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.
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Tell us about your event.
Permits for your market in Boulder, CO.
To run a vendor market in Boulder, an organizer applies for a city Special Event Permit for events on public property, filed with the Office of Special Events. Vendors from outside the city get a free Special Event License and file a Boulder sales tax return, and food booths need a Boulder County Public Health temporary event license.
Not shown, based on your answers: fire safety, tents and cooking, food vendors. See everything for Boulder.
Event permit.
Special Event Permit
The application is filed with the city's Office of Special Events, and incomplete or late applications can be denied. Facility fees and a performance deposit vary with the event.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Boulder Office of Special Events
- When
- Planned, promoted activity on public property with 50 or more people, tents, structures or amplified sound, food or alcohol for the public, or use of public rights-of-way. Private-property events need no Special Event Permit, though other permits can apply.
- Fee
- No application fee (facility fees and a deposit vary)
- Timing
- At least 120 days before the event; at least 60 days for alcohol service or road closures
Temporary Event application for private property (tents, generators, indoor occupancy)
The city's guide says a Temporary Event Conditional Use application is required for outdoor structures on private property. Indoor events in assembly or mercantile occupancies have their own rules, and other occupancy types need a tenant improvement permit.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Boulder Planning and Development Services
- When
- Events on private property with outdoor tents or structures or generators, or indoor events that change the building's occupancy use
Other rules.
Event liability insurance
The city must be listed as certificate holder and additional insured, with subrogation waived.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Boulder Office of Special Events
- When
- Special Event Permit events
- Fee
- $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate general liability
Vendor and business licenses.
Special Event License (business license for event vendors)
Out-of-city vendors register for each event they attend through Boulder's online tax system under the special event vendor option. The license is event-specific.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of Boulder Finance, Tax and License
- When
- Organizations and businesses coming into Boulder to sell at a special event; Boulder-based businesses hold a standard business license instead
- Fee
- Free for out-of-city vendors
Sales tax.
Boulder special event sales and use tax return
A return is due for each event registered for. Late filings carry penalties and interest.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of Boulder Finance, Tax and License
- When
- Every vendor registered for a Boulder special event, even if no sales are made
- Timing
- Return due by the 20th of the month after the event
Colorado Special Event License
Sellers need a special event license unless the event organizer has a license to collect tax for participating sellers. Apply with form DR 0589 plus government-issued photo ID by mail, and keep the copy as a temporary license until the official one arrives.
- Who
- Organizer and vendors
- From
- Colorado Department of Revenue
- When
- Retail sales at a special sales event: more than three sellers at a location other than their normal business location, held no more than three times a year at the same location. Events held three or more times a year need a regular Retail Sales Tax License instead. Boulder is a home-rule city, so its own tax rules apply in addition to the state special event license above.
- Fee
- Single event license $8.00 per event; multiple event license $16.00 for a 2-year cycle
What the rules ask of you about vendors.
Colorado requires an event organizer to tell each participating seller which taxes and rates apply, and to give the Department of Revenue the names, addresses and special event license numbers of the sellers within 10 days after the event. An organizer with its own special event license can collect and remit tax for vendors. Official page
When to apply.
- Special Event Permit: At least 120 days before the event; at least 60 days for alcohol service or road closures
- Boulder special event sales and use tax return: Return due by the 20th of the month after the event
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: Office of Special Events: specialevents@bouldercolorado.gov. Full page and sources for Boulder.
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.