City Building Permits

Town of Smithfield, NORTH-CAROLINA Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in Town of Smithfield, North Carolina. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

North Carolina Johnston County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Planning, zoning, and code enforcement applications are submitted through the town. Building permits are issued by Johnston County Building Inspections.

Department
Town of Smithfield Planning Department; Johnston County Building Inspections
Address
Town of Smithfield Planning Department, 350 East Market Street, Smithfield, NC 27577; Johnston County Land Use Center, 309 E. Market Street, Smithfield, NC 27577
Phone
919-934-2116 (Town Planning); 919-989-5060 (Johnston County Inspections)

Online Permit Portal

Platform: Citizenserve • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online only

Application Process

  1. Check the Town of Smithfield planning portal and determine whether the project needs planning, zoning, or code enforcement approval.
  2. Submit zoning or related land use materials through the Smithfield Citizenserve portal, or in person if needed.
  3. For projects needing a building permit, use the Johnston County building permit application linked by the town.
  4. Provide all supporting materials required by the applicable review path, including zoning forms and county permit documents.
  5. Respond to any review comments.
  6. Pay applicable town and county fees.
  7. Receive town approval and county-issued building permit, then schedule inspections through the applicable inspection authority.

Source: Town of Smithfield Planning Department; Johnston County Building Inspections

General Requirements

Smithfield's planning pages publish zoning permit, building permit, code enforcement, and related planning forms. Specific permit triggers depend on the project scope and whether zoning or state-code building review applies.

Required Documents

  • Project-specific planning or zoning application materials through Citizenserve
  • Johnston County building permit application for code permit issuance
  • Zoning permit application PDF
Building code
2018 NC State Building Code with amendments currently in force
Contractor requirements
State NC contractor licensing rules apply.

Fees

Permit fee formula
Mixed town fee schedule plus separate county building permit charges
Payment note
Smithfield prefers online Citizenserve submissions for planning workflows; county permit fees apply where Johnston County issues the code permit.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Town of Smithfield Planning Department; Johnston County Building Inspections to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

Inspection hours
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Johnston County)

Typical inspection sequence: Project-specific; county follows standard building, trade, and final inspections for county-issued permits

Additional Resources

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Town of Smithfield Planning Department; Johnston County Building Inspections before applying.

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.

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