Organization of a flea market, an auction

Whether you are a traders association, a public organisation or an individual, organising a flea market or a street sale cannot be improvised. As it is an event in a public area, this type of event is subject to prior authorisation from the relevant commune. Be aware that the application must often be made more than 30 to 40 days before the event.

The procedure

To request an authorisation to organise a flea market or a street sale, the organiser must fill in a form which is often available on the website of the relevant commune. The organiser will also have to provide a number of documents, and sometimes also a police notice for mobility reasons, or to ensure that certain requirements are fulfilled (cleanliness of the area at the end of the event, security services, noise disturbances, prior notice to residents of the area, etc.) The organiser can, in certain cases, request the loan of material from the local authority. This type of occupation of public space is often subject to the payment of a fee. You can also refer to the “request for occupation of a public space for the itinerant trader” (Demande d’occupation de la voie publique pour le commerçant ambulant.

Documents you will need to provide

Depending on the commune, a set of documents should be included in the application, such as:

- floorplan of the public area, detailing all the plots, their numbering and their size

- purpose, date and times of the event (opening and ending times etc.) 

- in some cases, a letter of support from the local traders association or neighbourhood association.