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.
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
- Check the Town of Smithfield planning portal and determine whether the project needs planning, zoning, or code enforcement approval.
- Submit zoning or related land use materials through the Smithfield Citizenserve portal, or in person if needed.
- For projects needing a building permit, use the Johnston County building permit application linked by the town.
- Provide all supporting materials required by the applicable review path, including zoning forms and county permit documents.
- Respond to any review comments.
- Pay applicable town and county fees.
- 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
- Johnston County: 919-989-5060 (phone)
- Johnston County inspection tools (online)
- 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
- Building code: 2018 NC State Building Code with amendments currently in force
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Town Planning Contact
- Town Planning FAQs
- Johnston County Permit Chart
- License lookup guide: North Carolina Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: North Carolina Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- North Carolina hub: North Carolina Contractor License & Permit Hub
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.
Need help with your project?
Navigating permits in Town of Smithfield can be complicated.
Jaspector connects you with local experts who can review your scope, verify your contractor, and help you understand what permits your project actually needs.
Learn how Jaspector worksOther cities in Johnston County
View all Johnston County jurisdictions →