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 Salt Lake City, UT.
To run a vendor market in Salt Lake City, the organizer needs a Special Event Permit from the city's event permit office when the market uses public property. Vendors need a city business license and a Utah special event sales tax license, and food booths need a Salt Lake County Health Department temporary food permit.
Not shown, based on your answers: food vendors. See everything for Salt Lake City.
Event permit.
Special Event Permit
The organizer applies to the city's event permit office, which coordinates review with departments such as Parks, Police, Fire, Transportation and the Salt Lake County Health Department. The city warns that holding an event without a final permit can put future permit requests at risk and can be charged as a Class B misdemeanor.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- Salt Lake City Event Permits office
- When
- Events, demonstrations, film shoots and block parties on Salt Lake City public property such as parks, roads, sidewalks and plazas. Activity held only on private property does not need this permit.
- Fee
- $151.00 application fee (the instructions page lists $137.00; see notes)
- Timing
- Apply between 364 days and 30 days before the event; 3 to 6 months ahead is recommended for larger or first-time events
Other rules.
Event liability insurance
The city's instructions call for a policy naming Salt Lake City Corporation as additional insured, issued by a Utah-licensed insurer rated A- or better.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- Salt Lake City Event Permits office
- When
- Many special events; the requirement depends on the event
- Fee
- $1,000,000 per occurrence with a $2,000,000 general aggregate
Alcohol at an event: DABS local consent and single event permit
The event needs state DABS approval, and Salt Lake City Business Licensing supplies the local consent through a single event application. The permit instructions page asks for alcohol events to apply earlier than other events.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- Salt Lake City Business Licensing; Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services
- When
- Events serving or selling beer or alcohol, on public or private property
- Timing
- Single event applications at least 17 days before the event; at least 60 days before for alcohol on the special event permit
Vendor and business licenses.
Salt Lake City business license
The city says any business engaged in business in Salt Lake City, even temporarily, must hold a valid license, and applications are online only. Applicants need Utah Commerce registration and a state sales tax number if applicable. The pages read describe no separate short-term market vendor license; ask Business Licensing.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Salt Lake City Finance, Business Licensing
- When
- Any business that sells goods within city limits, permanently or temporarily
Sales tax.
Temporary Sales Tax License and Special Return (TC-790C)
Each vendor needs a Special Event Taxpayer ID, which is given to each event promoter, and the Tax Commission issues the event-specific license and return once the promoter submits the participant list. The vendor files the return and pays within 30 days after the event ends, using the tax rate where the event takes place.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Utah State Tax Commission, Special Events Unit
- When
- Vendors with taxable sales at a one-time event or an event running six months or less, such as festivals, swap meets and art shows
What the rules ask of you about vendors.
Utah's Tax Commission says the promoter of an organized special event must collect each vendor's name, address, phone, Special Event Tax ID, SSN, EIN or sales tax account number, product and email, and send the participant list (form TC-791) so the Commission can issue vendors' event licenses. As of April 2025 vendors need a Special Event Taxpayer ID to take part, and local licensing offices may check vendors' sales tax numbers. Official page
When to apply.
- Special Event Permit: Apply between 364 days and 30 days before the event; 3 to 6 months ahead is recommended for larger or first-time events
- Alcohol at an event: DABS local consent and single event permit: Single event applications at least 17 days before the event; at least 60 days before for alcohol on the special event permit
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: Event Permits office: 801-972-7815, eventpermits@slcgov.com (9 AM-5 PM Monday-Friday). Full page and sources for Salt Lake City.
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.