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 Birmingham, AL.
To run a vendor market in Birmingham, the organizer applies to the Department of Transportation for street or public-space permits, adds a Fire Department application for open flames, and reserves parks through Parks and Recreation. Food vendors need a Jefferson County Department of Health permit; vendors need a city business license and Alabama sales tax license.
Not shown, based on your answers: parks and public space, fire safety, tents and cooking, food vendors. See everything for Birmingham.
Event permit.
Event Street Blockage and Public Space permits (BDOT)
BDOT issues the permits for activities in the public right-of-way, including event street blockages and public space use. Applications are fillable PDF forms emailed to BDOT or dropped off at City Hall, and the application fee shown on the form must be paid before staff process it.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Birmingham Department of Transportation (BDOT)
- When
- Events that close a street or use sidewalks or other public right-of-way
Vendor and business licenses.
City of Birmingham business license (including transient / special event licenses)
The city licenses all businesses operating inside its limits. The Tax and License Division lists separate license types for transient dealers and special events and for peddlers and street vendors, and temporary event licenses expire on their own terms rather than December 31.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of Birmingham Tax and License Division (Finance)
- When
- Vendors selling in the city; sellers without a yearly Birmingham license can ask about the transient and special event license categories
Sales tax.
Alabama sales tax license (My Alabama Taxes)
Sellers register their retail business with the Department through the My Alabama Taxes portal to get a sales tax license. The Department's rules say peddlers making retail sales must get a license and may be required to post a bond if they have no fixed place of business. The registration page does not describe a separate temporary event license.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Alabama Department of Revenue
- When
- Vendors making retail sales of tangible goods in Alabama, including peddlers and event vendors
Sales tax on admission to arts and crafts shows
Alabama's rule on places of amusement lists arts and crafts shows and art shows (fairs) as exhibitions whose admission receipts are subject to sales tax, collected separately from the customer. A free-entry market is not addressed by the rule.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- Alabama Department of Revenue
- When
- Ticketed or paid-admission markets, art shows and craft fairs run by private organizers
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 2026-10-11. It isn't legal advice; rules, fees and deadlines change. Special events contact: City of Birmingham Tax and License Division 205-254-2198; BDOT event street blockage 205-254-2922. Full page and sources for Birmingham.
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.