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.
Updated
Tell us about your event.
Permits for your market in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Fort Lauderdale's event permit pages could not be read for this entry, so confirm the outdoor event permit with the City's Special Events office. Vendors need City and Broward County business tax receipts, food vendors need a Florida DBPR temporary event license, and sellers register for Florida sales tax with the Department of Revenue.
Not shown, based on your answers: food vendors. See everything for Fort Lauderdale.
Event permit.
Outdoor Event Permit (online application)
Anyone planning to host an outdoor event starts the process by submitting the city's online outdoor special event permit application, and the Parks and Recreation events staff follow up. The same page offers a Block Party Planning Kit and online application for neighbors, and an Events Explorer showing permitted events and road closures.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation
- When
- Outdoor events the city treats as needing a permit; the page says permits are required for certain events and does not list the thresholds. Neighborhood street gatherings use the separate Block Party program.
Vendor and business licenses.
City Business Tax Receipt (plus Broward County receipt)
Fort Lauderdale requires an annual business tax receipt, separate from Broward County's local business tax receipt; most businesses keep both. Renewal runs July 1 through September 30 each year, and from October 1, 2026 applicants must first get zoning approval through a Certificate of Use.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of Fort Lauderdale, Community Services (Business Tax)
- When
- Anyone engaging in commerce from a local base in Fort Lauderdale, including home-based businesses, mobile vendors and food trucks. The page does not say whether one-day event vendors are covered.
Sales tax.
Sales and use tax dealer registration
Vendors who sell taxable goods or services must register with the state as a sales and use tax dealer to collect, report and remit tax. Registration must be done before starting business, and the page does not describe a separate temporary or special-event registration. The Department states Florida's general state sales tax rate is 6%, plus any county surtax.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Florida Department of Revenue
- When
- Any vendor selling taxable goods or services in Florida, including at markets and events
- Timing
- Register before you begin conducting business in Florida
What the rules ask of you about vendors.
Florida's Department of Revenue says anyone selling taxable goods at a flea market must be registered as a sales tax dealer and collect and remit tax directly. Under that notice, market operators keep collecting tax on space rentals but are no longer required or authorized to remit vendors' sales tax. Official page
When to apply.
- Sales and use tax dealer registration: Register before you begin conducting business in Florida
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. Full page and sources for Fort Lauderdale.
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.