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Building Safety in Johnston County, NC (2026)

2 rules for unincorporated Johnston County, North Carolina.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Johnston County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Building Permits

Before grading, filling, or building anything beyond ordinary repairs on land in unincorporated Johnston County, the planning director must first issue a land use permit under Sec. 14-291. Any building, sign, or stormwater permit that the project also needs cannot be issued until that land use permit is approved.

Johnston County Land Use Permit Required

Some Restrictions

Johnston County Code § 14-291

Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, it shall be unlawful to begin any excavation, removal of soil, clearing of site, or placing any fill on lands contemplated for development, or to begin any construction, moving, alteration, or renovation, except for ordinary repairs, of any building or other structure, including accessory structures and signs, until the planning directo...

Building Inspections

Johnston County's code official inspects dwellings for compliance with the minimum housing and property maintenance code under Chapter 5, Article II. The official is authorized to enter a structure or premises at reasonable times to check for violations, subject to constitutional search-and-seizure limits, and serves a written notice of violation before pursuing prosecution or civil penalties.

Johnston County Property Maintenance Inspections

Some Restrictions

Johnston County Code § 5-68

(b) Duties and powers of the code official. (1) General. The code official shall enforce the provisions of this article. (2) Inspections. The code official shall make all of the required inspections, or shall accept reports of inspection by approved agencies or individuals. (3) Right of entry. If a potential violation of this article is presented to the code official, the code official ...

All Johnston County ordinances

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