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
Any business selling taxable items in Pennsylvania, including craft vendors selling handmade candles, soap, or jewelry at fairs and markets, must hold a Sales, Use and Hotel Occupancy Tax License before selling. One license covers all your in-person events in the state, and a copy must be displayed at each location where you sell.
Register through the Pennsylvania Online Business Tax Registration on myPATH; registration letters are mailed within about 10 business days.
Pennsylvania has no separate temporary event permit; the regular sales tax license covers craft fair sales. The state's Transient Vendor Certificate applies only to sellers with no permanent Pennsylvania location, and the regulation (61 Pa. Code 39.1) expressly excludes people who handcraft items, defined as items predominately made by hand. Most handmade-goods vendors, including out-of-state crafters selling their own work, just register for the standard license.
Pennsylvania exempts isolated sales by people not in the business of selling, generally capped at three sales or seven total days per calendar year (61 Pa. Code 32.1 and 32.4). The exemption is lost if you sell on the same premises in competition with vendors required to collect tax, which is exactly the situation at a craft fair, so working vendors cannot rely on it.
The state rate is 6 percent, with a 1 percent local tax added in Allegheny County and 2 percent in Philadelphia. So you charge 6 percent at most Pennsylvania events, 7 percent around Pittsburgh, and 8 percent in Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania has no general statewide business license, only industry-specific permits plus tax registration. Philadelphia is the notable exception, requiring a free Commercial Activity License for anyone doing business in the city.
Revenue enforcement agents can cite vendors selling without a valid license; it is a summary offense with fines of $300 to $1,500 per violation.
Anyone who rents or grants space at a show such as a flea market or craft show must hold a Promoter License from the Department of Revenue, registered through myPATH at least 30 days before the first show and renewed annually.
Organizing an event? List your fair on TheCraftMap to reach thousands of vendors.
Any business selling taxable items in Pennsylvania, including craft vendors selling handmade candles, soap, or jewelry at fairs and markets, must hold a Sales, Use and Hotel Occupancy Tax License before selling. One license covers all your in-person events in the state, and a copy must be displayed at each location where you sell.
Sales, Use and Hotel Occupancy Tax License (sales tax license), issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Cost: Free (registered through myPATH; no fee listed). Register through the Pennsylvania Online Business Tax Registration on myPATH; registration letters are mailed within about 10 business days.
Pennsylvania exempts isolated sales by people not in the business of selling, generally capped at three sales or seven total days per calendar year (61 Pa. Code 32.1 and 32.4). The exemption is lost if you sell on the same premises in competition with vendors required to collect tax, which is exactly the situation at a craft fair, so working vendors cannot rely on it.
The state rate is 6 percent, with a 1 percent local tax added in Allegheny County and 2 percent in Philadelphia. So you charge 6 percent at most Pennsylvania events, 7 percent around Pittsburgh, and 8 percent in Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania has no general statewide business license, only industry-specific permits plus tax registration. Philadelphia is the notable exception, requiring a free Commercial Activity License for anyone doing business in the city.
Browse upcoming craft fairs in Pennsylvania with booth fees and application deadlines, read our picks for the best Pennsylvania 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.