Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Pine Level, North Carolina

Town of Pine Level’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within Pine Level town limits.

  • The cited town page states that the UDO also governs the surrounding ETJ; this claim is limited to town limits.

  “The Pine Level Unified Development Ordinance governs land use within the city limits and in the surrounding ETJ.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Campgrounds and RV parks inside Pine Level town limits.

  • Seasonal occupancy only.
  • May not be used as a permanent residence.

  “Campgrounds and RV parks are intended for seasonal occupancy only and shall not be used as a permanent residence.”

• Camping on your landProhibited

  Flea-market sites inside Pine Level town limits.

  • This prohibition is specific to flea-market sites; no townwide private-land camping rule was established by the opened sources.

  “407.7 Overnight camping No overnight camping is permitted.”

• Well permitLimited

  New potable or non-potable wells in Pine Level's corporate limits.

  • Wells existing at adoption are excepted.
  • An exception requires unanimous Town Board of Commissioners approval.
  • The ordinance was adopted January 9, 2006 and became effective upon adoption.

  “It shall be unlawful for any person or business entity to dig, drill or otherwise draw water from geological strata within and under the corporate limits, with the exception of wells existing at the date of adoption of this ordinance.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  A structure in Pine Level that was served by a private septic tank before the cited Sewer Ordinance amendment and whose grandfathered plumbing line or septic tank malfunctions and inadequately treats sewage.

  • The rule is limited to the cited grandfathered structures.
  • After malfunction, repair of the malfunctioning septic tank or plumbing line is stated to be a misdemeanor violation instead of an alternative to connection.

  “From the time of the malfunction, the grandfathered structure must be connected by its owner and occupant to the Town's Sewage System.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development activities within Special Flood Hazard Areas inside Pine Level town limits.

  • Application must be made to the Floodplain Administrator before development activities in a Special Flood Hazard Area.

  “A Floodplain Development Permit shall be required in conformance with the provisions of this ordinance prior to the commencement of any development activities within Special Flood Hazard Areas determined in accordance with the”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town zoning permits inside Pine Level town limits.

  • Amounts identified are for regular, accessory-building, and fence zoning permits; other permits and fees may apply.

  regular zoning permit fee: 50 USD · accessory building permit fee: 50 USD · fence permit fee: 25 USD

  “A zoning permit may be obtained at the Pine Level Town Hall. Regular permits cost $50.00, accessory building permits are $50.00 and permits for fences cost $25.00.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Pine Level

Town of Pine Level does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building permitRequired

  Projects inside Pine Level town limits after town Planning/Zoning has issued local zoning/land-use approval; Johnston County issues the final building permit.

  • The town must first verify compliance with local zoning rules, setbacks, and unified development codes.
  • The county page identifies Pine Level as a town that does not handle its own final building permits.

  “Once the town verifies that your project meets local zoning rules, setbacks, and unified development codes, you take that approval to Johnston County Building Inspections (located in Smithfield) to obtain the actual building permit.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Work under a building permit inside Pine Level town limits, administered locally by Johnston County Building Inspections.

  • Inspections are made as work progresses and as necessary to verify compliance with applicable state and local law and permit terms.
  • Pine Level is identified by Johnston County as relying on its Building Inspections Department.

  “Instead, they rely on the Johnston County Building Inspections Department to issue building permits and conduct building code inspections.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New, added, enlarged, altered, or moved buildings inside Pine Level town limits that are subject to the cited state building-permit provision.

  • A temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued if the inspector finds safe occupancy before final completion and State Building Code conditions are met.
  • Johnston County's inspection page says all inspections and final water and sewer approval must be approved before a certificate can be given for a residence.

  “Except as provided by subsection (b) of this section, no new building or part thereof may be occupied, no addition or enlargement of an existing building may be occupied, and no existing building that has been altered or moved may be occupied, until the inspection department has issued a certificate of compliance.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Lots inside Pine Level town limits without public water and/or sewer.

  • The town UDO adds Johnston County Health Department requirements where public water and/or sewer is unavailable.

  “Where there is no public water and/or sewer, lots must meet requirements of the Johnston County Health dept as well as the requirements of this ordinance.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Off-grid domestic sewage systems inside Pine Level town limits, including privies, composting toilets, recycling toilets, and other systems covered by 15A NCAC 18A .1900.

  • The system must be within the scope of rules governing domestic sewage treatment and disposal.
  • Required improvement, construction, and operation permits apply.

  “The rules contained in this Section shall govern the treatment and disposal of domestic type sewage from septic tank systems, privies, incinerating toilets, mechanical toilets, composting toilets, recycling toilets, or other such systems serving single or multiple-family residences, places of business, or places of public assembly, the effluent from which is designed not to discharge to the land surface or surface waters.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Final building-permit process for projects inside Pine Level town limits.

  • Applicant must first obtain Town Planning/Zoning approval.
  • County FAQ states permit applications for new construction, additions, and alterations include a completed application, digital construction drawings, site plan, septic permit, county water receipt if applicable, and lien agent.

  “You will submit a completed Building Permit Application which describes your project along with a digital set of construction drawings, a site plan, a septic permit, a county water receipt, if applicable, and a lien agent which can be obtained from www.liensnc.com.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Pine Level or Johnston County directly.

• Building code adopted — Construction inside Pine Level town limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings inside Pine Level town limits.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Pine Level town limits.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Pine Level town limits.
• Septic inspection — On-site wastewater systems inside Pine Level town limits.

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.