Tips for Obtaining Permits Related to Prince George’s County Farmers Markets
This tip sheet was developed in collaboration with the Prince George’s County Department of Permitting, Inspections and
Enforcement, Health Department, Office of the Fire Marshal, Food Equity Council, and University of Maryland Extension.
The following are guidelines for obtaining the necessary permits for market organizers and participating farmers market
vendors in Prince George’s County. If you have any questions, please contact ​Clarence Moseley​, Permits Supervisor,
Permits Information and Management Section, at 301.883.5925 or ​[email protected]​. The fee schedule for farmers
market related permits can be found on page 2.
Farmers Market Organizers
● Complete the highlighted sections of the ​“Special Event Permit Requirements” application -P.G.C. DPIE Form
#P&L-L024​ (Rev.7/15). Please verify that this is the most updated version.
● The “Special Event (including Farmers’ Market) Organizers U&O Fee,” costs $90 if applied for by April 30th ($150 if
applied for after April 30th). ​There are no additional tent fees for farmers
​
markets. Bring your application and fee
to Suite 100 (main permit office) at DPIE. I​ f you have any issues the day you apply for your permit, contact
Clarence Moseley by phone or visit him in Suite 123.
● Please note the following:
○ Generators​ (unless they are the large, tow-behind type requiring a semi-hard wired connection) do not
require a permit; however, they must be placed 5 feet from the structure (tent) and barricaded (i.e. fencing,
cones).
○ You will need to schedule a follow-up inspection with DPIE​. Call 301.883.6168 to schedule your
inspection. The market set-up during inspection should reflect the site plan submitted with the application.
Here​ is a site plan example.
○ Please make sure that each tent has adequate weights for the wind conditions.​ All tents should be
weighted at all times. If there are strong winds, we recommend that tents are not used that day for safety
reasons (except in the case of prepared food vendors subject to Health Department guidelines). The
Washington State Farmers Market Association has produced ​tent safety guidelines​ for additional
information.
○ Tents must be inspected by fire marshals​. Please refer to ​Fire Bulletin Protection Bulletin F10-02​ as well
as the ​Requirements for Fairgrounds, Festivals and Special Events​ (including farmers markets). Markets
must provide documentation indicating that the tents used in the market are fire retardant. Tents should
have a ​NFPA701 rating​. Here is a ​list of tent companies​ that manufacture tents with this rating. The tent
certification has to be attached/notated​ on the fabric and paper certificates ​will not​ be accepted. In
addition, you will need to ​complete the paperwork below​ and then contact the Office of the Fire Marshal
at 301.583.1830 or ​[email protected]​ (China Roots) to schedule your inspection. ​Fees​ are based on
assembly and are found in Prince George’s County ​Subtitle 11​ (Fire Safety). Mail your certified check or
money order to the address listed in the request from below at least 45 days before opening day.
■ Fire Marshal Inspection Request
■ Fire Marshal Special Event Questionnaire
○ It is recommended that each market ​keep a fire extinguisher​ on hand in the event of a fire. Refer to the
special event safety ​tip sheet​ for additional information and fire safety guidelines.
Farmers Market Vendors
● For assistance in applying for a permit for your food operation, please contact the ​Prince George’s County Health
Department Food Protection Program ​at 301.883.7690 or ​[email protected]​.
○ Refer to the Health Department’s “​Farmers Market Regulations​” web page for information regarding permits
and licensing.
○ For additional information, refer to the “​Food Protection & Policy Program Process for Farmers Market &
Farmers Market Sampler’s Licenses​.”
● Produce vendors ​need to submit a “Farmers’ Market Vendor/Sampler/Temporary Special Food Service Facility
Permit” if they plan to sample. Check the “Farmers’ Market Sampler” box on the “​Farmers’ Market
Revised January 25, 2017
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Vendor/Sampler/Temporary Special Food Service Facility Permit Application​.” The samplers license is valid for the
following circumstances:
○ Farmers who are providing sample of their produce.
○ Licensed commercial bakeries that are providing pieces of a product as samples.
○ Samples of a packaged food from an approved source that does not undergo any preparation at the
Farmers Market (​ ​i.e. samples made in an approved certified kitchen).
○ Samples of hot or cold beverages when the business primarily sells the ingredients to make these items must be sample size only.
○ Samples from an on-farm processor including meats that are cooked for sampling on-site.
Full season prepared food vendors ​must apply for a “​Farmers’ Market Vendor/Sampler/Temporary Special Food
Service Facility Permit Application​.” Check the “Farmer’s Market Vendor” box.
Single day prepared food vendors​ that wish to try a market must apply for a “​Farmers’ Market
Vendor/Sampler/Temporary Special Food Service Facility Permit Application​.” Check the “Farmers’ Market Single
Day” box. This can be used to participate ​only one day at one market.
Chefs conducting cooking demonstrations​, if serving the food they prepared, must apply for a“​Farmers’ Market
Vendor/Sampler/Temporary Special Food Service Facility Permit Application​.” ​ ​For a series of demos, complete the
same permit as the full season prepared food vendors. ​Contact the Food Protection Program for more
information.
You may not need a permit if you are selling ​approved cottage foods​, foods holding an ​on-farm processing
permit ​from MD and ​pre-packaged foods not requiring refrigeration​ (no open packages for sampling allowed).
Contact the Food Protection Program for more information.
Mobile units​ that operate at Farmer’s Markets must hold a current Prince George’s County Mobile unit license or
obtain a Temporary Farmer’s Market Permit.
All prepared food vendors need appropriate handwashing and sanitizing stations​. Please refer to the “​Basic
Licensing Requirements for Temporary Event/Special Event Food Service Facilities​” checklist for more information.
Please note that in order to sell prepared food at a Prince George’s County Farmers Market, the farmers
market must be recognized by the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA).​ Vendors at first year markets
are eligible as long as the market can document that they have contacted MDA and their paperwork is in process.
For more information about MDA’s ​farmers market program​, ​criteria​ to be an FMNP approved market, and additional
resources, please contact Shelby Watson Hampton at 410.841.5776 or ​[email protected]​.
Important Contact Information​:
Clarence Moseley​, Permits Supervisor, Permits Information and Management Section, DPIE
p: 301.883.5925
e: ​CEMoseley@@co.pg.md.us
Robbi Das​,​ ​Associate Director, Prince George’s County Department of Permitting, Inspections & Enforcement
p: 301.636.2059
e: ​[email protected]
Jim Reilly, ​Battalion Chief, Prince George’s County Office of the Fire Marshal
p: 301.583.1830
e: ​[email protected]
China Roots, ​Lieutenant, Prince George’s County Office of the Fire Marshal
​p: 301.583.1830
e: ​[email protected]
Susan Thweatt​, Program Chief, Food Protection Program, Environmental Health, Prince George's County Health
Department
p: 301.883.7692
e: ​[email protected]
Revised January 25, 2017
Sabrina Cole​, Special Food Facilities Specialist, Food Protection and Policy Program, Prince George’s County Health
Department
p: 301.883.3319
e: ​[email protected]
Debra Freeman​, Supervisor, Food Protection and Policy Program, Prince George’s County Health Department
p: 301.883.7694
e: ​[email protected]
Kim Rush Lynch​, Agriculture Marketing Specialist, UMD Extension, Prince George’s County
p: 301.868.8780
e: ​[email protected]
Farmers’ Market Fees
(Effective July 1, 2015)
Food Service Facility –
Farmers’ Market License Fee -- For Profit,
Non-Profit or Government Agency
Food Service Facility –
Farmers’ Market License Fee -- For Profit,
Non-Profit or Government Agency
Food Service Facility –Farmers Market
License Fee-- Single Day License
Food Service Facility –
Farmers’ Market Samplers License
License Fees*
$175
For participation in up to 2
Farmers’ Market
$250
For participation in up to 2
Farmers’ Markets
$75
For one-day participation in 1
Farmers’ Markets
$25
For each Farmers’ Market
If ​applied for by ​April 30​ of
each year
If ​applied for after ​April 30
of each year
--
Yearly fee
Permit & Inspection Fees*
$90
If ​applied for by ​April 30​ of
each year
$150
If ​applied for after ​April 30
of each year
$120 - $360
Based on peak times at
See Subtitle 11
farmers market. ​Apply 45
days in advance.
*All permitting and licensing fees are assessed an additional percent (5%) Technology Fee except for
multifamily and single family rental licenses, fees in lieu, fines* and late fees**. All fees are subject to change
based on County codes.
Special Event/Farmers’ Market
Organizer’s Use and Occupancy Fee
Special Event/Farmers’ Market
Organizer’s Use and Occupancy Fee
Fire Marshal Inspection Fee
Revised January 25, 2017