Charleston, WV Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit fee
- $20 per calendar year
- Issuing office
- City Collector's Office
- Max civil penalty
- $500 per offense/day
- Food/alcohol vendors
- Health dept & ABCA approval needed
- Permit renewal
- Expires December 31 annually
Summary
Event vendors selling at Charleston street fairs and festivals need a $20 annual vending permit from the city collector, plus proof of health and insurance compliance before setting up.
(a)No person or business entity, including a religious or charitable organization, shall operate as a vendor within the city without a vending permit, except as otherwise herein provided.(b)An applicant for a vending permit shall file an application with the City of Charleston City Collector's Office on such forms and subject to such procedures as the city collector's office may establish. All applicants shall acknowledge in writing that they will not serve food or alcohol, unless and until they are in good standing with the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department and the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration, as applicable. Upon request by the city collector's office, a vendor shall submit evidence of approval from the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department and the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration, as applicable.(c)The city shall charge an administrative fee for permits of $20.00 per permit per calendar year, or any portion thereof. Dishonored checks shall be subject to a $15.00 returned check fee in addition to the $20.00 permit fee. The applicant shall indicate whether it is applying to be a street vendor, event vendor, or private property vendor.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 56).
Full Breakdown
Anyone selling goods, food, or services at a city-authorized street fair or festival qualifies as an 'event vendor' and must hold a vending permit from the City Collector's Office ($20/year, nonrefundable, expires Dec. 31). Applicants must acknowledge in writing they're operating only within the authorized event and that the event's umbrella insurance covers them, or supply added coverage info to the city event coordinator. Food or alcohol vendors must be in good standing with the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department and WV ABCA. Permits are nontransferable and must be displayed on the vending unit at all times.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a permit or violating permit terms lets the city collector revoke it; separately, violating this article is a civil penalty up to $500 per offense, with each day counted as a separate offense, appealable to municipal court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do street fair vendors in Charleston need a separate permit from regular street vendors?
What happens if a vendor operates at a Charleston festival without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charleston
Compare Charleston to another location·View the West Virginia special events & permits overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.