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

Town of Princeton’s own rules

• Building permitLimited

  Building work inside Princeton town limits.

  • The Town page states building permits are required only 'in certain situations' and does not identify those situations.

  “Building permits will be required in certain situations.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Land use, occupancy, and changes of use inside Princeton town zoning jurisdiction.

  • The certificate is a Certificate of Compliance issued by the Zoning Enforcement Officer.
  • The building and use must comply with approved plans, specifications, and the zoning regulations.
  • Application is filed simultaneously with the zoning-permit application.
  • The officer inspects the site; issuance follows lawful completion and payment of required fees.

  “Applicability: No land shall be used and no building hereafter erected or altered shall be occupied or used and no change of use shall begin in whole or in part until a Certificate of Compliance is issued by the Zoning Enforcement Officer stating that the building and use comply with the approved plans and specifications, and the provisions of these regulations.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within Princeton town's zoning jurisdiction, including land inside town limits.

  • The electronic ordinance says the official version is on file with the Town Clerk and should be consulted for amendments not contained in the electronic copy.

  “This ordinance shall be known and may be cited as the Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Princeton, North Carolina, and may be referred to as the “Zoning Ordinance”.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision administration inside Princeton town limits.

  • The Town Administrator is the appointed Subdivision Administrator.

  “PLANNING & ZONING:  The Town Administrator is the appointed Zoning Enforcement Officer and Subdivision Administrator.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Planning and zoning permits inside Princeton town limits.

  • The Town directs applicants to contact its Planning and Zoning official for the current permitting fee schedule.

  “Please call Brad Thompson (b.thompson@myprincetonnc.com) for the current permitting fee schedule.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning-permit applications inside Princeton town zoning jurisdiction.

  • The application must include the original and one copy of the completed form, two copies of the development plan, and specified information and documents.
  • For special uses, § 15.8 procedures apply.
  • The officer cannot issue a permit until prior approvals required by the ordinance are obtained.
  • A permit expires if development has not substantially commenced within one year unless extended by the officer.

  commencement deadline: 1 year (unless the Zoning Enforcement Officer approves an extension)

  “Zoning Permit Required: No construction of a building, structure, or site improvement shall begin, and no change of use shall begin until a Zoning Permit is issued.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Princeton

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

• InspectionsRequired

  Required building inspections for work inside Princeton town limits.

  • The Town relies on Johnston County Building Inspections to perform required inspections.

  “BUILDING INSPECTIONS:  The Town of Princeton relies upon Johnston County Building Inspections to perform required inspections.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Princeton town limits.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Princeton town limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in Princeton R1 Rural Residential District.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Princeton town limits.
• Living in an RV — Long-term recreational-vehicle occupancy on private land inside Princeton 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.