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 Chicago, IL.
To run an outdoor vendor market in Chicago, the organizer usually needs a Special Event Permit from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, a Pop-Up License covering vendors from Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, and Park District approval on park land. Food vendors need a special event food license, and vendors register for Illinois sales tax.
Not shown, based on your answers: parks and public space, fire safety, tents and cooking, food vendors. See everything for Chicago.
Event permit.
DCASE Special Event Permit
Organizers apply online through the DCASE portal with all supporting documents, including the list of food vendors. The processing fee depends on how early the application is complete, and DCASE says marketing activations are not allowed on public rights of way.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)
- When
- Outdoor events open to the public that sell merchandise or food, serve alcohol, close a street, or use tents over 20 ft by 20 ft or stages over 2 ft tall. Outdoor invitation-only private events do not need one.
- Fee
- Nonrefundable processing fee of $100 if complete 180 to 60 days before the event, rising to $2,000 if complete 28 to 21 days before
- Timing
- Applications are not accepted if completed less than 21 days before the event
Vendor and business licenses.
Pop-Up License for shows and exhibitions
The organizer or host applies for one Pop-Up License that covers every listed vendor, with each vendor's name, items sold and Illinois sales tax number. Individual show vendors cannot get their own license for the show, and the license is tied to one show location.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP)
- When
- Art fairs, consumer fairs and other shows where retail vendors sell merchandise or services. Vendors selling only nonperishable prepackaged food can be included.
- Fee
- $25 per vendor for a show lasting 5 days or less
Sales tax.
Illinois Retailers' Occupation Tax registration and special event reporting
Vendors must register with the Department of Revenue and collect tax at the event location's rate. If the event is registered with the Special Events Coordinator, vendors report with the Form IDOR-6-SETR coupon from the organizer; otherwise they file Form ST-1. Vendors who travel to events regularly register as changing location filers.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Illinois Department of Revenue
- When
- Anyone selling merchandise at fairs, markets, pop-up events, flea markets or craft shows, including hobby sellers.
What the rules ask of you about vendors.
Anyone who promotes or organizes an event with vendors must send the Department of Revenue the event name, address, dates and a contact at least 30 days before it starts, then report each vendor (business name, owner, permanent address, Illinois account ID, event dates and location) by the 20th of the month after the event. Failure to file is a business offense with a fine up to $250. Official page
When to apply.
- DCASE Special Event Permit: Applications are not accepted if completed less than 21 days before 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 2026-10-10. It isn't legal advice; rules, fees and deadlines change. Special events contact: SEPermits@CityofChicago.org. Full page and sources for Chicago.
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.