Vendor Policies & Procedures

The operational details for vending at Common Ground Markets.

550 Somerset Terrace NE, Atlanta, GA 30306 — On the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail

MARKET SCHEDULE

The Daily Market is open seven days a week for resident vendors holding monthly agreements. Hours are 10:00am – 7:00pm Monday through Saturday and 11:00am – 6:00pm on Sunday. Daily Market vendors are expected to be open and staffed during all posted hours unless otherwise arranged with Market Management.

The Saturday Farmers Market runs every Saturday year-round, rain or shine. Market hours are 9:00am – 1:00pm. Vendor load-in begins at 7:00am. All vendors must be fully set up and vehicles cleared by 8:30am.

The Sunday Makers & Designer Market runs every Sunday year-round. Market hours are 10:00am – 4:00pm. Vendor load-in begins at 8:00am. All vendors must be fully set up and vehicles cleared by 9:30am.

Common Ground Markets will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. The Saturday Farmers Market will not be held on the Saturday of July 4th weekend. All other holiday weekends operate on normal schedule.

LOAD-IN & SETUP

Vendors may begin arriving at their designated load-in time. Market Management will be on-site to direct you to your assigned stall. Complete your setup after parking your vehicle in the designated vendor parking area.

Late arrivals may result in reassignment of your stall space or being unable to participate that week. Vendors who arrive less than 30 minutes before market opens may not be permitted to set up and will still be responsible for the weekly fee. Repeated late arrivals will incur a $50 fee. Each vendor receives one emergency waiver per season.

END OF MARKET DAY

You may continue selling while you pack up, but all vendors must sweep and clean their stall space, remove all trash and debris, and leave the site within 90 minutes of closing. Security will not be present after that window.

Vendors who break down early without advance permission from Market Management will incur a $25 fine, payable before your next market day.

STALL ASSIGNMENTS

Common Ground provides each vendor with a fully outfitted stall. You do not need to bring your own table or tent.

Stall assignments are made by Market Management to enhance the overall diversity and flow of the market. We make every effort to keep committed vendors in the same location each week. Drop-in and rotating vendors are placed at Market Management's discretion.

All products must be clearly priced before the market opens. Products must be of good quality. Market Management reserves the right to ask vendors to remove products that do not meet our standards or that were not included on the vendor's approved application. All produce must be displayed off the ground per health code requirements.

ATTENDANCE & CANCELLATIONS

Consistency matters. Shoppers come back because they know their favorite vendors will be here. We expect all vendors to fulfill at least 90% of their committed market dates for the season.

Cancellations must be received by 5:00pm on Wednesday prior to your market day to avoid being charged the weekly fee. Contact Market Management by email or phone only — not personal text, social media, or DM.

No-shows — vendors who don't show up without advance notice — will not be invited back. No refunds will be given. If more than 10% of your scheduled dates are cancelled, Common Ground reserves the right to charge the weekly fee for all additional cancellations. Recurring absences may result in loss of your assigned stall or removal from the market, at the discretion of Market Management.

WEATHER

The market is open rain or shine. Common Ground is an indoor market, so weather disruptions will be minimal. Market Management may cancel or close a market early if conditions pose a safety risk. Weekly fees will only be credited for market days cancelled before the market opens.

FEES & PAYMENT

Fees are due before your first market day. Applications will not be reviewed until the application fee is paid. Details on current application fees, membership tiers, and weekly rates are available on the Vendor Application page.

All fees must be paid at least one month in advance. Late fees will be applied if payment is not received by the second week of the month. If you need electricity, an additional weekly power fee will apply. Vendors must provide their own extension cords.

If you need an additional adjacent stall space, it must be reserved for every scheduled market date and the corresponding fee paid each week.

Payment is accepted online or by check made payable to Common Ground Markets. If a check is returned for insufficient funds, a $35 processing fee will be charged. Cash payments will be accepted, but any discrepancies related to cash payments will be resolved in favor of the market.

INSURANCE

All vendors must maintain general liability and property damage insurance of no less than $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate, including product liability coverage. Your policy must name Common Ground Markets and 550 Somerset Terrace NE as additional insureds. If you distribute food, beverages, or product samples, product liability insurance is also required. A copy of your Certificate of Insurance is required as part of your application.

SALES

Common Ground is a producer-only market. Everything sold here must be grown, raised, made, or designed by the vendor. Reselling is prohibited. You may not offer or sell any products that are not reflected on your approved vendor application unless Market Management approves the addition in writing and in advance.

SALES REPORTING

All vendors are expected to report their sales totals and number of transactions from each market day they attend. This data is for internal Common Ground use only. We use it to understand market performance, identify trends, apply for grants, and benchmark against other markets. We will not share your individual sales data with other vendors, other markets, government agencies, or anyone else. Your numbers are confidential.

SANITATION & SAFETY

Keep your stall clean, sanitary, and safe at all times. You are responsible for removing all trash, waste, and debris from your space before leaving — every market day. Only public customer-generated trash in common areas is the responsibility of Common Ground.

All vendors must comply with applicable health, sanitation, and safety regulations for the display, handling, preparation, serving, packaging, labeling, and sale of their products.

FOOD SAMPLES

Vendors are encouraged to offer samples to customers. Samples must be prepared at your stall and presented in a sanitary manner in compliance with Department of Health regulations. You must provide trash receptacles for sampling materials. Use of compostable or recyclable materials is strongly encouraged. Sampling may only be done from within your stall space.

SCALES

All scales used for sales at Common Ground must be registered as legal for trade and meet state and local regulations. Scales will be subject to accuracy checks by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Scales must be placed so they are clearly visible and readable to customers.

LEGAL COMPLIANCE

Every vendor is responsible for obtaining and maintaining all licenses, permits, and certifications required by law — including but not limited to: a Private Property Vending Permit from APD ($125/year), a City of Atlanta business license, sales tax registration, and any applicable food safety or health registrations from Fulton County Board of Health or the Georgia Department of Agriculture. You must be able to produce these documents on demand for Market Management or any government agency.

Food items may not contain CBD oil or cannabidiol in any form, regardless of source, in compliance with current Georgia and FDA regulations. Products may contain hemp oil, hulled hemp seed, and hemp seed protein, as these have been generally recognized as safe.

SOLICITATION

Solicitation by anyone who is not a current Common Ground vendor is strictly prohibited during market hours. This includes handing out flyers, distributing products or samples, and soliciting vendors for non-market business. If you see this happening, let Market Management know immediately. Political campaigning and candidate activities are not permitted on the premises.

SITE VISITS

Common Ground reserves the right to visit any vendor's business, production facility, or farm at any time. By vending at Common Ground, you agree to provide access upon request. Failure to do so is grounds for removal from the market.

SAFETY & CONDUCT

Security will be present during all market hours. Report any safety concerns to security or Market Management immediately.

Firearms and weapons are not permitted anywhere on the Common Ground premises, with the exception of on-duty law enforcement officers. Smoking is not permitted. Possession or use of drugs is not permitted. Visible intoxication or disruptive behavior by any vendor or their staff will result in immediate removal from the market and potential termination of future participation.

All vendors are responsible for ensuring that their staff and representatives follow market policies at all times. Vendors who bring children are responsible for ensuring they do not disrupt market operations.

DOG POLICY

Well-behaved dogs are welcome at Common Ground. Dogs must be on a short, non-expandable leash and by the owner's side at all times. Dogs must be kept away from all food products and displays. Any items damaged by pets must be purchased by the owner. Aggressive behavior, barking, or growling is not tolerated. Owners must clean up after their pets. Vendor dogs must be on leash and kept safely away from the public at all times. Market Management may ask any owner or vendor to remove their dog at any time, for any reason.

PHOTO & MEDIA RELEASE

By participating in Common Ground Markets as a vendor, you consent to being photographed, filmed, or recorded. This content may be used in any media in connection with Common Ground Markets. You waive all rights to royalties, compensation, and rights of publicity or privacy related to such use. If you do not agree, please contact Market Management before your first market day.

AUTHORIZATION

All vendors at Common Ground must be approved directly by Market Management. No tenant, restaurant, or other business on the property can authorize vendors on their own. Vendors operating without written approval from Market Management will be asked to leave immediately.

VIOLATIONS & ENFORCEMENT

All vendors are expected to uphold these policies. Every vendor is required to sign a Vendor Agreement prior to participation. Complaints regarding violations may be submitted verbally or in writing to Market Management.

Penalties follow a progressive structure: verbal warning, written warning, then removal from the market. Vendors who receive recurring written warnings — or engage in any activity that compromises market safety or integrity — will be removed for the remainder of the season. Market Management reserves the right to immediately remove any person who poses a safety risk. If removal results from a policy violation, no refund of fees will be given.

AMENDMENTS

Common Ground Markets reserves the right to amend or supplement these Policies and Procedures at any time. Updated versions will be made available to all vendors.