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 Scottsdale, AZ.
To run a vendor market in Scottsdale, an organizer applies for a Special Event Permit through the city's SPUR portal (a simple permit on private property, a standard permit on public property). Food vendors need Maricopa County Environmental Services permits, and all vendors need an Arizona TPT license with the Scottsdale region code. Confirm details with each office.
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Event permit.
Special Event Permit, Standard Application
Applications go through the SPUR online permitting portal and are reviewed by a city special event team covering police, fire, transportation and risk. The guidebook requires a site plan, and fees must be paid and the permit issued a week before the event.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Scottsdale Tourism & Events Department
- When
- Events held on public property, on both public and private property, or on private property with impacts to city facilities and services
- Fee
- $110 non-refundable review fee plus $220 permit fee; public-property use fees are extra
- Timing
- Submit no later than 60 calendar days before the event
Special Event Permit, Simple Application
Private-property events with a modest footprint, attendance and traffic use the simple application in SPUR with a site plan. Fees must be paid and the permit issued three days before the event. Grand openings and sidewalk sales use a no-fee administrative approval instead.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Scottsdale Tourism & Events Department
- When
- Events held entirely on private property that need no city services beyond what the site normally uses; a staff review can move an event to the standard category
- Fee
- $110 non-refundable review fee plus $55 permit fee
- Timing
- Submit no later than 30 calendar days before the event
Other rules.
Insurance for events on city property
The standard minimum is commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence with a $2,000,000 general aggregate, naming the City of Scottsdale as additional insured, plus $1,000,000 commercial auto. Liquor liability of $2,000,000 or $5,000,000 per occurrence applies where alcohol is served on city property.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Scottsdale Safety & Risk Management
- When
- Events held on city or public property; amounts set by Risk Management by event size and risk
Vendor and business licenses.
Scottsdale Business Registration License (Merchant)
The city requires a Business Registration License for businesses located in Scottsdale; the merchant license is obtained with a copy of the state TPT license showing the Scottsdale (SC) region code. Out-of-town vendors at an event are told only to hold the TPT license.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of Scottsdale Business Services / Tax and License
- When
- Businesses located in Scottsdale. The event guidebook asks event vendors for a TPT license with the Scottsdale region code rather than a separate event license.
Sales tax.
Arizona TPT license with Scottsdale (SC) region code
The guidebook says vendors who sell products, food or drinks at an event must hold a state TPT license with Scottsdale listed as a region code. Space rental, entry fees, advertising and out-of-state order-taking are taxable, and vendors with back taxes owed may be barred.
- Who
- Organizer and vendors
- From
- Arizona Department of Revenue
- When
- Event sponsor or promoter, all food, beverage and product vendors, and amusement operators at a Scottsdale special event
Arizona Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license for special events
Vendors who sell at events are responsible for collecting and remitting TPT under the retail classification, applying with the Arizona Joint Tax Application (JT-1). A promoter may hold a license and collect for vendors only if a central cash register is used; vendors selling independently must be licensed themselves.
- Who
- Organizer and vendors
- From
- Arizona Department of Revenue
- When
- Anyone selling tangible personal property at a craft show, swap meet or special event
What the rules ask of you about vendors.
Scottsdale requires the event applicant to give the city's Tax and License Division a list of participating vendors within 14 days after the event, with each vendor's TPT license number or its business name, address, email and phone. Arizona law also requires event operators to keep a current vendor list (A.R.S. 42-1105 G). Official page
When to apply.
- Special Event Permit, Standard Application: Submit no later than 60 calendar days before the event
- Special Event Permit, Simple Application: Submit no later than 30 calendar 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: Tourism and Events Office (special event team meetings): 480-312-7177. Full page and sources for Scottsdale.
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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