Johnston County, NC Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

Chapter 5, Article II, Division 1 of the Johnston County Code sets minimum standards for dwellings and creates the division of property maintenance inspection, headed by the code official under Section 5-68. " Inspections are triggered by a reported potential violation: "the code official is authorized to enter the structure or premises at reasonable times to inspect," subject to constitutional restrictions on unreasonable searches, and if entry is refused the official pursues recourse through the courts rather than forcing entry. Once a violation is confirmed, the code official serves a written notice of violation.

If the owner does not comply, the county can institute a court proceeding to restrain, correct, or abate the violation, or to end an unlawful occupancy. Under Section 5-69, an owner who disagrees with the code official's call has 20 days from service of the notice to file a written appeal with the property maintenance appeals board, which by default is the board of county commissioners sitting in that role. The board may affirm, modify, or reverse the decision only by a majority vote of its appointed members and can direct the code official to act on its ruling.

A board decision can be taken further, to Johnston County Superior Court by writ of certiorari, but that petition must be filed within 30 days of the board's decision or notice.