What permits do you need to open a restaurant in Johnston County Nc?

Food Establishment Plan Review

A restaurant, coffee shop or store preparing food that is building a new food service establishment in Johnston County submits a plan review application to the Environmental Health Department and pays $250.00, as published on the Johnston County Environmental Health fee page (effective date shown: July 1, 2026). The county's application, 'Procedure for the Submission of a Plan Review', states: 'The fee for this plan review is $250.00.' It asks for the completed application, a menu, a drawing of the facility, equipment specification sheets and the fee; if the packet is emailed, the fee can be paid over the phone with a card by calling 919-989-5180. The amount is a county fee charged at the statutory ceiling: G.S. 130A-248(f) provides that any local health department may charge a fee not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for plan review of plans for food establishments that are not subject to subsection (e). Under subsection (e) the Department may charge its own $250.00 fee for plan review of prototype franchised or chain facilities, and the statute adds that no food establishment that pays a fee under (e) is liable for a fee under (f). This plan review is separate from the state food establishment permit carried at the state layer, and from the county's zoning and building permits for the same build-out. Contact: Johnston County Environmental Health, 309 E. Market Street, Smithfield, NC 27577, (919) 989-5180.

Tent Permit

A restaurant or retailer putting up a tent for a sale, opening or event in Johnston County Building Inspections territory pays $75.00 Building for a tent over 200 square feet. The Inspections fee page lists 'S. Tents: $75.00 Building (if over 200 Sq. Ft.)' and adds that it will '(Also require a flammability certificate be brought in.)', so the tent supplier's flammability certificate should be in hand when applying. The figure is per the Johnston County Building Inspections fee page, headed 'Fee Schedule Effective July 1, 2024'. The county's June 15, 2026 release announcing the adopted FY 2026-27 budget lists no inspection fee changes; the fee items it lists are the landfill tipping fee, water and sewer rates and the recreation fee in lieu. A tent of 200 square feet or less falls outside this fee line. A tent used for selling food also brings in the Environmental Health temporary food permit, listed separately. Contact: Johnston County Building Inspections, 309 E. Market Street, Smithfield, NC 27577, 919-989-5060.

Shared with other businesses in Johnston County Nc

• Temporary Food Establishment Permit (Temporary Food Stand) — Johnston County Environmental Health Department, $75 per permit, per event; the amount is set by G.S. 130A-248(d2) and listed as 'Temporary Food Stand (Per Event) $75.00' as published on the Johnston County Environmental Health fee page (effective date shown: July 1, 2026), per event. Also required for food trucks and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Certified Food Protection Manager — North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Environmental Health Section, No fee, not stated in North Carolina law — the certifying programme sets its own. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
• Food Establishment Permit — North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Environmental Health Section, $120 a year, statewide, the permit does not expire; the fee is reassessed annually. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.