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 Denver, CO.
To run a vendor market in Denver, an organizer applies to the Office of Special Events for a permit if the event is open to the public on city property and meets the city's criteria. Food vendors need Denver Public Health and Environment licenses, and vendors register for Denver sales tax. Confirm details with each office.
Not shown, based on your answers: fire safety, tents and cooking, food vendors. See everything for Denver.
Event permit.
Office of Special Events (OSE) permit
After the online application, an Event Permitting Specialist is assigned to guide the organizer through the park, traffic, fire and community notification requirements, and the permit issues once every requirement is met. Fees depend on expected daily attendance.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City and County of Denver Office of Special Events (Public Event and Film Permitting)
- When
- Events open to the public on Denver public property (parks, streets, sidewalks, alleys) that meet at least two of the city's criteria, which include a park or street closure location, tents over 200 sq ft, propane or open flames, generators over 5kW or stages, sales of tickets, food, beverages or merchandise, and hired security. Events entirely on private property or with an invite-only guest list generally do not need an OSE application but may need approval from other city departments.
- Fee
- Processing fee by daily attendance: 1 - 350 $25; 351 - 3,000 $75; 3,001 - 10,000 $150; 10,000+ $250. Fees are doubled for applications less than 60 days before setup, and a rush fee equal to the application fee applies if requirements are not met 5 days before the event
- Timing
- Apply 60 days before the event set up date; first-time or complex events should contact the office 90 days ahead; applications less than 30 days before setup are not accepted
Public event permitting overview and application
Denver's permitting page walks organizers through whether a permit applies and links to the online application. Applications fewer than 60 days ahead face doubled fees and those under 30 days are rejected.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City and County of Denver Office of Special Events
- When
- Same as above; events with 350 or fewer attendees per day fully inside a park, with no street closures, fireworks or drones, do not need a permit
Vendor and business licenses.
Denver Retailer's Sales, Use and Lodgers Tax License
Denver does not charge a license fee for the biannual retailer's license, and Treasury sends licenses each December 1. Businesses register and file through Denver's eBiz platform or the state's Sales Use Tax System.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Denver Department of Finance, Treasury Division
- When
- Businesses already licensed in Denver, which can sell at events without extra permits or fees; other vendors register for the Special Event Sales Tax account (see sales tax)
- Fee
- No license fee charged
Sales tax.
Denver Special Event Sales Tax account
All vendors at the event must collect and pay Denver sales tax. Denver-licensed vendors report event sales on their regular returns; other vendors register online for a Special Event Sales Tax account.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Denver Department of Finance, Treasury Division
- When
- Vendors at Denver events who are not already Denver licensed businesses
- Timing
- Sales tax licensing deadline listed as 30 days before 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 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.
- 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. Denver's guide also makes the organizer responsible for checking that vendors hold the required Denver licenses. Official page
When to apply.
- Office of Special Events (OSE) permit: Apply 60 days before the event set up date; first-time or complex events should contact the office 90 days ahead; applications less than 30 days before setup are not accepted
- Denver Special Event Sales Tax account: Sales tax licensing deadline listed as 30 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: Denver 311 or 720-913-1311; online application at specialeventapplication.denvergov.org. Full page and sources for Denver.
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.