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 Long Beach, CA.
To run a vendor market in Long Beach, the organizer applies to the city's Special Events & Filming office for a special event permit and holds a Long Beach business license. Vendors need a Special Event Vendor Permit and a California seller's permit from CDTFA, and food vendors and organizers need temporary food permits from the Long Beach Health Department.
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Event permit.
Special Event Permit
The organizer applies through Special Events & Filming, and a coordinator sends a checklist of required documents such as insurance, a site map and operational permits. The city's tiers run from free, no-setup events (Tier I) to ticketed events with extensive setup (Tier III).
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Long Beach Special Events & Filming
- When
- Organized, large-scale events on public space with about 75 or more people. The city sorts events into three tiers by public access, ticketing and setup.
- Fee
- Non-refundable application fee of $102 (Tier I), $205 (Tier II) or $410 (Tier III), plus per-event-day permit and venue fees; a 10% administrative fee is added to all fees
- Timing
- Applications must be received at least 60 days before the event
Special Events application and requirements
The city's overview page explains the tier system and says all event promoters must hold a Long Beach business license. Partial-year licenses are offered in 3, 6 and 9 month terms.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Long Beach Special Events & Filming
- When
- Anyone planning a special event in the city.
Other rules.
Promoter business license
Promoters submit a Business License Application along with the event application (email FM-SpecialEventApps@longbeach.gov). The city also charges the promoter a compliance fee for each vendor found selling without a special event vendor permit.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Long Beach Business License Division
- When
- Promoters holding an event in Long Beach.
- Fee
- $35.00 compliance fee per un-permitted vendor charged to the promoter
Vendor and business licenses.
Special Event Vendor Permit
Vendors apply for a Special Event Vendor Permit by email, mail or in person; the business tax is charged per booth, per day, with amounts listed on the application. Business license inspectors check vendors at events, and unlicensed vendors owe the tax plus a field collection fee.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of Long Beach Business License Division
- When
- Anyone vending, selling or displaying items at a special event in Long Beach.
- Fee
- $38.00 field collection fee for vendors found without a permit; per-booth, per-day tax amounts are on the application form
- Timing
- Submit the application at least 10 days in advance
Sales tax.
Seller's permit or temporary seller's permit
Craft, swap meet and special event sellers need a California seller's permit; a temporary one is for locations open under 90 days and is registered per location with start and end dates. Vendors give the event operator their permit number and details, and CDTFA offers form CDTFA-410-D for this.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)
- When
- Vendors making retail sales of taxable items at a market. A temporary seller's permit covers a sales location that will operate under 90 days; vendors who already hold a regular seller's permit register the market as a sub-permit instead.
- Timing
- A temporary seller's permit can be obtained up to 90 days before the start date
Operator duties for swap meets, flea markets and special events (Publication 111)
CDTFA's guidance for sellers and vendors lists what each seller must give the event operator in writing: business name, mailing address, phone, driver license or state ID number, a description of items sold, and the seller's permit number.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)
- When
- Organizers who rent or lease space to sellers at a swap meet, flea market or special event.
What the rules ask of you about vendors.
California law lets CDTFA require swap meet, flea market and special event operators to collect proof from each seller before renting space (a valid seller's permit, or a written statement that they sell nothing taxable), and to send CDTFA a vendor list when it asks. An operator who fails to comply can face a penalty of up to $1,000 per offense. Official page
When to apply.
- Special Event Permit: Applications must be received at least 60 days before the event
- Special Event Vendor Permit: Submit the application at least 10 days in advance
- Seller's permit or temporary seller's permit: A temporary seller's permit can be obtained up to 90 days before the start date
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 & Filming: 562-570-5333, EventPermits@longbeach.gov. Full page and sources for Long Beach.
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.