Farmers Markets and Temporary Events

Ways To Participate In Farmers Markets and Temporary Events

  • Selling food from a booth, tent, or stall that you set up at a farmers market, fair, festival, fundraiser, sporting event, circus, carnival, convention, or other type of public event.

  • Selling food from a mobile food truck, trailer, or cart at a farmers market, fair, festival, fundraiser, sporting event, circus, carnival, convention, or other type of public event.

If you own an established food business, participating can expand your operations and revenue stream. For new businesses, it's a great way to enter the food service industry without investing in a restaurant or food truck.

If you haven’t registered your business yet, you must put together a business plan and get licensed to operate in Seattle. Visit our Start a Business in Seattle page for information before you take the steps below.

How To Start Selling

The guide below will help you through the steps to be a vendor at Farmers Markets and Temporary Events. Information focuses on prepared and processed/value added food businesses. Find information for farmers at Farm King County.

Each market and event also has requirements for participation. Check with them to find out about space, application guidelines, and insurance requirements. 

If you plan on participating in a farmers market, please note that many of the farmers markets start in the spring (April/May) and run through October. Spaces are limited and fill up quickly, so it is important to begin planning and discussing with farmers markets as early as possible.  

Food businesses selling at a Seattle farmers market must use ingredients from Washington state farms. Farmers markets located outside of Seattle may have different requirements. 

Temporary Event Permits from Seattle & King County Department of Public Health

Visit King County's Temporary Food Service Business Permit page to learn about the different types of permits you can apply for. Applications must be submitted at least two (2) weeks before the start of the event or farmers market.

  • Temporary Event Permits include participation in farmers markets. Each farmers market is considered as one event for the duration of the season. For example, if you are participating every Wednesday in a farmers market that runs from April to October, that is considered one event with one permit.

  • If you have already been permitted by the WSDA and/or the USDA, you may still need a Temporary Food Service Business permit from King County if you are doing retail sales or providing taste testing.

  • See the Temporary Food Establishment Guidelines & Fee Schedules to learn more about the application process and temporary food service requirements.

  • If you are operating at a farmers market or temporary event in King County from your mobile food truck, trailer, or cart AND you have a King County Mobile Food Service Business permit, you do not need to apply for a King County Temporary Event permit. However, if you are operating outside of your mobile food operation and setting up a booth/tent/stall, you will need to apply for a temporary event permit.

  • If you plan on operating at farmers markets and temporary events outside of King County, please check with the local county health department as you may need to apply for a temporary event permit in each local jurisdiction. 

WA Department of Agriculture licenses only apply to food businesses who are planning to: 

  • Wholesale their products (Food Processor License) 

  • Make low-risk foods in their home kitchens to sell to consumers (Cottage Food License) 

Food Processor License

Required if you plan to wholesale your food products (selling to grocery stores, cafes, other vendors who plan to resell your product). If you process food that contains more than 2% cooked or 3% raw USDA meat ingredients by weight, you will need to be approved by the USDA.

To see if you need a Food Processor license, visit the WSDA's Food Processor page. 

Requirements for becoming licensed can be found on the Food Processor Application. 

Cottage Food License 

Required if you plan to use your home kitchen to make and sell low-risk food directly to consumers. 

  • Examples of “low-risk” foods include baked goods, candies, jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butters, dry spice blends, or dry tea blends.

  • This license does not allow you to wholesale your products.

  • This is the only license that permits you to use your home kitchen to cook allowable foods on a commercial basis.

  • There is a $25,000 gross sales limit under this license.

  • You may still need a Temporary Food Service Business permit from King County if you are doing retail sales or providing taste testing. Call the King County Plan Examiners to check your specific situation.

Additional details and fees for Cottage Food Licenses can be found on the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s website.

Requirements for becoming a cottage food business operator can be found on the Cottage Food License Application. 

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approval is required for food businesses who are planning to wholesale their products AND their food product contains more than 2% cooked or 3% raw USDA meat ingredients by weight.

Seattle Fire Department (SFD) Permits for Food Booths:

  • Farmers Market Organizers (Assembly Permit): Organizers must receive a free assembly permit (code 2500-FM) from SFD if the farmers’ market alters existing exit configurations or fire lanes.  

  • Food Vendors (LPG/Propane Permits): Any vendor who is planning to cook food onsite at a farmers market using propane or briquettes/open flame requires a permit. There is a choice of permits with different duration and costs depending on your needs, including: 

    • 2500-LPG, 8206-FVH (non-mobile booths)

    • 8206-TRK (food trucks)

    • 8206-RGL (food trucks with regional inspection)

    • 8207 (single event) 

Public Health - Seattle & King County

Once you have an approved King County Temporary Food Service Business Permit, King County health inspectors will come to inspect your operation during the time of the farmers market or event. 
 

WA Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Agriculture

If you need additional permitting or approval from the WSDA and USDA, you will need to be inspected by them before being able to participate. Inspection times vary depending on the type of permit or license you are getting. Please check with those agencies for their inspection process and timeline. 

If you plan on hiring employees, learn more about how you need to register, train and keep your employees safe by visiting our Final Prep page.

Or read in-depth about local Labor Ordinances on the City’s Labor Standards website. 

Congratulations! You're ready to open!

Visit our You're in Business page to keep up to date with your ongoing business obligations. 

Economic Development

Markham McIntyre, Director
Address: 700 5th Ave, Suite 5752, Seattle, WA, 98104
Mailing Address: PO Box 94708, Seattle, WA, 98124-4708
Phone: (206) 684-8090
Phone Alt: (206) 684-0379
Fax: (206) 684-0379
oed@seattle.gov

Newsletter Updates

Subscribe

Sign up for the latest updates from Economic Development

The mission of the Office of Economic Development (OED) is to help create healthy businesses, thriving neighborhoods, and community organizations to contribute to a robust economy that will benefit all Seattle residents and future generations.