Which permits does your market need?
Pick your city or county, tell us whether you'll have food, use public space, or set up tents and cooking, and get the permits that apply to you and your vendors, with fees, deadlines and official links. Covers 225 US cities and counties.
Updated
Tell us about your event.
Permits for your market in Arlington, TX.
To run a vendor market in Arlington, an organizer applies through the city's Eproval system for a Temporary Outdoor Event or Special Event permit, food vendors need City of Arlington Health Services temporary food permits, and sellers register for a Texas sales tax permit. Texas has no general business license, but activity-specific city licenses may apply.
Not shown, based on your answers: food vendors. See everything for Arlington.
Event permit.
Special Event Permit
The city code requires a Special Event permit for large events on public property, with a public safety plan and a traffic management plan submitted with the application. Events on private property are exempt from the permit unless they spill onto public streets or public property.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Arlington (Planning and Development Services / Deputy City Manager)
- When
- Preplanned gatherings expected to draw 500 or more people held on a city-owned public facility; activity on private property is exempt unless it occupies adjacent public streets or public property.
- Timing
- At least 90 calendar days before the event for events involving 500 or more persons
Temporary Outdoor Event Permit
Arlington runs special event and temporary outdoor permits through its Eproval online portal at ArlingtonPermits.com, where applicants submit documents, pay and track status. Contact Plans Examination for help choosing the right permit.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Arlington Planning and Development Services
- When
- Preplanned outdoor public gatherings that include street or sidewalk closures, alcohol, on-site cooking, sales of food or goods, amplified sound, fireworks or temporary structures such as tents and stages. The city lists outdoor markets as an example.
Other rules.
Temporary Outdoor and Special Event fees
The fee schedule effective September 1, 2025 lists a non-refundable application review fee plus a permit fee scaled to expected attendance, and a surcharge for late applications. Traffic control plan review and Entertainment District events carry extra fees.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Arlington Planning and Development Services
- When
- Any Temporary Outdoor Event or Special Event permit application
- Fee
- $50.00 application review fee (non-refundable); $100.00 permit fee for up to 500 attendees; $100.00 late submission fee if submitted fewer than 45 days ahead; $150.00 traffic control plan review for events affecting streets or sidewalks
Vendor and business licenses.
No general business license in Texas
The Governor's office states that Texas does not require a general business license. Whether a vendor needs a city license depends on what is sold, so the vendor should check with the city. Selling taxable goods still requires a Texas sales tax permit (listed separately).
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Office of the Texas Governor (Small Business Assistance)
- When
- Vendors selling at a market or event in Arlington; the state page says activity-specific licenses and permits may still apply at the federal, state and local level.
Sales tax.
Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit
Texas has no separate temporary event permit on this page; vendors apply for a regular Sales and Use Tax Permit through the Comptroller's online registration. There is no application fee, though the Comptroller may require a security bond if tax is likely to become delinquent.
- Who
- Organizer and vendors
- From
- Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
- When
- Any seller, in state or out of state, who sells taxable items or services, takes orders for them, or uses the event to promote taxable sales at a fair, festival, market or show.
- Fee
- No fee to apply for a permit
What the rules ask of you about vendors.
The Texas Comptroller treats event promoters as sellers too. A promoter collects and remits sales tax on its own sales and on sales by anyone at the event without an active permit, and at markets without central checkout the promoter can be liable for permit-less sellers' tax, so it should confirm each seller holds an active permit. Official page
When to apply.
- Special Event Permit: At least 90 calendar days before the event for events involving 500 or more persons
Collect your vendors' permits with their applications.
Make the vendor licenses, sales tax registration and food permits above required documents on your application, and check them before you approve anyone.
Check with the office.
This checklist summarizes official government pages read on 2026-10-10. It isn't legal advice; rules, fees and deadlines change. Special events contact: PlansExam@arlingtontx.gov, 817-459-6502 (press 7); Health Services permits: HealthPermits@ArlingtonTx.gov, 817-459-6693. Full page and sources for Arlington.
Common questions.
What permits do I need to host a vendor market?
Usually an event permit from the city or county, licenses and sales tax registration for vendors, and temporary food permits for anyone selling food. Parks, streets, tents and cooking can add more. Pick your city above to see the exact list.
Do I need a permit for a pop-up market on private property?
It depends on the city. Some only require permits on public property; others, like zoning temporary-use permits, apply anywhere. The checklist shows what each city's official pages say.
How far ahead should I apply for an event permit?
Often 30 to 90 days. The median deadline across 111 places in our study is 45 days, and 43 want 60 or more.
Permits sorted? Run the event on bzar.
Free for organizers: vendor applications with required documents, booth payments, tickets and check-in.