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 Spokane, WA.
To run a vendor market in Spokane, an organizer applies for a city Special Event Permit when the event uses public property or needs public safety services, with a fee set by expected attendance. Vendors need a Spokane business registration and Washington sales tax registration, and food booths need a Spokane Regional Health District temporary food permit.
Not shown, based on your answers: food vendors. See everything for Spokane.
Event permit.
Special Event Permit
The application is filed online and the city's departments respond within about 10 days with any added requirements. Fire permits, park use, temporary entertainment facility charges and services such as off-duty police are extra.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Spokane
- When
- Pre-planned events using or affecting public property or facilities, or needing city public safety services, such as events with street closures, moving routes, sound amplification or over 10,000 attendees
- Fee
- Application fee by size: $50 (50 or fewer people), $100 (51-1,000), $250 (1,001-10,000), $500 (10,001 or more)
- Timing
- Apply as early as 90 days and no less than 30 days before the event
Other rules.
Event liability insurance
The city is named as additional insured; the permits page says a homeowner's policy may substitute for small residential events.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Spokane
- When
- Special event permit holders
- Fee
- Comprehensive general liability of at least $1 million single limit
Vendor and business licenses.
Temporary business registration and itinerant vendor permit
The city says no one may do business in or with the city without a valid temporary business registration, and itinerant vendors need a permit on top of it. Both can be obtained online through the city's permit portal or by PDF application. The page states no fee.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of Spokane Taxes and Licenses
- When
- Businesses with no permanent location, or doing business in the city without a regular registration; itinerant vendors selling from fixed or temporary spots
Sales tax.
Retail sales tax
Sellers collect sales tax from customers and remit it as trust funds with their excise tax return. The state rate is 6.5% and the local rate varies by location, based on where the customer receives the goods.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Washington State Department of Revenue
- When
- Businesses making retail sales in Washington, including at events.
Temporary Registration Certificate
Each certificate covers one event only. Register online or through a local field office, no earlier than six months before the event, and file the certificate form within 10 business days after the event; it cannot be filed online.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Washington State Department of Revenue
- When
- A business with no more than two events per year in Washington, each lasting no longer than one month, such as home, garden or craft shows, antique shows or fairs. Not available to established Washington businesses or those needing another agency's permit.
- Fee
- There is no fee for a Temporary Registration Certificate
What the rules ask of you about vendors.
A special event promoter (someone who organizes, operates or sponsors an event and contracts with vendors) must make a good faith effort to verify every vendor selling goods or services has a Department of Revenue tax registration number, put that requirement and a number field in written vendor contracts, keep each vendor's name, address and number for one year, and give the Department a vendor list within 20 days of a written request. Penalties include $100 per unregistered vendor, with exclusions for nonprofit-benefit events and events charging vendors $200 or less. Official page
When to apply.
- Special Event Permit: Apply as early as 90 days and no less than 30 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 2026-10-11. It isn't legal advice; rules, fees and deadlines change. Special events contact: Special Events Coordinator: eventpermits@spokanecity.org or 311 (509-755-2489). Full page and sources for Spokane.
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.