Johnston County

Living in an RV on your landRestricted

The definition bars RVs and camper trailers from permanent occupancy; temporary seasonal occupancy is allowed only in the Resort-Residential (RR) district, whose campgrounds need a site plan. The residential use table (§ 14-89) permits 'RVs/Camper Trailers/Tents' only in RR. No construction-period RV permit was found in Art. I-II.

“these unit are prohibited for the setup and use as permanent occupation. These units may be occupied temporarily within zoned resort-residential district”

§ 14-6 Definitions, "Recreational vehicles"; § 14-76; § 14-89 Table of permitted residential uses, read 2026-11-13

Confirm with Johnston County before you buy land or build.

Tiny house on wheelsRestricted

Tiny houses on wheels are not defined. A wheeled unit built as an RV or camper trailer falls under the RV definition: no permanent occupancy, and temporary use only in the RR district. This classification is inferred, not stated.

“Recreational vehicles and camper trailers are vehicular-type units designed for temporary living for recreation, camping, or travel.”

§ 14-6 Definitions, read 2026-11-13

Confirm with Johnston County before you buy land or build.

Small house on a foundationAllowed

Single-family and modular homes are permitted in AR at up to 1.45 du/ac with public water (lots over 30,000 sq ft) or 1.0 du/ac with a private well (lots over 40,000 sq ft). No minimum dwelling floor area found in Art. I-II.

“Single-family, or individual modular homes”

§ 14-75(b)(1) AR permitted uses; § 14-89 Table, read 2026-11-13

State law: farm buildings outside town limits skip the building code (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-138(b4)).

State law: homes on 10+ acres in farm districts (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160D-903(b)).

State law: building permits (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160D-1110).

Confirm with Johnston County before you buy land or build.

ChickensNot addressed

AR's permitted-use list (§ 14-75) and the use tables name no backyard poultry use; poultry appears only in the 'Agriculture farm, livestock' definition. § 14-73 says uses not expressly listed are prohibited, so treatment of non-farm hens is a staff call. The Animals chapter (Ch. 4) only defines fowl and regulates animals at large.

§ 14-73; § 14-75; § 14-89/14-90; Ch. 4 Animals, read 2026-11-13

State law: real farms are exempt from county zoning (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160D-903(a), (a1)).

State law: right to farm (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 106-701(a)).

Confirm with Johnston County before you buy land or build.

Goats and livestockNot addressed

No livestock-keeping standard for non-farm AR lots; livestock appears in the agriculture definitions, in the bona fide farm exemption (§ 14-7), and as farm-type enterprises in AR conditional districts. § 14-73 makes unlisted uses prohibited, so confirm with staff.

§ 14-73; § 14-75, read 2026-11-13

State law: real farms are exempt from county zoning (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160D-903(a), (a1)).

State law: right to farm (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 106-701(a)).

Confirm with Johnston County before you buy land or build.

BeesNot addressed

Bees appear only in the definition of 'Agriculture farm, livestock'; no beekeeping standard in Art. I-II.

§ 14-6 Definitions, read 2026-11-13

State law: real farms are exempt from county zoning (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160D-903(a), (a1)).

Confirm with Johnston County before you buy land or build.

Composting toiletNot addressed

No composting toilet or privy provision in Ch. 14 Art. I (definitions) or Art. II (zoning districts and use tables); sewage is left to the health department and state rules.

Ch. 14 Art. I-II searched, read 2026-11-13

State law: composting toilets are allowed, but you still need a septic permit (15A NCAC 18E .1001 (eff. Oct. 1, 2021)).

Confirm with Johnston County before you buy land or build.