Event Planning Permit Requirements in Boston, MA

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if operating as a business entity (LLC or corporation) or if you have employees. Free from the IRS. You will need an EIN to open a business bank account and sign vendor contracts professionally.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. Massachusetts Business Registration

   Event planning businesses organized as an LLC, corporation, or limited partnership must register with the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Corporations Division. Sole proprietors and general partnerships using a trade name file a Business Certificate (DBA) with the city or town clerk where the business is based — Massachusetts has no state or county DBA registry. In Boston that is the City Clerk's Office ($65, renewed every four years).

   Official government source

   $500 for an LLC Certificate of Organization (the LLC annual report is also $500). $275 minimum for corporation Articles of Organization (up to 275,000 authorized shares, plus $100 per additional 100,000 shares); the corporate annual report is $125, or $100 filed electronically.·Corporations Division filings submitted online are processed quickly; confirm current processing times when filing

   $500 for an LLC Certificate of Organization (the LLC annual report is also $500). $275 minimum for corporation Articles of Organization (up to 275,000 authorized shares, plus $100 per additional 100,000 shares); the corporate annual report is $125, or $100 filed electronically.

   Corporations Division filings submitted online are processed quickly; confirm current processing times when filing

2. Massachusetts Sales Tax Vendor Registration (only if selling goods)

   Massachusetts sales tax applies to sales of tangible personal property, not to services, so event planning and coordination services are not subject to sales tax. If your business also sells taxable goods — event supplies, decorations, favors, floral arrangements you sell rather than arrange as a service — you must register as a sales tax vendor with the Department of Revenue through MassTaxConnect and collect and remit tax at 6.25%. Where a transaction mixes goods and services, Massachusetts applies an 'object of the transaction' analysis to decide taxability.

   Official government source

   Free — sales tax vendor registration through MassTaxConnect has no fee·Register online through MassTaxConnect; you get a confirmation email on completion and a registration certificate is mailed once approved

   Free — sales tax vendor registration through MassTaxConnect has no fee

   Register online through MassTaxConnect; you get a confirmation email on completion and a registration certificate is mailed once approved

1. Boston Business Certificate (if operating under a trade name)

   Boston does not issue a general business license, so there is no citywide license for event planners to obtain or renew. If you operate under a trade name (DBA) rather than your own legal name, you must file a Business Certificate with the Boston City Clerk's Office, renewed every four years, with a notarized owner signature. If you work from home, the Boston Zoning Code treats this as an accessory home occupation — an occupation for compensation carried on in the dwelling by a resident, using only equipment ordinarily incident to a dwelling, with no nonresident help and no trading in merchandise — and Inspectional Services does not issue a separate home occupation permit.

   Official government source

   $65 filing fee; an additional $35 if you are not a Massachusetts resident. Card payments add a 2.5% processor fee ($1 minimum).·Same day if filed in person at the City Clerk's Office, Boston City Hall Room 601; filings are also accepted by mail

   $65 filing fee; an additional $35 if you are not a Massachusetts resident. Card payments add a 2.5% processor fee ($1 minimum).

   Same day if filed in person at the City Clerk's Office, Boston City Hall Room 601; filings are also accepted by mail

2. Boston Outdoor Public Event Application

   Anyone hosting an outdoor event on public or private commercial property in Boston must submit an Outdoor Public Event application to Entertainment Licensing, whether the event is free, ticketed, or invitation-only. As the event planner you may file it for your client. The City sorts events into three tiers by length, footprint, and attendance, and the tier sets your deadline and requirements. You must first get written permission from the property owner or reserve the venue, then upload a legible, roughly-to-scale site plan (applications without one are not approved), plus a security and operations plan if you have staff. Tier 2 and Tier 3 events must carry insurance. Boston does not permit outdoor special events on residential private property. You may then be required to meet with the Outdoor Public Events Committee and collect permits from the departments represented on it.

   Official government source

   There is no published fee for the Outdoor Public Event application itself. Cost comes from the additional department permits your event triggers — a park reservation, street closing or public way permit, tent or stage permit, generator or open-flame permit, a temporary food service permit ($30 for the first day plus $5 for each additional consecutive day), or a one-day alcohol license from the Licensing Board.·Tier 1 (one day, stationary, two blocks or fewer, under 150 attendees): apply at least 10 business days ahead. Tier 2 (moving, more than two blocks, or 150-250 attendees): at least 20 business days. Tier 3 (multi-day, recurring, carnival, alcohol, MBTA stops, or over 250 attendees): at least 30 business days.

   There is no published fee for the Outdoor Public Event application itself. Cost comes from the additional department permits your event triggers — a park reservation, street closing or public way permit, tent or stage permit, generator or open-flame permit, a temporary food service permit ($30 for the first day plus $5 for each additional consecutive day), or a one-day alcohol license from the Licensing Board.

   Tier 1 (one day, stationary, two blocks or fewer, under 150 attendees): apply at least 10 business days ahead. Tier 2 (moving, more than two blocks, or 150-250 attendees): at least 20 business days. Tier 3 (multi-day, recurring, carnival, alcohol, MBTA stops, or over 250 attendees): at least 30 business days.

3. Boston Outdoor Public Event Application

   There is no separate Suffolk County temporary use permit — Boston has no county permitting authority above it, and the City's own process already covers events on public and private commercial property citywide. Anyone hosting an outdoor event in Boston submits an Outdoor Public Event application to Entertainment Licensing, which sorts events into three tiers by length, footprint, and attendance. You must first secure written permission from the property owner or reserve the venue, then upload a legible, roughly-to-scale site plan; applications without one are not approved. Tier 2 and Tier 3 events must carry insurance. The City does not permit outdoor special events on residential private property. Depending on the event you may also need permits from the Fire Department, Inspectional Services, EMS, or the Licensing Board for alcohol and entertainment.

   Official government source

   There is no published fee for the Outdoor Public Event application itself. Cost comes from the department permits your event triggers — a park reservation, street closing or public way permit, tent or stage permit, generator or open-flame permit, a temporary food service permit ($30 for the first day plus $5 per additional consecutive day), or a one-day alcohol license.·Tier 1 (one day, stationary, two blocks or fewer, under 150 attendees): apply at least 10 business days ahead. Tier 2 (moving, more than two blocks, or 150-250 attendees): at least 20 business days. Tier 3 (multi-day, recurring, carnival, alcohol, MBTA stops, or over 250 attendees): at least 30 business days.

   There is no published fee for the Outdoor Public Event application itself. Cost comes from the department permits your event triggers — a park reservation, street closing or public way permit, tent or stage permit, generator or open-flame permit, a temporary food service permit ($30 for the first day plus $5 per additional consecutive day), or a one-day alcohol license.

   Tier 1 (one day, stationary, two blocks or fewer, under 150 attendees): apply at least 10 business days ahead. Tier 2 (moving, more than two blocks, or 150-250 attendees): at least 20 business days. Tier 3 (multi-day, recurring, carnival, alcohol, MBTA stops, or over 250 attendees): at least 30 business days.

Official Sources

• Boston Business Licensing
• Massachusetts Secretary of State — Business Registration
• IRS EIN Application

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