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 Fairfax (City), VA.
In the City of Fairfax, VA, a special events permit from Parks and Recreation is required at least 90 business days ahead, and Zoning issues a Temporary Use Permit for temporary events. Food vendors need a Fairfax County Health Department temporary food permit, vendors report Virginia sales tax, and sellers need City licensing. Confirm with each office.
Not shown, based on your answers: fire safety, tents and cooking, food vendors. See everything for Fairfax (City).
Event permit.
Special Events Permit
The organizer submits a complete application with the non-refundable fee and an emergency action plan with proof of insurance. Submitting does not guarantee approval, and the City may charge for police, fire or public works services.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Fairfax Parks and Recreation
- When
- Special events such as fairs, festivals, concerts, shows, sales and carnivals; the page also lists City outdoor venues (Veteran's Amphitheater, Old Town Square) available to rent
- Fee
- $50 for non-profits and $100 for for-profit/business groups (application fee, no venue); venue rental is extra: $100 for the first 2 hours plus $25 per additional hour
- Timing
- No later than 90 business days prior to the event
Special Events - Temporary Use Permit
This zoning permit allows an event of not more than 10 days in a six-month period and is applied for through the City's permit portal. The page itself does not state a fee, but the City's FY 2026 fee schedule lists a nonresidential Temporary Use Permit.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Fairfax Planning/Zoning (Community Development and Planning)
- When
- Temporary special events such as car shows, carnivals, circuses, festivals, fairs and fireworks shows; the page does not say whether it applies only to private property
- Fee
- $210.00 each (Temporary Use Permit, Nonresidential, per the FY 2026 adopted schedule of rates and levies)
Vendor and business licenses.
Non-Charitable Canvassing, Peddling or Soliciting Permit
The City says this permit is required to sell merchandise from temporary stalls. Applicants submit a Solicitor Permit Application (PDF on the page) to the Police Department, which lists 703-385-7924. The page does not state a fee; the City's fee schedule shows a peddler's license figure.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of Fairfax Police Department
- When
- Door-to-door sales, event promotion, or selling merchandise from temporary stalls within City limits; charitable organizations, religious institutions and political parties are excluded
- Fee
- Not stated on the permit page; the FY 2026 schedule lists Peddler's License at $20.00 per year (see notes for a conflicting $30 figure)
Business License (BPOL)
New businesses apply within 30 days of starting operations, and licenses expire December 31 with renewal due by March 1. The FY 2026 rate schedule charges nothing under $10,000 in prior-year gross receipts, retail sales are taxed per $100 of receipts with a $30 minimum, and peddlers, solicitors and itinerant merchants pay a flat fee.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of Fairfax Commissioner of the Revenue
- When
- Every person operating a business, profession or trade in the City; the City pages do not address event-only or itinerant sellers directly
- Fee
- Retail sales: $0.20 per $100 gross receipts, $30 minimum; Peddlers, Solicitors & Itinerant Merchants: $30.00 flat fee per calendar year or part thereof; no tax if gross receipts are under $10,000
Sales tax.
Temporary Sales Tax Certificate/Return (Form ST-50)
Occasional sellers report and pay the sales tax they collected at an event on Form ST-50, due by the 20th of the month after the event. The form tells sellers who attend 3 or more shows a year to register for a permanent Virginia sales tax account. The rate is 6% in the Northern Virginia localities it lists, and the extra regional 0.7% is not charged on food bought for human consumption.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Virginia Department of Taxation
- When
- Vendors without a permanent Virginia sales tax account who sell taxable goods at an event
When to apply.
- Special Events Permit: No later than 90 business days prior to 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: Special Events, Specialevents@fairfaxva.gov, 703-385-7949 or 703-385-1710. Full page and sources for Fairfax (City).
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.