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 St. Louis, MO.
To run a vendor market on public property in St. Louis, the organizer applies to the Office of Special Events at least 30 days ahead with $1,000,000 in liability insurance. Food vendors need Department of Health temporary food permits, vendors need a License Collector permit or waiver, and sellers need a Missouri sales tax license.
Not shown, based on your answers: fire safety, tents and cooking, food vendors. See everything for St. Louis.
Event permit.
Special Event Permit
Applications go through the city's online system. Organizers must show $1,000,000 in liability insurance naming the city as additional insured and hire their own traffic control, restrooms, waste cleanup and any tents or stages.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of St. Louis Office of Special Events
- When
- Events open to the public on public property (streets, sidewalks, parks) that include food service, liquor, street closures, tents, staging or generators. The page does not address events held only on private property.
- Fee
- $25 non-refundable if submitted 90 or more days before the event; $100 if submitted less than 90 days before
- Timing
- No later than 30 days before the event; 90 days recommended
Other rules.
Security staffing for large or alcohol events
Licensed security personnel must be hired. Liquor service at special events is limited to nonprofits and businesses that already hold a liquor license.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of St. Louis Office of Special Events
- When
- Events serving alcohol or expecting 500 or more attendees
Vendor and business licenses.
Vendor permit or waiver from the License Collector (festival vendors)
The organizer submits a vendor list with the permit application, and vendors obtain their vendor license or waiver from the License Collector before they can apply for a temporary food permit. Fee for the festival vendor license was not stated on the pages read.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of St. Louis Office of the License Collector
- When
- Vendors at a permitted special event. A licensed vendor cannot sell within 300 feet of a fair or festival without the permit holder's written permission or a festival vendor's license.
Itinerant Vendor License
Seven-step process: Missouri sales tax number, owner's written permission, application, Collector of Revenue clearance, health permit if selling food, fire permit if using propane, then return for the license. Payment is cash, money order or cashier's check only.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of St. Louis Office of the License Collector
- When
- Temporary sales on private property inside a building or enclosed structure, with written permission from the property owner. The city's sidewalk vendor license is a separate license for public rights-of-way and does not cover special-event vendors.
- Fee
- $25.00 per day, up to 3 consecutive days per license period
Sales tax.
Missouri sales tax license for special events (Form 2643S)
Anyone selling retail to the public at a special event must collect Missouri sales tax and hold a sales tax license, even for a hobby. The license covers sales in all Missouri cities and counties, and vendors report the city or county breakdown of event sales when filing.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- Missouri Department of Revenue
- When
- Individuals and general partnerships selling at craft shows, farmers markets and similar events who do not sell in Missouri continually. LLCs and corporations use Form 2643A.
- Timing
- Contact the Department 3 to 4 weeks before the event
What the rules ask of you about vendors.
St. Louis requires the organizer to submit a list of every vendor with the special event application (business name, address, Federal ID or 501(c)(3) number, and what they sell) and to make sure all vendors have the proper permits. Missouri's Department of Revenue also expects organizers to see that every retail vendor has a Missouri tax ID number. Official page
When to apply.
- Special Event Permit: No later than 30 days before the event; 90 days recommended
- Missouri sales tax license for special events (Form 2643S): Contact the Department 3 to 4 weeks 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: Office of Special Events (314) 589-6640; License Collector (314) 622-4528; Department of Health food control (314) 612-5100. Full page and sources for St. Louis.
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.