Johnston County

In Johnston County, most metal carports and garages need a building permit, and the county spells out the exceptions. A building with no side over 12 feet and no wiring or plumbing needs no building permit, and neither does a lightweight portable carport up to 400 square feet. Detached carports, garages and anything over 12 feet need a permit, plus a zoning permit first.

Permit office: Johnston County Inspections
Address: 309 E. Market Street, Smithfield, NC
Phone: 919-989-5060
Official county page

When a permit is required

• No side over 12 feet and no electrical, plumbing or mechanical work: no building permit.
• Portable lightweight carport up to 400 sq ft or 12 ft mean roof height: no building permit.
• Detached carports, garages and buildings over 12 feet: permit required.
• Over 400 sq ft or more than one story: needs a permanent foundation or slab.

Zoning and setbacks

Get your Zoning/Land Use permit from the zoning jurisdiction for your address. It covers your setbacks and lot details.

What to bring

• Building permit application
• Zoning/Land Use permit
• Environmental Health permit showing septic and well locations
• Site plan
• Digital construction drawings meeting the NC Residential Code

Listed fees at the time we checked: $100 for detached garages, carports and storage buildings, plus $25 for land use/zoning.

Farm buildings

A building used only for a bona fide farm may be exempt from a building permit in county jurisdiction under N.C. G.S. 160D-903. Ask the office for its farm exemption form. Electrical work still needs a permit.

Good to know

Office: 309 E. Market Street, Smithfield. Email inspections@johnstonnc.gov. Environmental Health: 919-989-5180.

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a carport in Johnston County?
A detached carport does. The exception is a portable lightweight carport up to 400 sq ft or 12 ft mean roof height, which needs no Johnston County carport permit for the building side. The listed fee when we checked was $100, plus $25 for land use/zoning.

Do I need a permit for a metal garage or shed in Johnston County?
A garage does, and so does any building over 12 feet. A building with no side over 12 feet and no electrical, plumbing or mechanical work needs no building permit.

Sources

• Johnston County Inspections: accessory structures

Rules and fees change. Call the office to confirm before you order.

See the full North Carolina permit guide for statewide rules, farm exemptions and wind and snow ratings.

Looking at buildings? See our metal carports, metal garages and metal buildings.

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