Permits: Washington County, MD

Running a vendor market in Washington County.

In Washington County, MD, an event in a county park needs a Special Event Permit from Parks and Recreation, applied for three to six months ahead with insurance naming the county. Food vendors need a $25 temporary food license from the Washington County Health Department, and vendors without a permanent account get a Comptroller temporary sales tax license.

Updated October 11, 2026

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For the organizer

Event permit.

Special Event Permit (county parks)

The organizer submits the special event application with a site plan showing toilets, dumpsters, overflow parking and vendor spaces, and an Event Review Committee decides. The organizer must provide a certificate of insurance naming the Board of County Commissioners as additional insured, and vendors must hold and display their required permits on site. Tents over 12 by 12 feet and inflatables need permits.

Who: Organizer
From: Washington County Parks and Recreation
When: Events in county parks that are advertised publicly, affect routine park use or traffic, or use amplified sound. Vendor sales and fundraising in county parks also need prior approval and a permit.
Fee: $50 application fee, credited toward event fees that depend on the size of the event
Timing: Submit at least three months but no more than six months before the event; all fees paid at least 30 days before

Official page

For the organizer

Fire safety, tents and cooking.

Fire Marshal contact for grills and fryers

The temporary food application says the applicant must contact the Fire Marshal first: the City Fire Marshal at 301-790-2476 inside Hagerstown, or the State Fire Marshal at 301-766-3888 outside city limits. In county parks, deep fryers and turkey fryers are prohibited and fires are allowed only in designated grills.

Who: Vendors
From: Washington County Health Department application, referring to the City of Hagerstown Fire Marshal and the State Fire Marshal
When: Food booths that operate a grill or fryer producing grease-laden vapors

Official page

For your vendors

Vendor and business licenses.

Trader's License (or Exhibitor's Affidavit at a show)

Maryland trader's licenses are issued by the county Circuit Court Clerk (Washington County clerk: 301-733-8660; 301-790-7991 ext. 1 for license questions) for a May 1 to April 30 license year. The Comptroller says a promoter must collect each exhibitor's trader's license copy or Exhibitor's Affidavit before the show.

Who: Vendors
From: Clerk of the Circuit Court for Washington County, for the Comptroller of Maryland
When: Anyone selling goods in Maryland who is not a grower or manufacturer. At a show, an exhibitor does not need their own trader's license if the show is promoted by an exempt entity the Comptroller lists, or if they give the promoter an Exhibitor's Affidavit (under 10 percent of annual income from like goods, and no more than three shows in the previous 365 days). The Washington clerk also issues Foot Peddler and Motor Vehicle Peddler licenses; the clerk's page does not say whether market vendors need one.

Official page

For your vendors

Sales tax.

Temporary Sales and Use Tax License (30 days)

A vendor contacts the Comptroller's temporary license desk with the event date, name and location plus business details, then collects Maryland sales and use tax on event sales. Vendors at three or more events a year should register for a permanent license through Maryland Tax Connect.

Who: Vendors
From: Comptroller of Maryland
When: Vendors without a permanent Maryland sales and use tax license who sell at one-time events such as craft shows and fairs. Maryland has one statewide rate and no local sales taxes.

Official page

Flea market sales are taxable (Business Tax Tip #14)

The Comptroller says flea market sales are taxable like any other sale and a vendor must first get a license, either a 30-day permit or a permanent license through the Combined Registration Application. The 6 percent rate is a single statewide rate with no local sales taxes, and vendors must display their license where sales are made.

Who: Vendors
From: Comptroller of Maryland
When: Vendors at flea markets and similar markets, including nonprofits and private individuals (casual and isolated sales under $1,000 of a seller's own household goods are exempt, but not sales by full or part-time dealers)

Official page

For your vendors

Food vendors.

Special Temporary Food Service Facility license

The vendor files the application at the Environmental Health office or by the delivery method chosen on the form. Nonprofits must show 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Potentially hazardous foods must be prepared at a licensed facility, and only non-potentially hazardous baked goods or foods meeting the cottage food rules may be made at home.

Who: Vendors
From: Washington County Health Department, Environmental Health
When: Anyone preparing, selling, sampling or giving away food at a public event of up to 14 consecutive days; sealed commercially pre-packaged, non-perishable items such as sodas and wrapped candy do not need one
Fee: $25.00
Timing: At least 7 days before the event

Official page

Organizer duty

What the rules ask of organizers about vendors.

A show promoter may not let an exhibitor take part unless the exhibitor has given a photocopy of a valid Trader's License or an Exhibitor's Affidavit before the show. Exhibitors must display it, and the promoter must forward all Exhibitor Affidavits to the Comptroller's State License Bureau within seven days after the show. Non-compliance is a misdemeanor with a fine up to $100 or up to 30 days in jail.

Official page

Timeline

When to apply.

Special Event Permit (county parks): Submit at least three months but no more than six months before the event; all fees paid at least 30 days before
Special Temporary Food Service Facility license: At least 7 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 Washington County, MD?

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.

No official page found for a county permit for a vendor market on private property as of 2026-10-11; ask Washington County Permits and Inspections (240-313-2460) and Planning and Zoning. The county's Fire Marshal's office says it works with special event coordinators on fire code requirements for temporary events (news release of February 20, 2026).
The City of Hagerstown and the county's other incorporated towns have their own event rules; Hagerstown is covered on its own page.
The Health Department's requirements sheet is dated 2025 and the application 2026; both state $25.00.
The Comptroller's temporary-license page (services.marylandcomptroller.gov) loads its content by script, so the 30-day license details (email Templicense@marylandtaxes.gov, 410-767-1543 or 410-767-5462) were taken from the state hub's earlier read; Business Tax Tip #14 gives the Special Events Section number as 410-767-1540, so confirm the phone number before relying on it.

Questions

Common questions.

Do I need a permit to host a vendor market in Washington County?

Special Event Permit (county parks) (Washington County Parks and Recreation): The organizer submits the special event application with a site plan showing toilets, dumpsters, overflow parking and vendor spaces, and an Event Review Committee decides. The organizer must provide a certificate of insurance naming the Board of County Commissioners as additional insured, and vendors must hold and display their required permits on site. Tents over 12 by 12 feet and inflatables need permits.

Do vendors need a license to sell at events in Washington County?

Trader's License (or Exhibitor's Affidavit at a show) (Clerk of the Circuit Court for Washington County, for the Comptroller of Maryland): Maryland trader's licenses are issued by the county Circuit Court Clerk (Washington County clerk: 301-733-8660; 301-790-7991 ext. 1 for license questions) for a May 1 to April 30 license year. The Comptroller says a promoter must collect each exhibitor's trader's license copy or Exhibitor's Affidavit before the show.

Who handles sales tax at a market in Washington County?

Temporary Sales and Use Tax License (30 days) (Comptroller of Maryland): A vendor contacts the Comptroller's temporary license desk with the event date, name and location plus business details, then collects Maryland sales and use tax on event sales. Vendors at three or more events a year should register for a permanent license through Maryland Tax Connect. Flea market sales are taxable (Business Tax Tip #14) (Comptroller of Maryland): The Comptroller says flea market sales are taxable like any other sale and a vendor must first get a license, either a 30-day permit or a permanent license through the Combined Registration Application. The 6 percent rate is a single statewide rate with no local sales taxes, and vendors must display their license where sales are made. For organizers: A show promoter may not let an exhibitor take part unless the exhibitor has given a photocopy of a valid Trader's License or an Exhibitor's Affidavit before the show. Exhibitors must display it, and the promoter must forward all Exhibitor Affidavits to the Comptroller's State License Bureau within seven days after the show. Non-compliance is a misdemeanor with a fine up to $100 or up to 30 days in jail.

Do food vendors need a separate permit in Washington County?

Special Temporary Food Service Facility license (Washington County Health Department, Environmental Health): The vendor files the application at the Environmental Health office or by the delivery method chosen on the form. Nonprofits must show 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Potentially hazardous foods must be prepared at a licensed facility, and only non-potentially hazardous baked goods or foods meeting the cottage food rules may be made at home.

How far ahead should I apply in Washington County?

Special Event Permit (county parks): Submit at least three months but no more than six months before the event; all fees paid at least 30 days before Special Temporary Food Service Facility license: At least 7 days before the event

Keep reading.

Permits in Hagerstown, MDPermits in Annapolis, MDPermits in Anne Arundel County, MDPermits in Baltimore, MDPermits in Baltimore County, MDPermits in Bowie, MDMaryland state rules: sales tax and cottage foodPermit checklist for Washington CountyWhat 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: Washington County Parks and Recreation, 240-313-2700

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.

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