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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Permits for your market in San Bernardino, CA.
In San Bernardino, a Special Event Permit from the Planning Division is required for gatherings of more than 100 people or lasting over three days, with insurance and county health and fire permits attached. Vendors need a city business registration certificate, food booths need San Bernardino County permits, and sellers need a California seller's permit.
Not shown, based on your answers: fire safety, tents and cooking, food vendors. See everything for San Bernardino.
Event permit.
Special Event Permit
The application needs a site plan, any county health permit and county fire permit, an ABC license if alcohol is served, a security contract and portable toilet order where needed, and a certificate of insurance. Staff route it to departments and issue an approval letter with conditions that must stay on site.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of San Bernardino Community Development Department, Planning Division
- When
- Gatherings of more than 100 attendees or lasting longer than three days; fairs, festivals and concerts outside venues built for them; food events with more than 3 trucks; certified farmers markets
- Fee
- $1,279.20 (Planning Division fee schedule 2024), plus any street closure, police, staff and facility charges
Temporary Use Permit
The application needs a notarized owner authorization, a site plan, proof of $1,000,000 insurance (naming the City on city-owned property), a flame-resistance certificate for tents and canopies, and a list of all vendors and their services.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of San Bernardino Community Development Department, Planning Division
- When
- Smaller temporary uses such as food carts, food trucks and fundraising events; ask Planning whether a small market fits here instead
- Fee
- $327.60 (Planning Division fee schedule 2024)
Other rules.
Event insurance
A certificate of insurance is required, and the city form lists minimums of $1,000,000 general liability, $1,000,000 auto liability and $1,000,000 workers' compensation, with the City and its officials named as additional insured. Limits may change with the event.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of San Bernardino Planning Division
- When
- Before a Special Event Permit is issued
Vendor and business licenses.
Business Registration Certificate
City law bars doing business without a registration certificate, with a separate one per location. Businesses based outside the city but working in it may pay a flat rate. Call 909-998-2101; the page does not give event-vendor fees.
- Who
- Organizer and vendors
- From
- City of San Bernardino Finance Department, Business Registration Division
- When
- Anyone conducting business in the city directly or indirectly; the city lists Temporary Events and Sidewalk Vendor among types needing special permitting
Sales tax.
Seller's permit or temporary seller's permit
A temporary seller's permit covers one selling location for 90 days or less, with start and end dates entered when registering online. Some sellers are exempt, such as those selling only exempt food products and occasional sellers.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)
- When
- Vendors making retail sales of taxable goods at a market; generally three or more taxable sales within 12 months at a location open for less than 90 days
- Fee
- Free
- Timing
- You may obtain a temporary seller's permit 90 days prior to your business start date
Seller information for the event operator
Sellers of new or used goods, including handcrafted items, generally hold a seller's permit, and a seller with an existing permit still registers a sub-permit for the temporary location. Sellers give the event operator their business details and permit number in writing, and CDTFA offers form CDTFA-410-D for this.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)
- When
- Sellers at swap meets, flea markets and special events
What the rules ask of you about vendors.
Under CDTFA Publication 111, operators of swap meets, flea markets and special events may not rent space to a seller until they verify the seller holds a valid seller's permit, unless an exemption applies. Operators collect each seller's business name, address, phone, ID, items sold and permit number in writing, keep the records at least four years, and give them to CDTFA within 30 days of a written request. The page warns of a penalty of up to $1,000 per seller for missing records. Official page
When to apply.
- Seller's permit or temporary seller's permit: You may obtain a temporary seller's permit 90 days prior to your business 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 2026-10-11. It isn't legal advice; rules, fees and deadlines change. Special events contact: Planning Division, 909-998-2000, Vanir Tower, 290 North D Street. Full page and sources for San Bernardino.
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.
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