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 Fargo, ND.
To close a street for a Fargo vendor market, the organizer files a General Special Permit/Street Closing request with the Engineering Department 45 days ahead and may need insurance. Food vendors contact Fargo Cass Public Health for event licensing, and organizers of events with 25 or more vendors send North Dakota's Tax Commissioner a vendor list.
Not shown, based on your answers: food vendors. See everything for Fargo.
Event permit.
General Special Permit / Street Closing / Block Party Request
The organizer describes the event, expected attendance and any street closure; the city circulates it to Fire, Police, ambulance, Street and Traffic. Events other than local block parties are advised to use police modular vehicle barriers or sign a waiver declining them.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Fargo Engineering Department
- When
- Special events on city streets or that need a street closure, parade or barricades. The Engineering Department, not the Police Department, administers these permits.
- Timing
- Applications must be submitted 45 days prior to the event
Other rules.
Event insurance
The city sets the coverage level it considers necessary, with the City of Fargo named as an insured. Proof of insurance is due at least 10 days before the event.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Fargo
- When
- Parades and mobile events on city streets, events open to the public with a large expected crowd, events with exotic animals, and any other event the city deems necessary
- Timing
- Proof of insurance at least 10 days before the event
Vendor and business licenses.
No general city vendor license listed
Fargo states it does not require a business license for every type of commerce and lists only certain businesses as needing a city license. A craft or product vendor is not on that list, but should confirm with the Auditor's Office; state registration and the North Dakota sales tax permit (listed separately) still apply.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of Fargo Auditor's Office, Licensing Department
- When
- Vendors selling at a market in Fargo. The city's page lists the specific businesses that need a city license (such as pawn brokers, second-hand dealers, commercial haulers and certain trades); a general vendor or peddler license is not among them.
Sales tax.
North Dakota sales tax permit
The state's guidance says businesses selling taxable items apply for a North Dakota Sales Tax Permit through ND TAP. The special event reporting instructions say not all event attendees are required to have a permit, and vendors unsure should call the Registration Section at 701.328.1241.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner
- When
- Businesses selling products or services subject to sales tax, including vendors at special events such as art or craft shows, flea markets and bazaars.
Special event vendor list
The organizer submits a list of vendors, with their sales tax permit numbers where known, on the Special Event Vendor Reporting Form (Excel or PDF) to salestax@nd.gov. Vendors without a permit should not be turned away.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner
- When
- Anyone who promotes or organizes a special event (such as a craft show, flea market, trade show or bazaar) with 25 or more vendors. Events organized for the exclusive benefit of a nonprofit, with all net proceeds going to it, are excluded.
- Timing
- Submit within 20 days of the event
What the rules ask of you about vendors.
North Dakota requires the organizer of a special event with 25 or more vendors to submit a list of vendors to the Office of State Tax Commissioner within 20 days of the event. The organizer should ask vendors for their sales tax permit numbers, but vendors without a permit should not be turned away. Official page
When to apply.
- General Special Permit / Street Closing / Block Party Request: Applications must be submitted 45 days prior to the event
- Event insurance: Proof of insurance at least 10 days before the event
- Special event vendor list: Submit within 20 days of 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: Engineering Department, 701.241.1545, feng@fargond.gov. Full page and sources for Fargo.
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.
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