Frequently Asked Questions

Your first step is to check the "Listing of Common Principal Uses" table in Chapter 4 of the Unified Development Ordinance to see which districts permit your use type. The Town of Clayton lists over 150 different use types, so please review this table carefully to make sure you are looking at the most accurate use type for your business. To check the zoning for a specific property, visit our Maps & GIS page.

Once you are ready to move, you will need to complete an application for a Zoning Compliance Permit. You may also need to check with Johnston County, which licenses businesses for activities such as tattooing and certain types of food preparation.

Please contact the Town of Clayton Planning Department if you have questions at any point in this process. We are excited to have your business in Clayton and look forward to helping you navigate the process!

Home-bases businesses, or home occupations, are regulated by the Town of Clayton as secondary uses, so you will need a Zoning Compliance Permit to establish one. 

There are two types: Level 1 Home Occupations, which are lower intensity, and Level 2 Home Occupations, which are higher in intensity. Level 1 Home Occupations are allowed in all residential districts with a Zoning Compliance Permit, but Level 2 Home Occupations are more restricted. See Chapter 4 of the Unified Development Ordinance for more detailed information on Home Occupations.

If you have any questions about Home Occupations, please contact the Planning Department.

Before you open a new business or set up a Utilities account with the Town, you will need a Zoning Compliance Permit, which you can find under the “Planning” drop down on the Development Services Department page of our website. We will need to know what the use of the property will be (details about the business/organization, number of employees, customer load at one time, professional/operating licenses, etc.). Please also provide a notarized Owner’s Consent Form or lease if you are not the property owner.
 
You can submit the completed application through email (permitsubmittals@townofclaytonnc.org) or bring it to our office at the town’s building on 111 E Second St. Once you have that permit, you can begin to set up utility service with the Town. For more information on that process, reach out to the Utilities Department via email (utilities@townofclaytonnc.org) or phone (919-553-5002). You can also stop by the same town building to speak with them in person.

In addition to a Zoning Compliance Permit approving the change of use, you will need a separate permit for any renovation work. Please contact the Inspections Department or Planning Department to determine what permits are necessary.

To help preserve the character of our town by keeping it neat and clean, the Town of Clayton regulates signs through its Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). The UDO allows temporary signs to be placed on properties that are for sale, rent/lease, or where an activity is taking place. Signs placed at other locations, such as those on other properties or street right-of-ways, directing attention to the sale or activity, are not permitted. The Sign Ordinance can be found in Section 6.13 of the UDO.

All permanent signs and most temporary signs must be approved and permitted by the Town. You can find the applications for both permanent and temporary signs on the Permits and Applications page.