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 Richmond, VA.
For a vendor market on Richmond public property, the organizer submits a Special Events Request Form at least 45 days ahead when the event involves sales of food, drink or merchandise. Vendors need a Richmond business license, food vendors need a Richmond City Health District temporary food permit, and temporary vendors report sales tax to Virginia Tax on form ST-50.
Not shown, based on your answers: parks and public space, food vendors. See everything for Richmond.
Event permit.
Special Events Request Form (Special Events Conditional Use Permit)
The organizer files the request through the city's special event planning portal and reads the city's rules and regulations first. Permit fees are set by city ordinance; the page lists no amounts.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Richmond Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (Special Events)
- When
- Events on public property that involve sales of food, beverages or merchandise, amplified sound, airborne objects, fireworks or carnival-type attractions, or that affect streets, rights-of-way or adjacent private property. The city also says any event on or affecting public property needs city permits.
- Timing
- Submit at least 45 days before the event
Vendor and business licenses.
Richmond business license (BPOL), including itinerant merchant and peddler flat fees
Most businesses must hold an annual city license, new ones within 30 days of opening, and a zoning certificate is checked first. Itinerant merchants, peddlers and sidewalk vendors pay flat fees, and sidewalk vendors must show liability insurance naming the City.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of Richmond Department of Finance, Business Unit
- When
- Businesses operating in the city; the page does not say how it treats a vendor attending a single event
- Fee
- Itinerant merchant $500 flat fee; peddlers $300; sidewalk vendors $300. Other businesses: $0 license cost on gross receipts of $5,000 or less, $30 for $5,001 to $500,000
Sales tax.
Temporary Sales Tax Certificate/Return (Form ST-50)
Event vendors without a Virginia account report and pay the tax on the ST-50 return, due by the 20th of the month after the event. A seller who attends 3 or more shows a year must instead register for a permanent sales tax account.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Virginia Department of Taxation (Virginia Tax)
- When
- Vendors at a show or event who are not permanently registered for Virginia sales tax; sellers at fairs and flea markets cannot rely on the occasional sale exemption
What the rules ask of you about vendors.
Virginia sales tax rules for fairs and flea markets say the Department of Taxation may authorize a sponsor or operator to remit the tax collected by the vendors at the event; an operator who wants that arrangement must apply to the Department in writing. The rule does not require a vendor list. Official page
When to apply.
- Special Events Request Form (Special Events Conditional Use Permit): Submit at least 45 days before 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: (804) 646-0761 (Special Events, Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities). Full page and sources for Richmond.
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.