Johnston County, North Carolina septic permits and requirements

Permitting authority

Johnston County Environmental Health Department — On-Site Wastewater Program

Johnston County Environmental Health: 919-989-5180; 309 East Market Street, Smithfield, NC 27577; [email protected].

North Carolina state and local framework

The N.C. Division of Public Health On-Site Water Protection Branch provides statewide regulatory oversight and technical guidance for subsurface onsite wastewater systems, while local health departments carry out county permitting and inspection functions. NCDHHS directs homeowners to the local health department for septic questions, permits, and inspections.

Local application packet and zoning document

Johnston County requires the septic application to include a document from the appropriate planning and zoning authority, a site plan, and the applicable fee before the application is assigned for Environmental Health review.

Detailed site plan and property preparation

The county application guidance requires the site plan to identify property dimensions, structures, the preferred septic area and driveway, proposed well location, directional reference, nearby septic tanks, easements or rights-of-way, and designated wetlands. For new-system evaluations, property corners must be identifiable and the evaluation area accessible without damaging the soil.

County site evaluation appointment

After a complete application and fee are received, Johnston County assigns an Environmental Health Specialist who contacts the applicant to schedule the onsite evaluation.

County septic-record search

Johnston County provides an online septic and well permit-status search by permit number or address and directs users to Environmental Health for a copy when the record cannot be found online.

Official sources

SepticScope summarizes public-agency information for planning purposes. The permitting agency's current instructions control if they differ from this guide.