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 Memphis, TN.
To run a vendor market in Memphis, the organizer applies for a public assembly permit through the City of Memphis Permits Office if the event closes or affects a street, sidewalk or right-of-way. Food vendors need a Shelby County Health Department temporary event permit, and vendors register for Tennessee special event sales tax.
Not shown, based on your answers: food vendors. See everything for Memphis.
Event permit.
Public Assembly Permit
The applicant submits a map of the assembly area, a state-issued ID and a signed indemnity and hold harmless agreement. Non-residents must also post a surety bond or deposit equal to 50% of estimated costs.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Memphis Permits Office
- When
- Events involving a partial or full closure of a public street, sidewalk or right-of-way, or a change to normal vehicle or pedestrian traffic
- Fee
- $50 non-refundable application fee; additional $100 for a partial or full street closure
- Timing
- File at least 14 business days before the event
Other rules.
Insurance for street closures
The organizer carries liability insurance naming the City of Memphis, its officials and employees as additional insureds: $1,000,000 general aggregate, $1,000,000 personal injury, $1,000,000 each occurrence and $5,000 medical expense.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Memphis Permits Office
- When
- Public assembly events that close a street
Outdoor retail sales approval and alcohol permits
The application states that outdoor retail sales need code enforcement approval (901-222-8300) and that any alcohol requires separate permit or license documentation.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Memphis Permits Office
- When
- Public assembly events that include outdoor retail sales or alcohol
Vendor and business licenses.
Flea market and craft show operator business tax license and per-booth fee
The operator collects a daily per-booth fee from each exhibitor and sends it to the County Clerk (within 72 hours after a one-off show, or by the 10th of the following month for a continuing market). An exhibitor can hold their own business tax license instead of paying the per-booth fee.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- Shelby County Clerk, Business Tax Division
- When
- Flea markets, craft shows and similar shows run as public facilities where two or more retailers sell tangible goods. The owner, manager, operator or promoter must hold the license.
- Fee
- $1 per booth per day; $2 per booth per day for facilities inside Memphis city limits
- Timing
- Fees for a one-off show due within 72 hours after the event closes
Transient Vendor License and Transient Vendor Permit
Transient vendors obtain both a license and a permit from the County Clerk. The permit expires 14 days after issue and the vendor must re-apply for a new one.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Shelby County Clerk's Office
- When
- Anyone bringing new merchandise to temporary premises, including a tent or vacant lot, to sell to the public. Sellers by catalog or sample for later delivery are not covered. Vendors paying the per-booth fee through a market operator, or holding their own business tax license, are addressed on the Flea Markets page instead.
- Fee
- $162.00 permit fee (City of Memphis plus county); $107.00 (county only)
- Timing
- Permit expires 14 days after it is issued
Sales tax.
Tennessee special event sales tax registration
Each vendor registers for sales tax for the specific event: vendors with an existing Tennessee account ask the Department to add the event, and vendors without one submit the Special Event Vendor Registration. Vendors registered only for the event file a return due the 20th of the month after the event ends.
- Who
- Organizer and vendors
- From
- Tennessee Department of Revenue
- When
- Vendors and promoters selling at a short-term special event such as an arts and crafts show or holiday market
What the rules ask of you about vendors.
Tennessee treats the event promoter as a sales tax registrant for each event: the promoter registers the event location and dates with the Department of Revenue (by email, marking the application as Special Event Promoter), receives a letter to hand to every vendor, and files and pays tax on taxable sales. Official page
When to apply.
- Public Assembly Permit: File at least 14 business days before the event
- Flea market and craft show operator business tax license and per-booth fee: Fees for a one-off show due within 72 hours after the event closes
- Transient Vendor License and Transient Vendor Permit: Permit expires 14 days after it is issued
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: 901-636-6711 (City of Memphis Permits Office). Full page and sources for Memphis.
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.