Frequently Asked Questions

Depending on the scope of work, you will need either a Building Permit or a Zoning Compliance Permit before you start any work. Failure to receive a permit is considered a Zoning Violation and can result in a warning letter and possible fines.

The Planning Department will work with you to make sure the project will not encroach into any easements and meets all setback requirements, as well as any other Code requirements. Please contact the Planning Department to begin the process.

An easement is the right to use property owned by another individual for specific purposes or to gain access to another property. Easements may be used for the construction of utilities, driveways, greenways, or drainage facilities.

A survey is the only way to truly determine if and where easements are located on a property. Some easements may be shown on a plat of your subdivision, which you can access via the Johnston County Register of Deed.

For more information, it is recommended that you contact the Planning Department for guidance on easements.

The Town of Clayton does not provide property surveys, so you will need to hire a private surveyor.

Any information provided by the Town or Johnston County, including GIS information, is intended for reference purposes only. To access any records held by the Town of Clayton on a property, you will need to submit a Public Records Request, which you can do through the Town of Clayton website. Please note that our record retention policy is usually around 3-7 years (depending on the document type), so it may no longer be accessible. 

You may place your fence up to and on top of your property line, but you will need your neighbors' consent to build on a shared property lie or tie-into an existing fence. Generally, fences may not be located in easements or sight distance triangles. Not every type of fence material is permitted - talk with staff to confirm that the type of fencing you want to put up, and the desired height and location, is permitted. The requirements for fences are outlined in Section 6.3 of the Unified Development Ordinance.

Before you install your fence, you will need a Zoning Compliance Permit. When you are ready to submit, be sure to include a site plan and a picture of the material/final look of the fence. Please refer to this guide on the specific requirements for a fence site plan.