Parke County is home to Indiana's largest festival, the famous Parke County Covered Bridge Festival, which attracts an estimated 1,250,000+ visitors over ten days, beginning on the second Friday of each October. The size and scope of such an event in a rural setting creates considerable public safety, health and sanitation expenses that are offset, in part, by TML licensure fees. TML's for Covered Bridge Festival are available each year, starting on January 2nd.
As in the past, there will not be a fee assessed for any festival or event EXCEPT for the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival. The license fee for each TML for the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival will be $100, plus a $20 processing fee for vendors who do not live in Parke County and/or pay property taxes in Parke County. There is no cost in obtaining a TML for any other event or festival in Parke County, however a TML is always required. It must remain prominently displayed for the entirety of the festival or event. If a vendor has more than one booth, tent, stall or space in different locations, a TML is required for each location. A structure is permanent or semi-permanent and is not considered a tent, parking lot, or any open space. A separate application is required for each TML needed.
All Parke County Covered Bridge Festival vendors will be assessed a $50 late fee for any application postmarked or received in person after September 15th, 2026. Incomplete applications and applications mailed with inadequate fees not rectified before the 9/15/26 deadline will also be assessed the late penalty. Qualified Indiana Veterans are exempt from both, the license fee and the processing fee, but will be assessed a $50 late penalty for any application not postmarked by or received after 9/15/2026. This is an Indiana law (IC 25-25-2-1), therefore you must be a resident of Indiana to qualify, and those who qualify must provide a copy of their DD-214 showing an "Honorable Discharge", to receive the exemption. As per Indiana Code, each Veteran is only allowed one free license.
Payment of the cost for the TML, processing fee, and any late fees must be submitted in the form of a cashier’s check, money order, or cash/credit/debit card in the office. Business checks and/or personal checks are NOT accepted. Please do not send cash through the mail!! We are not responsible for applications or payments lost in the mail! Make cashier’s checks and money orders payable to Parke County Auditor.
APPLICATIONS FOR COVERED BRIDGE FESTIVAL TML'S ARE NOT BEING MAILED OUT.
VENDORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING AND SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION BY SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2026 TO AVOID THE $50 LATE FEE.
2026 PARKE COUNTY TML APPLICATION
2026 CREDIT CARD AUTHORIZATION FORM
Ordinance 2025-12 regulating Sale and Possession of Synthetic Cannabinoids by a Transient Merchant
Use the link above to download the 2026 Parke County Transient Merchant License application in PDF format. You may either complete the application electronically and return it via email along with a credit card authorization form to tmlinfo@parkecounty.in.gov, or you may print the application, complete it by hand, and return it via mail with your payment to the address below. When filling out your application by hand, you must make sure your information is legible. Illegible applications will not be processed nor will we be able to process your application without receipt of proper licensure fees. If submitting your application by mail, please include the appropriate fee amount with your application. Use the pricing flow chart below to help you determine what fees will be due for your 2026 Parke County Transient Merchant License.
Important notice to Parke County Covered Bridge Festival Landowners:
As of 2024 the Parke County Auditor started enforcing Ordinance 2020-16 . Landowners are responsible for ensuring the vendors on their land have a TML. Landowners will be penalized, if a vendor, renting space from them on their land, does not have a TML. A fine of $500 shall be imposed per occurence per day. This will continue in 2025. Please contact the Parke County Auditor's office for questions.
Parke County Auditor's Office
116 West High Street
Rockville, Indiana 47872
tmlinfo@parkecounty.in.gov
765-569-3422 telephone
765-569-4037 fax
- Pricing Flow Chart
Not available at this time
- Frequently Asked Questions What is a Transient Merchant License (TML)?
A Transient Merchant License is a permit issued by a local government that authorizes an individual or business to sell goods or services for a short period within a city, town, or county. Unlike a permanent business license, this authorization focuses on temporary sales activities, such as fairs, farmers markets, street vending, or traveling sales booths. Parke County's TML was specifically designed by state lawmakers to generate income that will be used to offset the cost of hosting the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival each year.
When can I get my Transient Merchant License (TML) for Covered Bridge Festival?Covered Bridge Festival TML's are available every year, starting January 2nd.
Is there a deadline to get a Transient Merchant License (TML) for Covered Bridge Festival?Yes - Applications have to be postmarked and /or received in the Office by September 15th of each year. Any TML applications received after September 15th are assessed a $50 late fee.
I am a Veteran, are there any discounts for me on the Transient Merchant License (TML)?Indiana Code IC 25‑25‑2‑1 establishes Veterans right to one license without fee. Indiana Veterans may receive one TML without charge for the purpose of operating (vending) during Covered Bridge Festival. A copy of your DD-214 with an "Honorable Discharge" clearly marked on it, is required to receive this discount.
The County is already making money on my sales & the money I pay for my booth rent. Why do I have to buy a Transient Merchant License (TML)?Parke County does not receive any monies from vendor sales or booth rents. The money you pay for your booth rent goes directly to the property owner you rent from, who set their own prices. The TML fee is the only income Parke County receives and is in place to cover the costs that include but are not limited to extra Police presence, additional EMS personnel as well as the added Trash and Waste Services during the festival. When breaking down the fee for the Covered Bridge TML, it is $10/day. This does not exempt a Veteran from the $50 late fee.
I own a business in Parke County and am vending/selling from my business property during Covered Bridge Festival. Do I still need a TML?Indiana Code 25-37-1-15 states that a county with a population over 16,000 but under 16,400 may require holders of a registered retail merchant’s certificate to also obtain a transient merchant license. However, residents of Parke County who hold a valid Indiana Registered Retail Merchant Certificate (RRMC) are not required to have a TML as long as they are setting up and are selling at the location for which their Retail Merchant License is issued to. If a Business Owner chooses to have additional vendors on their business property, the vendors are required to purchase a TML for the Covered Bridge Festival. The Retail Merchant's Certificate only covers the Owner / Business.
I plan to have multiple booths/locations during Covered Bridge Festival. Do I need to purchase more than one Transient Merchant License (TML)?Yes - Each booth/location requires its own TML even if it is owned by the same person/business. The only exceptions from that rule are at the Auditor's discretion and are depending on several factors including but not limited to size, proximity of multiple booths, numbers of registers etc Contact the Auditor's Office for more information.
Do I need a Transient Merchant License (TML) if I want to have a Yard Sale / Garage Sale during Covered Bridge Festival?A Yard Sale lasting longer than 4 days requires a TML, yes. A Yard Sale that only goes for 4 days, then has a 2- day break and then goes for another 4 days does not require a TML But a break of 2 days is required then.
What if I lose my Transient Merchant License (TML)?If you lose your TML, there will be a $5 replacement fee to issue a new TML.
Why is a Transient Merchant License (TML) needed outside of the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival if there is no charge?IC 25-37-1-6.5 grants the Parke County Council the authority to annually reduce or altogether waive the Transient Merchant License fees; however, the license itself is still required.
- Exemptions
EXEMPTIONS
DESCRIPTION
REQUIREMENTS
INDIANA
VETERANSQualified Indiana Veterans are eligible to have both the $100 TML licensing fee and the $20 processing fee waived (IC 25-25-2-1) for one license. However, they are not exempt from any late fees. Applicants are required to submit a copy of VA form DD-214, that states an "Honorable Discharge", with their TML application to receive this exemption. Only one license per Veteran. 1. Honorable Discharge
2. VA Form DD-214 Submitted with Application
3. Valid Photo IdentificationINDIANA
NOT-FOR-PROFITSOrganizations recognized as 501(c)(x) tax-exempt that are incorporated in Indiana, are exempt from the $100 TML licensure fee. The $20 processing fee will be waived for Parke County-based organizations. Write the organization's federal tax ID on the application. If applicable, include the organization's Parke County parcel number in the space provided. 1. Recognized 501(c)(x) Tax-Exempt
2. Incorporated in Indiana
3. Good Standing w/ Secretary of State
4. Federal Tax IDPARKE COUNTY
RESIDENTS &
LANDOWNERSParke County residents and Parke County property tax owners are automatically exempted from the $20 TML license processing fee. If a TML applicant does not have a Parke County mailing address, they need to write their Parke County parcel number in the space provided on the application. Alternatively, they can also submit a copy of the prior year's property tax bill with the TML application, to receive this exemption. 1. Parke County Mailing Address, Parke County Parcel Number, or Prior Year Parke County Property Tax Bill
HOMEMADE (strict rules apply) - Not available after September 15th
The homemade exemption is only for vendors, who are personally hand-making 100% of their inventory at their location, and are not using any machines in the production of their items, or purchase ANY finished materials to assemble their products. Any product/item deemed to have been mass-produced will be ineligible. To apply for this exemption, you have to submit a request before September 15th, in the form of a formal letter to the Parke County Auditor along with pictures of the products you are making as well as the process in which they are made. This letter must be included with the original application and should explain in detail all products being made and sold, the constituent parts, pieces, or ingredients making up those products, and the process by which they are hand-crafted. Photos of the process and end items are required. Food items are never considered homemade or handmade. After the deadline of September 15, the handmade exemption will no longer be allowed. 1. Inventory is 100% crafted by hand
2. Inventory made by you/family/congregation
3. Request letter with explanation and pictures of the handmade items turned in at the time of application with the TML form
4. Approval by Parke County Auditor - 2026 TML Fee Schedule
ALL OTHER EVENTS
COVERED BRIDGE FESTIVAL
TRANSIENT MERCHANT LICENSE
$0
$100
PROCESSING FEE PER TML FOR NON-PARKE COUNTY RESIDENTS/PROPERTY OWNERS
$0
$20
LATE FEE
N/A
$50
REPLACEMENT FEE
$0
$5