This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Permit and tax rules change, and your situation may differ. Always confirm current requirements with the official state agency linked in this guide, and consult a licensed attorney or tax professional for advice about your specific business.Last verified against official state sources: 2026-06-11
If you sell handmade items like candles, jewelry, or other crafts at fairs and markets in California, you generally need a CDTFA seller's permit. CDTFA's rule is that making three or more sales of taxable items in a 12-month period requires a permit, even if your sales are temporary or occasional.
Register through CDTFA Online Services; CDTFA says a permit may be issued the same day, and you can register a temporary permit up to 90 days before your start date. A security deposit is required in some cases.
If you sell at a location for 90 days or less and have no permanent place of business, you can register for a free temporary seller's permit. Each temporary sales location is registered with start and end dates, and multiple locations can share one temporary permit if they fall in the same 90-day period. Your return is due by the last day of the month after the month the temporary location closes.
California's occasional seller allowance is narrow: fewer than three sales of taxable items in a 12-month period generally does not require a permit. CDTFA's example is holding no more than two garage sales of your own used household items per year; someone making crafts specifically to sell does not fit this exemption.
The statewide base rate is 7.25 percent, and most areas add voter-approved district taxes ranging from 0.10 to 2.00 percent, so the total depends on where the sale happens. Look up the rate for each event address with CDTFA's online rate lookup tool and charge the rate in effect at that location.
California has no single statewide business license, but most cities and counties require a local business license. Check the city hosting each event, and use the state's CalGold tool (calgold.ca.gov) to find local requirements.
Selling without a required permit is a misdemeanor under Revenue and Taxation Code section 6071.
Under Revenue and Taxation Code section 6073 and CDTFA Publication 111, swap meet, flea market, and special event operators may not rent space to a seller until they verify the seller holds a valid permit or is exempt, must keep written records of each seller for at least four years, and can be penalized up to $1,000 per seller for missing records.
Organizing an event? List your fair on TheCraftMap to reach thousands of vendors.
If you sell handmade items like candles, jewelry, or other crafts at fairs and markets in California, you generally need a CDTFA seller's permit. CDTFA's rule is that making three or more sales of taxable items in a 12-month period requires a permit, even if your sales are temporary or occasional.
California Seller's Permit (temporary permit available for events), issued by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA). Cost: Free. Register through CDTFA Online Services; CDTFA says a permit may be issued the same day, and you can register a temporary permit up to 90 days before your start date. A security deposit is required in some cases.
California's occasional seller allowance is narrow: fewer than three sales of taxable items in a 12-month period generally does not require a permit. CDTFA's example is holding no more than two garage sales of your own used household items per year; someone making crafts specifically to sell does not fit this exemption.
The statewide base rate is 7.25 percent, and most areas add voter-approved district taxes ranging from 0.10 to 2.00 percent, so the total depends on where the sale happens. Look up the rate for each event address with CDTFA's online rate lookup tool and charge the rate in effect at that location.
California has no single statewide business license, but most cities and counties require a local business license. Check the city hosting each event, and use the state's CalGold tool (calgold.ca.gov) to find local requirements.
Browse upcoming craft fairs in California with booth fees and application deadlines, read our picks for the best California craft fairs, and use the booth ROI calculator to plan your season.
Last verified: 2026-06-11. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.