Vendor Types
Art, Craft, Travel & Retail Vendors
Craft vendors sell handmade goods such as jewelry, artwork, wreaths, and other artisan items. Retail vendors are typically independent consultants representing a parent company, such as Tupperware, Mary Kay, or
LuLaRoe.
The sale of Food Court, Cottage Food, or Farmer’s Market items within a Retail Booth is strictly prohibited. Additionally, food or beverages—packaged or unpackaged—may not be sold or distributed from Craft or Retail
booths. All food sales must occur only within the designated Food Court or Farmer’s Market areas and must comply with the City of Helotes Code of Ordinances and State health regulations.
Nonprofit Vendors
Non-profit vendors at the Helotes MarketPlace are limited to 501(c)(3) organizations that promote their mission or provide education about their services. Only non-profits headquartered within the City of Helotes limits,
excluding the City’s ETJ, are eligible to participate. A valid 501(c)(3) verification must be on file before registration. All non-profit registrations must be completed on a month-by-month basis under a one-day subscription, as auto-renewal subscriptions are not permitted.
Non-profits that are not headquartered within the City of Helotes limits may not register under another booth category, such as a Retail Booth, to promote their non-profit, as doing so takes away space from other vendors who qualify for that booth category. Non-profit booths may not share booths with another vendor, as booth sharing is not permitted.
Eligible non-profits receive one complimentary 10×10 booth space per MarketPlace event. Additional booth spaces may be purchased at the standard vendor rate. Vendors must remain within the boundaries of their
assigned booth at all times, and all activity, including handing out flyers, brochures, or other informational materials, must take place inside the booth space. Walking around the event grounds to distribute materials or engage with attendees outside of the booth is not permitted, ensuring a consistent and respectful experience for all vendors and guests.
Non-profit vendors may not distribute or sell products classified as Cottage Food, Farmer’s Market goods, or Food Court items. This policy ensures compliance with health and safety regulations and maintains fairness for
licensed food vendors who follow strict permitting/no duplication requirements. It also helps ensure equity between food vendors who pay for both their booth and a food permit and non-profit vendors operating from a
complimentary booth.
There is a limited number of nonprofit booth spaces available at this event. Therefore, we cannot offer nonprofits located outside of the City of Helotes City Limits a booth space at the event.
Food Court Vendors
Food Court vendors prepare and sell food on-site at the MarketPlace for public consumption. Food trucks are welcome. Standard booth spaces are 10×10 feet; vendors who need additional room must purchase multiple adjacent spaces. The sale of retail merchandise is strictly prohibited within Food Court booths.
To maintain variety, no Food Court vendor may sell the same prepared or cooked item as another established vendor. Exceptions include prepackaged and canned beverages (such as bottled water, soda, and juice pouches) and prepackaged snacks (such as chips and candy). Vendors also may not offer prepared food items that directly duplicate those sold by existing Old Town Helotes businesses. This restriction applies only to prepared foods
and does not include prepackaged products such as bottled water.
All new Food Court vendors must email MarketPlace event staff at themarketplace@helotes-tx.gov to confirm their products comply with duplication rules. Any new food items must be approved before being added to a vendor’s menu or license. Once a menu is updated, it is the vendor’s responsibility to promptly update their product description in the vendor portal at www.helotesmarketplace.com.
The sale of retail items is strictly prohibited within Food Court Booths.
Temporary Food License:
All Food Court vendors are required to have a City of Helotes Temporary Food License. Licenses are issued only by the City of Helotes; county permits or licenses from other cities are not accepted.
The City offers three options:
• One-Day License
• Annual License (valid for 12 months)
• Food Truck License (Please contact Helotes Development Services for more information.)
Applications can be completed and paid for online at www.helotes-tx.gov or in person at the Development Services Department at City Hall. Obtaining, maintaining, and renewing the license is the sole responsibility of the vendor. On event day, City health inspectors will audit each vendor on-site according to food establishment requirements.
Vendors must prominently display their valid license at their booth during the MarketPlace event. Failure to do so may result in:
• A fine of $2,081* (*Fine is subject to change based on fees.)
• Immediate shutdown by City health inspectors
• Possible dismissal from future events for repeated noncompliance
Farmer’s Market/Cottage Food Vendors
Cottage Food and Farmer’s Market vendors are defined by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Typically, these vendors sell vegetables, baked goods, or other products that do not require on-site heating or refrigeration.
All items must be produced, labeled, and limited to those allowed under Texas Cottage Food Law. For a comprehensive list of permitted products and regulations, please refer to the following Texas DSHS resources:
The Helotes MarketPlace permits vendors to purchase booths within the Cottage Food / Farmer’s Market area to sell specific food products. Vendors must comply fully with all applicable Texas DSHS laws and regulations.
It is the vendor’s responsibility to verify eligibility for this designation and to ensure that their booth setup, processes, and products comply with state law prior to purchasing booth space. Vendors found in violation of these regulations may be removed from the event.
Vendors assume full responsibility for adherence to all applicable state and municipal laws, rules, and regulations. For a complete list of rules associated with providing samples, please visit the Texas DSHS websites for Cottage Food Production Operations and Farmers’ Markets.
Retail Sales Guidelines:
-
Retail sales are permitted within Cottage Food and Farmer’s Market booths; however, a minimum of 85% of products offered must consist of cottage foods or farmer’s market items.
-
Booth displays should clearly reflect the character and ambiance of a Cottage Food or Farmer’s Market booth, ensuring visitors immediately recognize the primary focus on these products.
-
For a visual guide illustrating acceptable product proportions and booth presentation, please click here.
Important Changes to the Cottage Food Law – Effective September 1, 2025
Texas House Bill 2588 introduces significant updates to the state’s Cottage Food Law that directly impact vendors at farmers’ markets, including Helotes MarketPlace.
Key changes include:
-
No Permit Fees for Cottage Food Operators
Municipalities and local health departments can no longer require permits, licenses, or fees, including sampling fees, from cottage food businesses. Vendors currently paying to sample at Helotes MarketPlace will no longer be subject to this fee if they qualify under the updated law. -
Expanded List of Permitted Foods
Cottage food producers are now allowed to sell all foods except for a specific list of prohibited items (e.g., meat, seafood, dairy, CBD/THC products, raw milk, etc.), significantly broadening what cottage food businesses can offer. -
Increased Annual Income Limit
The allowable annual gross income for cottage food operations is increased from $50,000 to $150,000. -
Sampling
Beginning September 1, 2025, sampling cottage food is permitted without a City of Helotes Temporary Food Permit.
For more information or to review the full bill, visit:
Food & Drink Sales or Distribution
The sale and/or distribution of food or drink items is only permitted by Food Court or Farmer’s Market Vendors. All other vendor types are prohibited from selling or distributing food and drinks from their booth space.
Types of Vendors Prohibited from the Helotes MarketPlace
The Helotes MarketPlace is a family-friendly event designed to offer unique goods to the public. The event is primarily an arts and crafts fair. Vendors wanting to promote a business are not permitted. The following types of merchandise and/or services are prohibited from sale or promotion by a vendor at the Helotes MarketPlace event:
• Alcohol (open or unopened)
• Animals — private sale or distribution of pets or livestock is prohibited, unless conducted by a
registered nonprofit such as the Helotes Humane Society
• CBD oil and CBD oil products
• Business promotions, advertisements, or sales unrelated to approved vendor categories (e.g., insurance
sales, travel agents, home improvement or repair, pool or spa sales)
• Firearm
• Flea market or garage sale items (e.g., used clothing or goods)
• Offensive, obscene, or vulgar items
• Political campaigns or candidate promotion
• Tobacco products
This list is subject to change at any time. If you have a question about selling a particular item at the Helotes MarketPlace, contact us for more information.