales tax.
Do food vendors need a separate permit in Tallahassee?
Temporary Food Service Event License (Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Division of Hotels and Restaurants): The state, not the county, licenses food vendors at temporary events: inspectors issue the license at the event after a passing inspection, and the vendor pays by cashier's check or money order. Sponsors must email the division the type of food service, event time and location, vendor list and each vendor's license number. Food prepared in a private home or under the Cottage Food Law is not allowed.
How far ahead should I apply in Tallahassee?
Special Event Permit Application: Submit at least 30 days before the event; the Events page says to allow 30-60 days for most permits Sales and use tax dealer registration: Register before you begin conducting business in Florida Temporary Food Service Event License: Event sponsors notify the division no less than three business days before the event
Keep reading.
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: 850-891-3885
Every fact on this page comes from these official pages, checked on 2026-10-11. Details change; tell us at hello@bzar.app if something here is out of date.
- https://www.talgov.com/parks/parks-eventplanning
- https://www.talgov.com/Uploads/Public/Documents/parks/specialevents/specialeventspermit.pdf
- https://www.talgov.com/Uploads/Public/Documents/growth/forms/temp-us-tntprmt.pdf
- https://www.talgov.com/doingbusiness/StartABusiness
- https://floridarevenue.com/taxes/eservices/Pages/registration.aspx
- https://floridarevenue.com/taxes/taxesfees/Pages/sales_tax.aspx
- https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/temporaryevent-guide/
- https://floridarevenue.com/taxes/tips/documents/TIP_99A01-27.pdf
Collect every vendor permit in one place.
bzar is free for organizers: vendor applications with required documents, booth payments, tickets and check-in in one dashboard.