Frequently Asked Questions

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When a call for service is dispatched, CFD responds with specific apparatus and manpower, depending upon the type of call. When a CFD representative (Chief Officer, first-in Engine, etc) arrives and conducts a "size-up", additional resources may be canceled from the call or told to reduce their response to a routine response.

When a fire alarm company contacts our dispatch center (Johnston County E-911 Communications) and they dispatch us, we have to respond to the incident for insurance purposes. Sometimes, the dispatcher will inform us that the alarm company has requested to cancel, and at that time the Officer in-charge will inform the additional responding apparatus to cancel and the closest unit will respond to the incident. When we arrive we check for things such as:

• Ensure the alarm system functioned correctly
• Ensure a fire that has been extinguished has not spread to an adjacent area
• Ensure no malicious acts are being done (starting a fire and then telling the alarm company to cancel the fire department)
• Ensure the area doesn't need to be ventilated
• Depending upon damage (even from small fires), insurance companies sometimes require a fire report
• Answer any questions the homeowner/resident/business owner has.

Yes. For Town of Clayton residents, there is an alarm ordinance. A false alarm is an alarm in which the system malfunctions for no apparent reason, or where a system is activated (manual pull station) when there is no fire. A fire alarm that goes off for accidental reasons such as burnt food is not considered a false alarm (the system is doing what it's designed to do) but repeat offenses may result in suggestions and/or recommendations from the Fire Marshal.

Fire reports can be picked up from Fire Station 1, located at 325 W Horne Street, Clayton NC 27520. Prior to going to pick up the report, you can contact the Operations Manager at 919-553-1520 and make sure it is ready, or discuss other means of sending reports (email, fax, etc). Report information is completed while on each call and after returning to the station. However, the report is not finalized in our reporting system until the start of the next business day. The Officer in charge of an incident will also relay the report process to the affected party(s). There is currently no fee for fire reports.

Recovering from a fire can be a physically and mentally draining process. When fire strikes, lives are suddenly turned around. Often, the hardest part is knowing where to begin and whom to contact. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) United States Fire Administration (USFA) has gathered information to assist you (PDF) in this time of need. Action on some of the suggestions will need to be taken immediately. Some actions may be needed in the future, while others will be ongoing. The purpose of this information is to give you the assistance needed as you begin rebuilding your life. Clayton Fire Department representatives are also available to assist in this process.

If you live inside town limits; you cannot burn anything (Town of Clayton provides pick-up for trash, yard debris, etc). To schedule a special pick-up, contact the Operations Center at 919-553-1530. It is illegal to burn trash or other debris (construction debris, yard/land debris that did not originate on the property, etc), regardless of the location. If you live outside town limits, you may burn your own yard debris. If someone sees smoke in the area and is concerned, they may contact 911 and we, the Fire Department, will respond to investigate the origin and make sure the public is not endangered. At times, burn bans are put into effect, especially during unusually dry conditions. Refer to the Division of Air Quality for specific information on open burning.

For emergencies, you need to call 911. Regular business hours for the non-emergency numbers are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. There are other personnel at each station 24 hours a day, but depending on fire calls, projects (hydrants, pre-incident surveys, etc), and/or training drills, personnel may not be available to take your call. As mentioned before, if you have an emergency, call 911.

When you call 911 in Johnston County, the call goes to the Johnston County E-911 Communications Center. They ask questions in order to relay important information to responding personnel (Fire/Rescue, EMS, Law Enforcement). This information can range from finding out if people are trapped in a fire to giving medical aid directions over the phone. Dispatchers are required to obtain certain certifications (Emergency Medical Dispatch, Emergency Fire Dispatch, and Emergency Police Dispatch, to name a few) that allow them to give directions and/or assist you while emergency responders are responding. Most of the time, while one person is asking the questions or giving directions, another is dispatching the appropriate agency(s). Please be patient and provide as much information as possible. For CFD, the information is "real-time," since our apparatus have mobile data computers (MDC's) which are a direct link to the dispatcher's screen. As they enter it, we see it!

It varies. Our Admin personnel (Fire Chief, Deputy Chiefs, Fire Inspector, and Administrative Coordinator) work a typical Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm work schedule (this time can also vary depending upon calls for service, on-call duty, etc). Our Operations personnel are divided into 3 shifts and work a 24-hour shift on a 9-day cycle (Work 24 hours, off 24 hours, work 24 hours, off 24 hours, work 24 hours, off 96 hours).

There are 2 answers to this question. 

1: to become familiar with the area and to know the hydrants are in working order and their flow rates, and
2: as part of the North Carolina Response Rating Schedule (NCRRS), which determines your insurance rating, there are certain criteria we have to meet, and one of those is hydrant maintenance. Our Hydrant Maintenance Program consists of flowing and flushing hydrants 2 times a year, and we have set months established for this. If there are any immediate concerns, we address them accordingly, and we are always mindful of environmental conditions such as droughts and modify our program if needed. Caution is taken during the flowing of hydrants so as to not disturb surrounding landscaping or cause traffic hazards.

Side note: the colored bands on the fire hydrants let fire personnel know the flow rate (depending upon the color) and the hydrant's ID number is for referencing in our system.

This question has 2 answers. 

1: to become familiar with the layout, hazards, features, etc in the event of a fire, and
2: as part of the NCRRS, we have criteria we have to meet, referred to as Pre-Incident Surveys or Pre-plans. The information gathered is entered onto a "Data Sheet," and we also do a drawing of the area to show hazards, features, water supply, etc. This information is updated at least twice a year (or as needed - business change, contact information, etc) and is only used by Fire Department personnel via our mobile data computers. This information is obtained two ways: phone updates and site visits. During phone updates, CFD personnel identify themselves, give a contact number the business owner can contact for verification, and obtain specific site updates and contact information over the phone. If there are any structural changes (additions/demolitions), a site visit is required to update the drawing. During site visits, CFD personnel are required to be in a departmental uniform. If at any time a person states that they are with the fire department and are not in uniform and/or cannot show you their ID, contact 911 and request law enforcement. 

Note: Pre-incident surveys are only conducted at businesses and these "surveys" are not fire inspections. However, any life safety hazards or obvious violations are forwarded to the Fire Marshal. At no time will a firefighter request to "preplan" your private dwelling (residence).

Yes. NC Law G.S 20-156 requires vehicles to yield to emergency vehicles when the emergency vehicle is giving a warning signal, such as emergency flashing lights, and an audible device, such as a siren. In addition to yielding to emergency vehicles, NC Law G.S. 20-157(f) (Move Over Law) requires motorists to move over one lane when an emergency vehicle is stopped on the side of a roadway. In the event the motorist cannot move over, they shall slow and be prepared to stop.

Yes. One stoplight in Clayton (Highway 70 Business/Robertson Street) is equipped with a special receiver that reacts to a special light on emergency apparatus. This signal turns the traffic lights which the emergency vehicle is approaching to green (including the turn lane), and all other lights are changed to red. This allows safe passage of the emergency vehicle(s) through a rather busy intersection with multiple turn lanes. This signal is approved through the North Carolina Department of Transportation and is only used for emergency events.

As mentioned above, our personnel work 24-hour shifts, and like everyone else, they have to eat! In order to be able to respond quickly to calls for service and maintain response requirements (time frames and personnel safety), the crew will take the fire truck to get their groceries, or they may decide to eat as a group at a local restaurant. Also, meals are paid for by the crew, not through the Town of Clayton.

The gear that is worn by firefighters is commonly referred to as "turnout gear," and can weigh as much as 50 pounds, depending on what each firefighter carries in his pockets (a variety of hand tools, specialty purpose tools, etc). By the time the Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and other equipment is added (depending upon the type of call), firefighters have to carry as much as an additional 100 to 150 pounds.

When we schedule a "station tour" or "fire truck showing", we incorporate a fire prevention presentation to educate children and adults on the importance of fire safety. Instead of focusing on Fire Prevention during the one week of October designated as "Fire Prevention Week", we focus on it throughout the year! The schedule is maintained through our Risk Management Division/Fire Marshal's Office, and we reach over 4,000 people annually, ranging in ages from 3 years old to senior citizens. To schedule an event, contact Clayton Fire Department at 919-553-1520.

Side note: Events may be interrupted, postponed, or sometimes canceled depending upon calls for services, other events, etc. We recommend that anyone that has a scheduled event contact Clayton Fire Department at 919-553-1520 on the day of the event to make sure there are no schedule changes or issues. Even with contact information on our calendar, fire department personnel may be busy handling a call and not have an opportunity to make a phone call.

No. Most fire stations today do not have a fire pole. Mainly this is due to insurance reasons. A fire pole can still be put in a firehouse, but in all likelihood, if one is put in a new station today, it wouldn't be able to be used. Some older fire stations still have them and still use them today, but most fire stations built today do not have them.

Yes, they do. Water is carried in the trucks all of the time.

Not at this time.

Call 911. All Clayton Police Department calls are routed through 911. Even if it's not an emergency, the dispatchers are trained to route any and all calls for the Town of Clayton, and they will get your information to our animal control officer. Never hesitate to call 911 if you need police response of any kind – including our animal control officer.

Hopefully you’ll find answers on this page, but if you still need to speak to someone, please call the Clayton Police Department at 919-553-4611 and ask for Animal Control. Business hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also send an email to info@townofclaytonnc.org. If you need an officer to come to your location, call 911.

The Town of Clayton does not operate an animal shelter. We have an agreement with Johnston Animal Services to impound animals taken into our custody. The Johnston County Animal Control Shelter is located at 115 Shelter Way, Smithfield, NC 27577. Its hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Pet Adoption Center is open 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Their phone number is 919-934-8474. 

No, the Town of Clayton Code of Ordinances states that animals can NOT be tethered, tied or chained for ANY length of time. Animals must be kept inside a fenced area or walked on leash.

Call Animal Control and surrounding animal shelters immediately to let them know. Provide them with a picture, information about your pet, and also let them know if your pet has been micro-chipped. Distributing flyers or posters in the area are a great idea. You can also post pictures, last seen location/time and contact information on websites and social media including the Triangle Lost Pets  Facebook page, the Town of Clayton Facebook page, the Lost & Found Dogs – North Carolina Facebook page, Craigslist Lost & Found and forums like 40/42 Facebook page, or your neighborhood HOA’s member email list or social media page. If you micro-chip your pet, make sure your address and telephone numbers are kept current with your microchip company. Many people change numbers or move and forget to update this information and pets can’t be found!  A collar with current rabies tag and name tag is also a great way to get your pet back home safely.

Stray animals picked up in Clayton are taken to Johnston County Animal Shelter in Smithfield. The county animal shelter holds stray animals for a minimum of 72 hours so that they can be reclaimed by their owners. After 72 hours the animal is released from stray hold and can be put up for adoption, sent to an outside animal rescue or, in certain cases, euthanized. That’s why it’s so important to notify animal control and your local shelter as soon as possible if your pet is missing!

Town of Clayton Code of Ordinances limits the number of cats and/or dogs per household to four.

If you don't feel comfortable talking directly to your neighbor – or he or she is ignoring your requests – feel free to ask the Town to intervene. Our animal control officer can contact your neighbor, make him or her aware of our barking dog ordinance and make suggestions on methods the dog owner can use to help correct the issue. If this does not help the situation, call 911. An officer can be dispatched to witness and document in the computer system when the events happen. Dog owners can be issued citations for nuisance violations. In addition, the police department can serve a nuisance abatement order in the event of repeated, verified issues which can lead to the dog being impounded.

Stray and/or feral cats are a nationwide problem. Animal Control works to help educate the public and pet owners of the importance of spay/neuter to help control the unwanted animal population. If you are having a problem with stray and/or feral cats you can request them to be removed. Animal Control can humanely trap and transport the cats to the animal shelter.

Yes. State law requires all dogs, cats and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies. See the affordable options below for reduced-cost rabies vaccines. 

Stay away from the animal and call 911.

Call 911 for immediate help when dealing with sick, aggressive or injured animals. For general questions or concerns, call Johnston County Animal Services at 919-934-8474.

Yes, the East Clayton Dog Park is located at 2027 Glen Laurel Road just off N.C. 42 East. It’s open 7 days a week from sunrise until sunset, and there are two separate areas for small and large dogs.

We'd love to! Simply fill out our Animal Control Event Request Form.

Yes! Check the Johnston County Animal Services website about upcoming rabies clinics and know that they also offer $5 rabies vaccines for cats and dogs Monday through Friday by appointment! The Spay-Neuter Assistance Program of North Carolina (SNAP-NC) is a non-profit mobile surgery group funded through grants and donations. SNAP-NC is a completely equipped and staffed "spay and neuter clinic on wheels" that comes directly to the Johnston County Animal Shelter to perform safe surgical sterilization of dogs and cats. Similar to SNAP-NC, All Walks of Life out of Raleigh also offers mobile veterinary services. Every Tuesday and Thursday, they travel to Johnston County to perform low cost surgeries and exams. The SPCA of Wake County (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) also offers affordable spay/neuter and vaccines. If you have found feral or stray cats, Operation Catnip in Raleigh, an all-volunteer organization dedicated to reducing feral and free-roaming cat populations, works to sterilize and routinely vaccinate wild cats trapped humanely.

No, the Town is not responsible for removing dead animals from private property. 

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless and colorless gas. It is created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, charcoal, and petroleum products) burn incompletely.

Carbon monoxide displaces oxygen in the blood and deprives the heart, brain, and other vital organs of oxygen. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal. Symptoms include headache, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, bright red skin, mental confusion, loss of muscular coordination and loss of consciousness.

Carbon monoxide sources include: Heaters, fireplaces, furnaces, appliances, and cooking sources that use coal, wood, petroleum products, and other fuels. Petroleum products include, but are not limited to, kerosene, natural gas, and propane. Equipment powered by internal combustion engines, such as cars, portable generators, lawnmowers, and power washers, emit carbon monoxide. Attached garages with doors, ductwork, or ventilation shafts that are connected directly to a living space are also considered "carbon monoxide sources".

A device that detects carbon monoxide and produces a distinct audible alarm when carbon monoxide (CO) is detected. It can operate either as a distinct unit, as two or more single station units wired to operate in conjunction with each other, or as part of an alarm system that contains CO detectors. A CO detector may look like this:

No, they are not required in these homes by North Carolina rules. However, it is a recommended best practice to have the alarms installed in any home that has a carbon monoxide source.

In rental dwellings in which carbon monoxide (CO) alarms are required, the landlord must ensure that properly functioning CO alarms are installed, provide working batteries at time of move-in, and provide the new tenant with alarm testing instructions. A tenant must test the alarm at least every six months and replace batteries as needed, and notify landlord in writing of any operating deficiencies.

A carbon monoxide alarm should be installed on each level of the home that has bedrooms or sleeping areas. They should also be in each bedroom or within 15 feet outside of each bedroom door. In multi-family buildings, an alarm is required in any enclosed common area that is connected by a door, ductwork, or ventilation shaft to a carbon monoxide source. The placement of the alarm should be in a location specified in the manufacturer's instructions. Depending on the model, this may be the wall, ceiling, or other location, such as a plug-in receptacle. You need to avoid locations that are in turbulent air, such as near ceiling fans, heat vents, air conditioners, or open windows. You should also avoid kitchens, garages, and furnace rooms, as installation in these areas could cause nuisance alarms. Alarms should be placed more than five feet from fuel-fired appliances. Also avoid locations that are dusty, dirty or greasy; these substances can contaminate or coat the alarm's sensor, causing the unit to malfunction.

No, the law requires an alarm on each level of the home that has bedrooms. However, it is a recommended best practice to have alarms on each level of the home.

Carbon monoxide alarms can be battery operated, hard-wired with a battery backup, or plug-in with a battery backup.

Carbon monoxide (CO) alarms must be maintained and tested according to the manufacturer's instructions. This usually includes: periodic (weekly) testing, vacuum to keep alarm free of dust and debris, and replacing batteries as needed. Most CO alarms have a 5-year lifespan.

When the alarm sounds, silence the alarm. Move everyone outside to fresh air and call for help from an outside location. If anyone is experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, call 911. If no one has symptoms, ventilate the building and contact a qualified service technician. Have all home equipment that is powered by fuels such as gas, wood, or petroleum products inspected by a qualified technician. Have fuel-burning heating equipment and chimneys inspected by a professional every year before cold weather sets in.

Call Customer Service at 919-553-5002 for all questions related to your bill.

Call 811 before you dig! 811 is an underground locating service that can show you where any and all underground facilities are located. There's no charge for the service or the call, and it can prevent you from coming into contact with underground power lines, natural gas lines, communication lines, and other utility services. Calling 811 before you dig can save your life!

The Town of Clayton has a 3-year tree trimming program. Effectively, 1/3 of the Town's trees are trimmed each year. Visit the link below to see when your area is scheduled for tree trimming.

Tree Trimming | Clayton, NC (civicplus.com)

Load Management is an energy-saving program that temporarily reduces the energy consumption in your home during peak load periods. We start by installing a small device at your residence and connect it to your air conditioner, water heater, heat strips, or all three - as long as they are powered by electricity. A radio signal is activated during the few times that we experience a high demand for power. Those times would be during extreme heat (in the high 90's) or extreme cold (less than 28 degrees Fahrenheit). Ultimately, this brief interruption should not be noticed by the user and reduces your power usage, which lowers your bill. This means you will receive credits back on your bill! That's a double savings!

Heat Strips: December through March - typically between 7 am and 9 am, and usually interrupted for 1 hour.

Water Heater: January through December - typically between 3 pm and 6 pm, and usually interrupted for 3 to 4 hours in summer months and 1 hour in winter months.

Air Conditioner: June through September - typically between 3 pm and 6 pm, interrupted intermittently for 3 to 4 hours.

Most customers report not noticing any difference in comfort when Load Management is connected to their home. For example, your water heater may be cycled off during the late afternoon (3 pm to 6 pm), but again only on high load days. So it may only be turned off a few dozen times during the summer and winter. And most people are not using the water heater (taking showers or washing clothes in hot water) during the 3 pm to 6 pm time period. And most water heaters retain heat for some time after the power is off, so even if you take a shower, the water should still be hot. If you do experience a problem though, call us at 919-553-1530 so we can help determine what the problem is.

Call the Town of Clayton Electric Department at 919-553-1530 if you suspect your Load Management (LM) Device may be defective or if you experience any problems with electric appliances that are connected to the LM Program (Air Conditioner, Water Heater, or Heat Strips).  Call us before calling a service technician.  Allowing us the opportunity to inspect the LM equipment first may prevent you from incurring unwanted HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) and plumbing service fees.

No, The Town does not accept used motor oil. You can recycle your used motor oil at a local auto parts/repairs store. 

Our program is on a 3-year cycle, which effectively means 1/3 of the Town's trees are trimmed each year. You can find out when your area will be trimmed (PDF).

Most deciduous trees (non-evergreen) quickly re-grow after they have been pruned. This means the Town of Clayton must prune the trees over and over again, as they re-encroach upon the lines. The length of time depends on the amount of clearance obtained at the time of tree work, the rate of tree growth and the amount of tree-line clearance to be maintained at all times. This in turn depends on tree species, tree size, local site conditions and the ever-changing weather from year to year. The less clearance obtained, the more frequently the tree must be pruned. It may seem that obtaining less clearance more often would be healthier for the tree, but that is not necessarily the case, according to international arborists. It is a trade-off between more, smaller cuts more frequently, or fewer, larger cuts less often. There is not a universal answer, and the Town of Clayton feels we've set up a tree maintenance cycle that finds balance between the reliability of the power lines and the health and esthetics of our town's trees.

The Town of Clayton contracts with professional tree trimming companies who use trained, skilled technicians who utilize a technique called "directional pruning." While rounding over trees may look better, international arbor organizations maintain that directional pruning is better for the health of the tree. With directional pruning, entire limbs or portions of limbs growing toward the lines are removed at the main branch or trunk. They are removed at a point where they would naturally shed. By doing this, future growth will be directed away from the wires, and rapidly growing attached sprouts will be minimized.

Each tree is different and must be considered individually. Species growth habit (rate, size, shape, etc) and the tree's position in relation to the power line needs to be taken into consideration prior to trimming. The current condition of the tree or individual limbs is also assessed before trees are trimmed. On occasion, structural defects are found and need to be corrected in order to protect the line. Trees with trunks close to the power lines require much heavier pruning than trees located farther from the line. Some techniques that are appropriate on most deciduous trees cannot be used on some coniferous (cone-bearing) species.

When pruning operations are performed, our trimming experts make every attempt to trim sufficient clearance so that the tree will remain safe until we return on our next routine maintenance cycle.

Yes, utility representatives or contractors may enter property to trim any branches that are touching or are close to power lines. It is necessary to enter private property so that the reliability of the power system is maintained and outages are avoided. Utility companies have this right because the power lines are in the public right-of-way. In this right-of-way, utilities have permission to maintain lines.

Pruning vegetation around power lines is an extremely hazardous job. Clayton Public Power discourages you from undertaking any pruning activities close to electrical equipment. If you are concerned about the growth of trees or other vegetation on or near the service lines around your house, we encourage you to contact us at 919-553-1530, and we'll be glad to check it out.

Occasionally, a property owner will make the decision to conduct trimming or removals on their own or hire a third party. Pruning trees around power lines should only be attempted by qualified professionals. Serious injuries, and even fatalities, have occurred when unqualified individuals perform this type of work without the assistance of qualified professionals. As stated in the Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA) standards and ANSI Z133.1, an unqualified person should not work within 10 feet of overhead energized conductors with voltages below 50,000 volts. The distance increases with voltage for all voltages equal to or higher than 50,000 volts.

• When planting trees in your yard, select a location away from power lines.
• Check with a nursery about the correct types of trees for planting in the space you have available.
• Trim all trees and bushes that are under and near power lines each year to keep them from growing toward the lines

Dial 911. The Clayton Police Department is dispatched by telecommunicators at Johnston Central.  If a police response is needed, dial 911 and give your information to the telecommunicator you speak with and they will send the police to your home.

Dial 911. The telecommunicator will dispatch Animal Control to your complaint.

All of our jobs can be found here. If the job you are looking for is not listed there, please keep checking back as all of our job vacancies, including those for our police department, are listed on this web page.

You can request a Clayton Police incident or motor vehicle collision report in person, online, or by mail. Reports are available between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The cost is $3 for the first copy and $1 for each additional. Payment by credit/debit card is required for in-person and online requests while mail requests require a check or money order. Visit Clayton Police Reports for more information.

The Clayton Police Department does not and cannot provide this service. Criminal record information may be obtained at the Johnston County Courthouse from the Clerk of Superior Court. The courthouse is located at 207 East Johnston Street, Smithfield, NC. Cost is $25 and is available Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm

Fingerprinting services are available by appointment only at the Clayton Police Department. Appointments can be scheduled between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 315 E. Second St., Clayton, NC. The cost is $17.00 per visit, and payment must be made by credit or debit card. Valid, government-issued photo ID is required. For more details, visit Clayton Police Fingerprint Services.

If you need to have additional information added to the report, you may call 919-553-4611 and ask to speak with an officer. The information will be given to the reporting officer to be added to the original report. If you prefer to talk to the officer who took the initial report you may call 919-553-4611 and ask to speak with that officer. If they are on duty they will be instructed to return your call. If they are off-duty you can leave them a message and they will return your call when they return to work. You should be aware that this may take several days for your call to be returned or additions to be made, depending upon their work schedule.

The police department only receives property in three ways: evidence, found property, and confiscated property. Property may be claimed at the police department Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM till 4:00 PM by appointment only. Call to schedule your appointment. In order to claim property you must have current picture ID. There must be sufficient supporting information to prove ownership of any property to be claimed. Property collected as evidence can only be claimed with a court order which is obtained from court after the case has been tried. You may call 919-553-4611 if you have questions about claiming property.

The Clayton Police Department no longer accepts prescription drugs and does not have a disposal box. To safely dispose of old or unused medication, we recommend calling ahead to local pharmacies like CVS or Walgreens, as they may have drop-off programs or special disposal options.

The police department does offer community outreach programs through our Community Policing Officers.  Please call 919-553-4611 to discuss what we can do for you!

The police department does offer this service.  An officer will spend about 30 minutes with you covering basic safety information and teaching you how to properly inspect your car seat.  Please make sure to bring your car manual and car seat manual.  Please call 919-553-4611 to schedule an appointment.

Parking tickets can be paid at Town Hall, located at 111 E Second Street, Clayton, NC. Please visit Customer Service (where utility bills are paid) Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm  You may mail in your ticket payment using the instructions on the ticket.

If you want to report a solicitor call 911. Anyone selling or peddling products door-to-door must obtain a $50 permit. Not only that, they must provide valid IDs and go through a criminal background check. No one with any felony convictions, sex offenses, drug or fraud charges in the last 10 years will be allowed to get a permit. And even if someone is approved for a permit, it's only good for 30 days and must be renewed for another $25.

The picture to the right is the ID issued by the Town of Clayton Police Department. If the person at your door does not display an ID like this one - they do not have the required permit to sell in the Town of Clayton. The police have also begun to add the expiration date to this ID badge so be sure to check for that.

You may also request to see the actual permit. The sales person is required to have it with them. Some people have reported that sales people are displaying letters that claim to exempt them from our permit process. The Town of Clayton Police Department nor the Town issue any such type of exemption letters.

No one can solicit at homes before 9 am or after 8 pm.

If someone knocks on your door selling something, you can ask to see their identification badge and permit issued by the Clayton Police Department. If they refuse to show their badge or become aggressive, threatening or intimidating, close your door and call 911. Keep any printed information the salesperson may have given you and write down a description of the person, their vehicle or where they were headed.

Wondering if your girl scout or boy scout now will need to get a permit to sell their cookies or popcorn?  They don't. Town Council made an exception for anyone operating for educational, religious, charitable or non-profit purposes.

You can check out the ordinance by clicking here.

We're the hub of the Town's financial operations and responsible for managing an accounting system that provides full, accurate, and timely disclosure of information, which is the definition of transparency. The primary goal is to provide quality management of the Town's financial resources while continually striving for excellence. The Town's cash flow, grants, investments, debt, payroll, and purchasing functions are managed by the Finance Department. Our role is to provide financial services to taxpayers, vendors, town departments, and employees.

Johnston County collects all property and vehicle taxes. You can call the Johnston County Tax Office at 919-989-5130 or go to the Johnston County Tax Administration Office website, where you can view and pay your tax bills online.

The state of North Carolina gives municipalities the right to collect a municipal vehicle tax. On July 1, 2018, the Town Council approved raising the vehicle tax from $5 to $30 annually per car. Why did the Council decide to do this? Because the infrastructure of our community defines our community. You can become known for things. Clayton has some bad streets and the rate of decline is increasing. How do we get the revenue to pay for those streets? One way is to tax the cars that drive on them. The $30 annual fee is the maximum allowed by North Carolina law, and it would generate $375,000 in its first year. And what's most important, this money is restricted and must be used for street improvement projects. Analysis from a recent study addressing Clayton's deteriorating streets estimated the Town needs to spend $1 million a year to keep our streets up. With roughly $500,000 from the state Powell funds, that leaves about half a million more for the town to cover every year. A $25 increase equates to less than 7 cents a day to help keep our busy roads safe and smooth. If you'd like, bring in your vehicle tax receipt and we'll give you a custom Town of Clayton license plate for the front of your vehicle. Just come to the Customer Service area in Town Hall, 111 East 2nd Street.

The Finance Department pays invoices weekly. All questions relating to the status of an invoice should be directed to Accounts Payable by calling 919-553-5002. Invoices can be emailed or faxed to 919-553-8919.

To be considered, contact the Town of Clayton Finance Department at 919-553-5002.

Yes, the Town is subject to sales tax on its purchases of tangible personal property and services. The Town is allowed to make a request for an annual refund on these taxes.

Would you like to see a break-down of where your tax dollars are spent? What eats up the biggest slice of the pie? Find out here!

You can register online here or visit the Community Center.

The Community Center is located at 715 Amelia Church Road, at the corner of Amelia Church Road and Shotwell Road.

The Community Center has an indoor walking track, full basketball gym, multipurpose room, art and pottery classrooms, and a game room with pool tables, air hockey, and more! We also have light free weights, a total body cable machine, elliptical and stationary bikes, stair stepper, and rowing machines.

To join the community Center you will need to stop by the front desk with a copy of your driver's license and a utility bill. Check out our membership page for more details!

Monday through Friday, 7 am to 9 pm; Saturday, 8 am to 4 pm; and Sunday, 1 pm to 6 pm.

All Town residents pay Clayton City taxes and receive utility bills from the Town of Clayton. Not all people with Clayton addresses are in the Town limits. There are numerous unincorporated areas of Johnston County that have Clayton addresses but are not in the Town of Clayton. Visit this map and enter your address to find out if you're in the Town of Clayton limits and service area. If you have any questions about whether or not you are a resident, please contact us at 919-553-5002.

Schedules, Rules, Coaches Information, and Field Conditions can be found at Quickscores.

No.

Please check the monthly open gym calendar as times do vary.

Please contact the Clayton Community Center with any concerns at 919-553-1550. If it is an emergency, please call 911.

Please contact the Program Coordinator at 919-553-1550.

We are always looking for volunteers for special events, work in the community garden, coaching and more. Please fill out the volunteer form (PDF).

At this time, the Town does not operate any swimming pools.

Yes, the Town has a Dog Park across from East Clayton Park at 2027 Glen Laurel Road.

We would love to talk with you about sponsoring a ball team or event: please contact the Community Center at 919-553-1550.

Fields and courts are available for rentals around Clayton. For availability and information, please contact our Athletic Supervisor at 919-553-1551.

Yes, Picnic Shelter Rentals are available at All-Star, Community Park, East Clayton Community Park, and Municipal Park. Reservations can be made online at ClaytonParks.org/Register

During the winter months, water is turned off in some of the park facilities to prevent the pipes from freezing.

No.

Fishing is allowed with a current NC Fishing license. Chemicals are occasionally added to the pond for weed control, therefore we require fishermen to catch and release.

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.

Zoning is a mechanism for local governments to foster growth and development to cultivate an ever-improving community. The Town of Clayton has designated 17 conventional zoning districts, each of which has a unique set of allowed land uses, lot size requirements, and building standards. 

Zoning is a powerful tool to serve our community and facilitate the Town's vision for future growth. To learn more about this, visit our Strategic and Master Plans page.

The Planning Department maintains the Town's Official Zoning Map and can help you determine your zoning district. To view the map, visit the Maps and GIS page.

The uses permitted in each district are outlined in the "Listing of Common Principal Uses" and the "Listings of Common Secondary Uses" tables in Chapter 4 of the Unified Development Ordinance. The Town of Clayton lists over 150 different use types, so please check the definitions for each use type in Chapter 8 to ensure you are looking at the most accurate use type for your activity. 

Remember that before building or placing a new use on the property, you must receive the appropriate permits and approvals. If you have any questions about land use policies, contact the Planning Department.

Building setbacks are based on your Zoning District and, sometimes, on what subdivision you are located in. To look up your zoning district, visit our Maps and GIS page. The setback information for each zoning district can be found in Chapter 3 of the Unified Development Ordinance. 

If your property is in a subdivision or is in a conditional or planned district, you may be able to find the setback information on the recorded plat. You can find the plat for your neighborhood on Johnston County's online mapping portal MapClick. Use the "Locate" tab to find the property. You should see a blue triangle on the map somewhere near the property with the name of your subdivision (you may need to zoom out). On the "Query" tab, select "Plat Book Image" from the dropdown. Click on the blue triangle, which should open a page from the Johnston County Register of Deeds with the plat on it. This may have setback information on it. 

For confirmation, it is recommended that you contact the Planning Department to determine your setback requirements.

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.

Public notices for projects such as annexation or rezoning requests are published on the Public Meetings & Hearings page prior to Planning Board and Town Council sessions. You can also sign up to receive Planning Board and Town Council agendas directly in your inbox. 

For more information on upcoming meetings, current development, or if you are unable to find a project you are looking for, please contact the Planning Department by phone at 919-553-5002 or by email at planning@townofclaytonnc.org.

Certain development projects and requests are subject to public review by the Planning Board, Board of Adjustments, and Town Council. Generally, the Planning Board acts as a review body to provide recommendations to Town Council on rezonings and Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) amendments. The Board of Adjustments conducts evidentiary hearings for Special Use Permits and appeals. And, as a legislative body, the Town Council delivers decisions on a variety of issues, including annexations, rezonings, and UDO amendments. For a detailed list of each body's role in development projects, check out Table 2.2.1 in Chapter 2 of the UDO.

Public notices for projects such as annexation or rezoning requests are published on the Public Meetings & Hearings page prior to Planning Board and Town Council sessions. To access the link to the agendas/minutes for Town Council, Planning Board, or Board of Adjustment meetings, visit our Boards and Commissions portal. You can also sign up to receive Planning Board and Town Council agendas directly in your inbox. 

You can find the permit applications for the Engineering, Inspections, and Planning Departments on the Development Services Department page under the "Forms" heading or at our office at 111 E Second St. Once you are ready to submit, you can bring it to the office in person or email it to the email address found on the application form. 

Visit the Development Services Department page or contact the Development Services Department for more information. 

If you have questions about the Unified Development Ordinance or a possible violation, or if you received a notice and would like to discuss a specific complaint, please contact a Code Enforcement Officer. You may also visit the Code Enforcement Division in person at 111 East Second Street.

• Susan Long (Code Enforcement Officer):
  Phone: 984-310-4395
  Email: slong@townofclaytonnc.org
• Jon Weckesser (Senior Code Enforcement Officer):
  Phone: 984-303-7052
  Email: jweckesser@townofclaytonnc.org

A Clayton address doesn't automatically make you a Town of Clayton resident. There are many unincorporated areas of Johnston County with Clayton addresses. Clayton residents are people living in the Town limits of Clayton, who pay both Johnston County and Town of Clayton taxes. Go to this map and type in your address to see if you live inside Town of Clayton town limits/service area. When you register, we'll ask you to please show proof of your address with such things as a utility bill or driver's license.

Every year we analyze our pricing to make sure we're offering fair prices, staying competitive with the area's market, helping cover costs and creating equity for tax-paying Town residents and non-residents. All across the country, prices for things such as instructors, materials, uniforms, etc., are increasing. The Parks and Recreation Department has never made a profit from fees, meaning what we charge for memberships, classes, programs, rentals and athletics do not cover the costs of our entire budget.

Most of our budget is supported by Town taxes. So, we have to find the balance in what we charge, knowing that whatever gap is left over after we collect fees is made up by the taxes paid by Town of Clayton residents. While what we spend outweighs what we bring in from fees, Town leaders know investing in Parks and Recreation facilities and programs improves Clayton's quality of life and contributes to property values by creating an attractive, healthy, and active community.

We work hard to maintain great parks, organize year-round athletics, host special events, offer after-school and summer camps, and ensure people of all ages have a wide variety of ways to get active, learn new skills, encourage teamwork, build community and… have fun! If you have any questions about the changes, email us.

You can find a listing of available jobs on our Job Openings page.  A list of current jobs is also available for viewing at the Human Resources office located in Town Hall at 111 East Second Street, Clayton, NC.

We encourage you to visit our Job Openings page.  On this page, you can electronically apply for any job we have available.  You can also go to the Job Categories section to see what types of jobs are available and set up email notifications to see when those positions are available.

At our Job Openings page, you can apply for multiple positions with ease. When applications are received they are forwarded to the appropriate department for consideration. Turning in separate applications for each desired position ensures that your application is reviewed by each department in a timely manner.

The Human Resources Office is located in Town Hall at 111 East Second Street, Clayton, NC on floor G1.  The mailing address for Human Resources is P.O. Box 879, Clayton, NC 27528.

The Town of Clayton offers competitive pay rates, paid holidays, vacation, sick time, membership in the Local Government Federal Credit Union, and a Wellness Program.  Qualified employees are also offered 401k/457 retirement plans and health insurance.  For more details about this information, please visit our Benefits page.

The Town receives many applications this process may take 30 – 45 days. Non-select email will be sent to individuals who are not selected and applicants who are selected should receive notification for interview.

Please contact NeoGov Applicant Support Team from 9:00 am – 8:00 pm Monday through Friday at 855-524-5627.

If you have questions about our cemeteries, need information about existing plots, or would like to purchase a plot, please schedule an appointment by calling 919-553-1530 to schedule an appointment at the Town's Operations Center at 653 NC Highway 42 W. An additional appointment can be made to visit the cemetery with our staff to view the site or sites.

The cost is $1,200 per grave.

The cost is $900 to open and close it upon interment. The $900 for opening/closing must be paid in full before a standard interment. Costs vary for Sunday and/or holiday internments and for cremains internment.

Payment for a plot or grave is accepted only at 111 E 2nd Street, in Town Hall. For more information, refer to Cemetery Ordinance 92.01.C. 

All persons desiring to purchase a use license for cemetery lots in the town cemeteries shall apply to the Cemetery Official, as appointed by the Town Manager, who, upon approval and payment of the price fixed for each cemetery lot, shall cause the use license therefore to be executed to the purchaser. Cemetery Ordinance 92.01.A.

The Town provides a footstone for each grave that includes the name, birth year and year of death for the deceased. Headstones are permitted. Flush monuments are required in sections A, B, C, D, E, I, J and K of Maplewood Cemetery and all of Forest Hills Cemetery. There is no fee for getting a permit to place a monument.

To transfer a use license, the original purchaser must complete a transfer of cemetery lot form. The transfer of cemetery lot form must be approved by the Cemetery Official. Further, the transfer of use rights for a cemetery lot shall be complete when (a) a transfer of cemetery lot form is executed by the transferring party and approved by the Cemetery Official and (b) a use license for the lot is issued to the transferee by the Cemetery Official. Cemetery Ordinance 92.01.B

Engineering and Inspections is located at:
111 E 2nd Street
Clayton NC 27520

We are inside Town Hall/The Clayton Center on the 2nd floor of the Government Services Building.

Our hours of operation for Engineering and Inspections are 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Permits are not issued after 4:30 pm.

The purpose of a permit is to enforce minimum consistent requirements of nationally recognized good practices by providing a reasonable level of life safety and protection of hazards to all parties involved.

Building Permit Required

No person or corporation shall locate, erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, demolish or relocate any building, or change the type of occupancy without first obtaining the required permits for the specific work from the Inspections Department having jurisdiction.

Building permits are not required for:

• Nonstructural work where costs is less than $15,000 in any single-family residence.
• Farm buildings outside the jurisdiction of any municipality.
• Residential accessory structures where no dimension exceeds 12 feet.
• The replacement of windows, doors and exterior siding in residential structures.
• The replacement of pickets, railings, stair treads, and decking of residential porches and exterior decks.

Electrical Permit Required

An electrical permit is required for the installation, extension, alteration, or general repair of any electrical wiring, devices, appliances, or equipment except that in any one or two-family dwelling units a permit shall not be required for repair or replacement of electrical lighting fixtures or devices, such as receptacles and lighting switches having the same voltage and the same or less amperage.

Plumbing Permit Required

A plumbing permit is required for the installation, extension, relocation, replacement or general repair of any plumbing system. Plumbing permits shall not be required for minor repairs or replacements of plumbing fixtures provided such repairs or replacements do not disrupt the original water supply or the waste and ventilation system.

Replacement of Water Heaters

No permit shall be required for replacement of water heaters in one- or two-family dwellings, provided:

• The energy use rate or thermal input is not greater than that of the water heater which is being replaced.
• There is no change in fuel, energy source, location, routing or sizing of venting and piping.
• The work is performed by a licensed plumbing contractor.
• The replacement is installed in accordance with the current edition of the North Carolina State Building Code.

Mechanical / HVAC Permit Required

Mechanical / HVAC permit is required for the installation, extension, relocation, replacement and general repair of any heating, air-conditioning or venting system.

The following represents typical examples of costs to be included on Building Permit Applications:

• Design and costs associated with construction plans and specifications
• All building construction costs, including soil exploration, excavation, backfill, compaction, shoring deep foundations and shallow foundations
• Fixed or built-in equipment, including mechanical, electrical and plumbing (including kitchen equipment, elevators or lift equipment)
• Special inspections and structural tests
• Interior and exterior finishes
• Fire protections systems
• Graphics/signage

Costs in place: including material, labor and equipment.

Although you may have a Clayton address, we only cover the areas inside the city limits of Clayton and the Town's Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). If you are unsure whether you are inside the city limits, contact our office prior to coming in and we'll be glad to let you know which jurisdiction you are in.

• A completed permit application for a single-family home.
• A site plan meeting all of the specification listed in the Site Plan Requirements.
• Two sets of plans detailing the work to be performed. The building plans shall detail the construction in accordance with the Residential Plan Submittal Requirements as it applies to the particular project.

Yes. As long as you own the home and don't rent it out, you can serve as your own contractor. There is one stipulation: you will need to live in the home for one year after the work is completed.

Building Contractor Required

A general contractor licensed in North Carolina must perform all work where the construction cost is in excess of $30,000. Any person who is paid to manage a project where the construction cost is in excess of $30,000 must be a licensed General Contractor. An unlicensed contractor may perform work where the cost is $30,000 or less. Any person may act as their own general contractor for construction of a home, addition or accessory structure if they own the land and will personally occupy the structure for 12 months after completion.

Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Sprinkler License Contractor Required

A licensed plumbing, heating and air conditioning contractor is required to alter, replace or relocate plumbing or heating and air conditioning. Homeowners may perform their own plumbing or heating work if they own the land and will personally occupy the structure.

Electrical Contractor's License Required

A licensed electrical contractor is required for all installation, construction, maintenance or repair of electrical wiring, devices, appliances or equipment. Homeowners may perform their own electrical work if they own the land and will personally occupy the structure.

The work needs to be ready the day that you call to schedule the inspection.

For New Construction, this will be at the inspector's discretion. If the home is occupied, someone will have to be home. Our inspectors will not enter into an occupied home without a homeowner or contractor.

Yes. Reinspection fees will need to be paid prior to scheduling your reinspection. Our online system is available to assist with this.

Per the Retention Table established by the North Carolina Division of Historical Resources Archives and Records Section, we are obligated to keep records for only six years.

Yes. A permit is needed for any electric work.

The Inspectors are in the office from 7 to 8 am and 3 to 4 pm. They are in the field from 8 am to 3 pm.

Call Our Inspection Department at 919-553-5002 by 4:30 am the day you call in your inspection, and you'll be connected with the inspector voicemail. He will be able to provide an estimated time based on his workload for that day.

Retaining walls require a permit and engineering when:

• They are vertically above 4 feet
• Supporting a structure
• Crosses a property regardless of height

Residential permit application, plot plan showing the retaining wall and 2 copies of engineered plans are required for permitting.

Permits expire six months (180 days) after issue date if no work has commenced. Permits also expire when work has started but discontinued for twelve months (365 days) from the last inspection date.

The Clayton Engineering and Inspections Department handles inspections. All building inspections other than zoning inspections (site development and landscaping), which are done by the Planning Department, are done by the Engineering and Inspections Department. In order to schedule an inspection, you must leave a voicemail requesting the inspection at the Inspection Request Line: 919-359-8717.

Inspection requests need to be made by 4 pm to be scheduled for the next business day. Calling staff directly is not considered an official request, and will not be honored. All inspections that are scheduled must be ready for an inspection by 8 am on the scheduled date. All canceled inspections need to be canceled via the Inspection Request Line no later than 8 am on the scheduled date. Re-inspection fees will be applied.

Are you a contractor or developer who routinely schedules inspections? Sign up to use our Online Town of Clayton Permits System. It isn't just convenient - our inspectors also give priority to requests made online. To set up an account, please call our Permitting Specialist at 919-359-9354.

• Our program management company will perform a quality assurance check to verify that the Town received properly installed and operating meters from our contractor.
• The Town will hire a third-party company to perform an additional quality assurance review of the installed system.
• A portion of the new and old meters will be field-tested by a separate firm that has done electric meter testing for the Town for many years.
• A statistical review of electric meter data trends in December and January over the past 5 years will be performed.
• We will conduct residential energy audits for those customers who request them. (First priority will be given to customers with the largest trend changes).

The Town began changing out our old water meters last summer. Existing meters throughout our Town were reaching the end of their operational life and many still required a manual read.

During the transition to the AMI meters, many of our utility customers have seen an increase in their monthly bills. However, when the water meter part of the program was completed several months ago, the Town was able to use the consumption information gathered by the new meters to help a number of customers find leaks or inefficiencies with their water use. After completion and review, we expect similar positive results with the electric meter part of the program.

AMI - Advanced Metering Infrastructure - is an integrated system of smart meters, communications networks, and data management systems that enables two-way communication between utilities and customers. One of the system's primary benefits to customers is that it allows daily, "real-time" monitoring of consumption instead of traditional systems that use monthly billing to report consumption that is usually several weeks old.

There are several advantages to these Smart meters. Customers can:

• Monitor water and energy use, which in turn can help with controlling monthly bills. Sign in to our online portal here.
• Sign Up for usage alerts
• Sign up to receive outage alerts
• Diagnose water leaks before they become a bigger problem.
• Create an account on our online portal to monitor

Data from the meters is encrypted and sent through a safe and secure network to the utility databases. The meter system transmits only the water or electric meter readings, the meter identification number, and diagnostic information to verify that the automated meter equipment is operating correctly. Only key authorized utility personnel, such as customer service representatives, can access your account if needed. There is no personal identifying information captured by the smart point or transmitted by the meter.

The new meters use wireless radio frequencies or RF, similar to wireless Internet and cable TV, which many people already have in their homes. Radio frequencies are also used in cell phones, microwaves and even baby monitors. Digital water and electric meters operate at much lower levels of radio frequencies than any of those. The meters and communication system are regulated to meet all federal communications, safety standards and codes. You can learn more from the Federal Communications Commission or FCC explaining radio frequencies.

You can also check the findings of the American Cancer Society.

Usually, yes. We'll need some kind of verification that the repair work has been completed, or a receipt for the supplies used in the repair process. As soon as we have all the necessary information, our billing specialist will make the appropriate adjustments and contact you by phone.

Please note that we require a 24-hour window to connect or disconnect services once all necessary documents have been received. Kindly keep in mind that same-day connections or disconnects cannot be provided.

Certainly! To request a review of your water/electric meter reading, please contact us via phone at 919-553-5002 or email.

Reconnecting Services: What You Need to Know 

In the event that it is necessary for the Town to disconnect services, customers must fulfill the following requirements for restoration:

• Payment of any outstanding bills, additional fees, and charges outlined in the policy
• Submission of any required deposit
• Payment of any incurred material and labor costs according to the current fee schedule.

Please note that after-hours reconnection is not an option at this time.

Guidelines for Requesting Utility Bill Payment Extensions:

If you're a utility customer, you're entitled to two extensions per calendar year. Provided you make the request before the cut-off date, you can postpone your payment. To request an extension, simply fill out the Extension Request Form. 

However, bank draft customers are not eligible for extensions. 

Please note that the maximum extension period is 10 days past your cut-off date, and normal penalties will apply.

You will be notified by our Customer Service Department in case of a returned draft or check. Upon receiving notification, you will have 48 hours to make payment using any of the following methods: cash, card or money order. Please note that a fee of $25 for returned items will be charged.

For Homeowners: Upon completion of 12 months of on-time payments, defined by no late payments, returned checks or drafts, and no disconnections due to nonpayment, a written request can be submitted to refund the deposit.

For Renters: The deposit shall be applied toward the account balance upon closing, with any remaining funds refunded thereafter.

If you've changed your name due to marriage or divorce, you may need to update your name on your utility bill. Here's what you need to provide to the Town of Clayton:

To update your records, please provide a notarized copy of your marriage license, divorce decree, updated driver's license or social security card to the Utilities & Billing Department. You can do this by visiting our office at Town Hall, located at 111 E. Second Street in downtown Clayton. Don't forget to bring along a photo ID, and we will make the changes right away. Additionally, you may send the required information through email.

Before filling your pool, contact the Customer Service Department at 919-553-5002 to schedule a water meter reading. After the pool is filled, you will need to call again to schedule another reading. The Town will assess a reduced rate for the gallons used to fill the pool. No sewer charges will be applied to those gallons.

In case of after-hours water or sewer emergency, please contact us at 919-553-5002. We will promptly dispatch a Town of Clayton employee to your location. Please note that this service is unavailable for disconnected customers.

Save time and hassle by not having to call for a special pick-up of your bulky items. All-Star provides weekly pick-up of one or two bulky items on the same day as your scheduled garbage collection. Check out the Waste Collection page for more details.  

Recycling is picked up weekly on the same day as regular garbage collection. For more information on what materials can be included, please visit the Recycling Information page.

For assistance, please contact the Utilities & Billing Department at 919-553-5002 during normal business hours. A repair or replacement order will be issued and completed within 7 to 10 days.

Recycling Electronic Items in Johnston County:

Johnston County provides a free recycling service for electronic items. Residential customers can dispose of electronics for free at any of the Convenience Centers or the Johnston County Landfill. Bins are available at no charge for this purpose. To locate a Convenience Center, please refer to the Johnston County Recycling Information page.

If you require an additional garbage or recycling cart, kindly contact the Customer Service Department at 919-553-5002. The cost for an extra 95-gallon garbage cart is $4.18 per month, while an extra 95-gallon recycling cart is $3.17 per month.

As a Town of Clayton utility customer, you have three options for reporting power and water outages:

1. Call 919-553-1530 and follow the prompts.  
2. Text “Power” to 919-553-1530 for an electric outage and Text “Water” to 919-553-1530 for a water outage.
3. Report the outage online by visiting ClaytonNC.org/COMS

We do, click here to view it. 

You can always call us or utilize our webform to report an outage The system uses Caller ID to identify you through your telephone number, therefore we encourage you to update the phone number on file with us to make it easier on you .we also ask that you make sure your email on file is up to date so you don’t miss any important updates.  

Your account number is located on the top right hand side of your paper bill. You can also find it on the utility payment portal, under account information. Or in the Utility Tracker website on the main dashboard next to the drop down for ‘Customer’.

If you don’t have access to any of the above, please call our Customer Service Department at 919-553-5002 for your account number.

** You will need to remove the dash when you type in your account number.

The phone call, text message or webform outage creates an autogenerated notification to our operations staff 24 hours a day. While our staff is enroute to your location, the computer system is mapping all outages and creating a prediction of what could be causing it based on the number and location of affected customers. This speeds up our response time and allows us to better dispatch crews.

Call 919-553-1530 and follow the prompts, you will need your account number. 

** You will need to remove the dash when you type in your account number. 

Our automated account balance system is updated every 24 hours, it may not reflect recent payments. You can always log into the portal to view your account balance or call our customer service department during normal business hours at 919-553-5002.

You are welcome to call our customer service department during normal business hours or fill out our online form by clicking here. 

For customers that are on a cut off list, the computer system will not allow you to report a power outage.  Your account may be on the cut off list for non-payment of your bill or because your service was scheduled to end for a move out.

• Clayton Residents may register for Camp on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at 8 am.
• Non-Residents may register for Camp on Monday, February 17, 2025 at 8 am.

You can register online via our Registration website or in-person at the Clayton Community Center Front Desk, 715 Amelia Church Road. Please note that over the phone registrations will not be accepted.

Camp Clayton 2025 will run Monday to Friday from 7:30 am to 6 pm for 10 weeks. The first day of camp is Monday, June 2nd and the last day is Friday, August 15th.

For Clayton Residents, the weekly cost to attend Camp Clayton is $120 per camper. For Non-Residents, the weekly cost is $180 per camper. 

Payment is due in full at the time of registration.

Yes! The Clayton Parks and Recreation Department is planning several fun, special interest camp programs this summer. Most are half-day camps that will focus on programs such as:

• Art
• Pottery
• STEM

• 100% refunds will be granted if requested prior to each years specific deadline
• All refund requests must be submitted in writing to Sean Quigley at squigley@townofclaytonnc.org
• Refunds will not be given for missed days, vacations, sickness, or any other unplanned emergencies

The Camp Clayton Tax ID is 56-6001203.

Campers must bring:

• A backpack
• A lunch
• 2 snacks
• A refillable water bottle
• Wear comfortable clothing and shoes for indoor and outdoor play
• Sunscreen may be packed and used but campers must be able to put it on themselves
• An extra set of clothing for accidents, spills, and messes

Additional considerations include:

• Please make sure all belongings are clearly marked and labeled
• Campers will not have access to a refrigerator or microwave. Do not bring money (cash, coin) for vending machines.
• This is a device free camp; please leave toys, electronics, and technology at home
• The Town of Clayton is not responsible for lost or damaged items/money/electronics/etc.

At this time, we do not offer discounts. Registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Yes! Campers will be placed into groups by age. This allows for all campers to participate in appropriately paced activities with similarly aged peers. 

• At the Clayton Community Center, look for directional signs showing you where to go.
• Please have your drop off/pick up number clearly visible in the windshield
• A staff member will be overseeing drop off from 7:30 to 9 am. If you arrive after this time, you will need to park and walk your child inside and check in with the Camp Director.
• A staff member will be overseeing pick up from 4:30 to 6 pm. Late fees will apply if your camper(s) is not picked up by 6 pm.
• Only those indicated as an Authorized Pick-Up Person(s) will be allowed to sign-out the camper(s). Bring a photo ID for pick up and drop off.

• We follow the standards set by the American Camp Association for Camp staff screening and training
• Camp staff are at least 16 years of age
• All camp staff are CPR, First Aid, and AED certified
• All camp staff are thoroughly background checked and drug screened
• All camp staff attend 20 hours of mandatory training on various topics including:
  • Camp policies
  • Safety training
  • Facilitating games
  • Behavior management
  • Learning how to successfully work with children of varying ages and abilities

Here are your options:

• You may put your child(ren) on the Camp Clayton waitlist. While there is no guarantee that a spot will become available, it doesn't hurt to place your camper on the waitlist as some participants drop out of camp. If your child is selected off the waitlist, you will be contacted via email and phone by the Recreation Program Coordinator. You will have 24 hours following notification to complete the registration process and make payment in full before the next participant on the waitlist is contacted.
• You may enroll your camper into a half-day Specialty Camp with the Clayton Parks and Recreation Department. 
• You may seek an alternative camp experience with another local resource.

• For questions concerning Camp, please contact Sean Quigley, Recreation Program Coordinator at 919-553-1550, or by email at squigley@townofclaytonnc.org

They are open to the public but many times there's jargon that isn't always easy to understand! Here we try to explain the way meetings are handled and we define all those technical terms we use on a daily basis. If you still have questions about this information, please feel free to contact the Town Clerk for more details at 919-553-5002 or by email.

The extraterritorial jurisdiction or ETJ is the land area within a two mile perimeter area around the Town of Clayton corporate limits. The town enforces land development regulations (buildings and zoning) within the ETJ. For more information visit our Council 101 page to view a helpful guide.

Of course! Each official meeting of the Town Council and its citizen boards and committees are open and any person is entitled to attend. The calendar of the Town Council and each advisory board is posted on the Calendar of Events. Want to know more about the boards? Go to our Advisory Boards page.

You can always speak at Town Council meetings during the Public Comment session that comes at the very end of all Town Council meetings. Sometimes items are noticed as public hearings and during discussion of that item at the Town Council meeting, the Mayor will open that item up for public comment. At that time, you can come forward and speak. We ask that you state your name and address for the record.

Your Mayor and Town Council members serve 4 year terms and some of their duties include establishing a tax rate, adopting a budget, setting policies for municipal services, passing ordinances to regulate behavior and making appointments to boards and committees. To learn more about what your Mayor and Town Council members do, visit our Council 101 page to view a helpful guide.

Evidentiary hearings are used when boards are considering applications for a Subdivision or Special Use Permit. Evidentiary hearings, also known as a quasi-judicial hearings, are different from other public hearings in that they resemble a court hearing where testimony is presented and the Town Council acts like a court of law. Evidentiary hearings are much more formal procedures, requiring anyone who speaks to be sworn in. And during these hearings, Town Council can only consider credible evidence, not hearsay.

If you'd like to know more, visit our Council 101 page to view a helpful guide.

The minutes are the official legal record of the meeting and include all actions taken and summarize the discussion that lead up to those decisions. Sometimes particular comments are included, however, it's not a transcript of the entire meeting. The Town Clerk keeps the minutes for the Town Council meetings and makes them available online on our Agendas & Minutes page. If you'd like to learn more about minutes, visit our Council 101 page to review a helpful guide.

It's the list of items that will come before the Town Council or other boards and committees. You can access agendas for the Town Council meetings on our Agendas & Minutes page. You can access agendas for other boards and committees there, as well. For a quick reference to some of the terminology used on agendas, visit our Council 101 page to peruse a helpful guide.

Up until 2011, the Town could initiate annexations, but today there are only two ways your property can be annexed into the Town of Clayton - if the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina initiates the annexation or if you petition for the annexation yourself. 100% of the property owners asking to the be annexed must sign the petition. Annexation into the Town means your property can now receive Town services, like water, sewer or police protection and would mean paying the Town fees and taxes associated with those services.

For more on how property can be annexed into the Town of Clayton or how you can request to be annexed into the Town, visit our Council 101 page and review our helpful guides.

To see a history of properties that have come into the Town of Clayton limits, visit our Council 101 page and review the history of annexations.

Load Management is an energy-saving program that temporarily reduces the energy consumption in your home during peak load periods. We start by installing a small device at your residence and connect it to your air conditioner, water heater, heat strips, or all three - as long as they are powered by electricity. A radio signal is activated during the few times that we experience a high demand for power. Those times would be during extreme heat (in the high 90's) or extreme cold (less than 28 degrees Fahrenheit). Ultimately, this brief interruption should not be noticed by the user and reduces your power usage, which lowers your bill. This means you will receive credits back on your bill! That's a double savings!

Heat Strips: December through March - typically between 7 am and 9 am, and usually interrupted for 1 hour.

Water Heater: January through December - typically between 3 pm and 6 pm, and usually interrupted for 3 to 4 hours in summer months and 1 hour in winter months.

Air Conditioner: June through September - typically between 3 pm and 6 pm, interrupted intermittently for 3 to 4 hours.

Most customers report not noticing any difference in comfort when Load Management is connected to their home. For example, your water heater may be cycled off during the late afternoon (3 pm to 6 pm), but again only on high load days. So, it may only be turned off a few dozen times during the summer and winter. And most people are not using the water heater (taking showers or washing clothes in hot water) during the 3 pm to 6 pm time period. And most water heaters retain heat for some time after the power is off, so even if you take a shower, the water should still be hot. If you do experience a problem though, call us at 919-553-1530 so we can help determine what the problem is.

Call the Town of Clayton Electric Department at 919-553-1530 if you suspect your Load Management (LM) Device may be defective or if you experience any problems with electric appliances that are connected to the LM Program (Air Conditioner, Water Heater, or Heat Strips).  Call us before calling a service technician.  Allowing us the opportunity to inspect the LM equipment first may prevent you from incurring unwanted HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) and plumbing service fees.

While installing solar may seem complicated, don't worry! This is a process that many of your neighbors have successfully completed, and you can do as well. Consider looking at resources that walk you through the process from start to finish. The Solar Energy Industries Association's Residential Consumer Guide to Solar Power and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council's Solar Smart Checklist are both helpful guides.

It is important to understand the potential solar production of your home. While a certified solar professional can give you the best information, it may be helpful to do some initial investigating on your own. Investigate your property’s solar potential and estimated energy savings using Google's Project Sunroof or the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s PVWatts Calculator.

The Solar Energy Industries Association has an excellent Solar Consumer Resource Portal, which can walk your through some general things to think about, as well as a North Carolina Solar Information Sheet, which includes reviews of NC solar companies, costs and more. Certified solar practitioners can be found through the Board Certified Professionals Directory, provided by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners.

While solar installations often pay for themselves over time through energy savings, they still require an upfront investment by the homeowners. To help offset this cost, consider taking advantage of North Carolina tax credits by asking your contractor what incentive programs may be available for you. The Clean Energy States Alliance also has a Homeowner's Guide to Solar Financing which may provide you with additional financial information. 

Alternative Energy - Also called renewable energy, this type of power comes from sources that won't run out. Fossil fuels aren't limitless, but we'll never run out of sunlight.

Ampere (Amp) - You may already know this term. An amp is a measurement of electrical power. You can find out how efficient a power-generating device is by measuring the amp per hour ratio (Ah/AH).

Array - An array is a group of cells/modules. Since a single cell can't usually generate enough energy to complete a specific task, most panels feature an array.

Balance of System (BOS) - An array has to connect to something. The BOS is all the technology and hardware in a solar panel that isn't a cell.

Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) - This PV technology isn't added to a building that was built to integrate with the general grid. Instead, it's designed for PV technology, which is integrated into construction instead of added in later.

Charge Controller - Many solar power set-ups feature batteries that store power to use when the sun isn't shining. The charge controller protects the battery by controlling how much power goes in at a time.

Disconnect Switch - This is just the array's off switch. Although solar power technology is designed to stay on, just like the grid stays connected to your home, sometimes you may need to turn it off if there are signs of a malfunction or if it's time for maintenance. Performing maintenance on an active electrical device is never a good idea.

Efficiency - Efficiency is the term used to describe how well a cell converts sunlight into power. The higher the efficiency, the more power is produced.

Electrical/Utility Grid - The grid is the existing infrastructure that delivers more people's power. Power lines are the most visible part of the grid in your neighborhood, but massive power stations and neighborhood power transformers are also part of the grid.

Interconnection Agreement - Since most homes and businesses are designed to be part of the grid, when they add solar power they make special arrangements with their power company. This may mean they actually get paid for any power they produce but don't use.

Inverter - The inverter is in charge of making sun-gathered power useful. It converts the direct current (DC) power generated by the panel into alternating current (AC), which most homeowners and businesses use. It manages the power supply through things like voltage and ground fault protection, too.

Irradiance - This term refers to how much light strikes a particular section of PV material. It's a measure of the power of the sunlight, and certain times of day provide higher irradiance. These peak hours are crucial for gathering and storing power.

Photovoltaic (PV) - This technology uses material called semiconductors to transform sunlight into power. When sunlight hits these materials, photons lose some electrons, which go into the PV material to complete a circuit, which generates electricity.

Solar Cells - Also referred to as "modules," these individual pieces of tech do all the hard labor. They are the individual pieces of PV that convert sunlight into useable energy. Since a single cell isn't very powerful, they're usually grouped together in an array.

Phase 1 will close John Street.

Phase 1 begins in May 2022 and is expected to conclude by Fall 2022.

Below is the project map.

There will be no detours for the John St. closure. John St. will be open to residents and emergency service vehicles only. 

The contractor, J.F. Wilkerson, will be providing all traffic control devices. 

Possible residential driveway access could be impacted as well as utilities. If necessary, the contractor and Town representatives will communicate directly with those impacted.  

Yes. John St. residents are excluded from the closure.

Yes. Emergency service vehicles are excluded from the closure.

J.F. Wilkerson.

If you have a question or concern, please contact the following Town Staff:

Shannon Poole - Construction Project Administrator

spoole@townofclaytonnc.org

Louis Duffie - Project Manager 

lduffie@townofclaytonnc.org

The existing facility is inadequate for meeting future treatment demands, and its limited size prevents substantial improvements or expansions. Utilizing the current facility wherever feasible is a cost-effective strategy to mitigate the expenses associated with constructing new facilities. 

Rate adjustments are inevitable, irrespective of this project. Local and national research underscores the inescapable trend of escalating wastewater treatment costs. Neighboring communities, including Raleigh and Johnston County, are also implementing rate increases in response to the growing demand for improved wastewater services.

Rates undergo rigorous evaluation and adjustment during the council's comprehensive budgeting process. Every endeavor is being made to minimize the necessity of rate hikes and, ideally, to implement them gradually, thus mitigating their immediate impact.

Indeed, the town ensures that no customer class or type receives subsidies. While state statutes limit the fees municipalities can impose on developers, it's worth noting that we do not apply higher rates to out-of-town customers.

The town presently maintains agreements with Johnston County and Raleigh for wastewater treatment, yet these communities are grappling with their own treatment and capacity constraints, reflected in their rate increases. While the town remains committed to upholding these agreements and nurturing positive relationships, the imperative for self-reliance in wastewater treatment for our future remains.

Certainly, the forthcoming plant will incorporate state-of-the-art processes and equipment, surpassing the capabilities of the existing facility. It is meticulously designed to meet all present and foreseeable state and federal environmental regulations. The town has diligently navigated an exceedingly rigorous permitting process to ensure compliance and environmental responsibility.

The comprehensive timeline for this endeavor spans approximately four years. Commencing in July 2020 with a series of public engagement workshops, the project reached a significant milestone in late June 2021 when the Town Council awarded the design-build contract to Gannett-Fleming and the site clearing and access contract to Providence Construction.

The project site is nestled within a wooded area near the picturesque Neuse River. To facilitate construction traffic, an access road will be constructed, originating from Covered Bridge Road. Extensive traffic studies and the implementation of designated turn lanes have been incorporated to mitigate the potential disruptions caused by construction-related traffic. Additionally, it's important to note that the project will have implications for a section of the Clayton River Walk on the Neuse Greenway, specifically in the vicinity of the existing Neuse 2 Pump Station.

Town engineering involves the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of various infrastructure and public works projects within a town, such as roads, bridges, water supply systems, and sewage systems.

Town engineering plays a critical role in shaping urban environments by ensuring the efficient and safe functioning of infrastructure systems to support the needs of residents and businesses.

Town engineering projects are overseen by the Town of Clayton and carried out by professional engineers and contractors.

The permitting process involves submitting applications, plans, and fees to Development Services.

Road maintenance and repair priorities are typically based on factors such as traffic volume, road condition assessments, and available budget. Town engineers often conduct regular inspections to determine priority projects.

The Town of Clayton enforce safety regulations and building codes to ensure the safety of construction sites. Inspections and permits are required to verify compliance with these standards.

Yes, some engineering projects here at the Town of Clayton have public input sessions through community meetings, surveys, or town council meetings.

Town engineering is vital for ensuring the safe and efficient functioning of a town. It enhances quality of life by providing reliable infrastructure, improving transportation, and managing essential utilities.

Infrastructure projects are prioritized based on factors such as safety, economic impact, environmental considerations, and community needs. Input from residents and experts also plays a role in project selection.

A social district is a specific area in which alcoholic beverages are allowed to be carried in designated containers on the street. The League of Municipalities recently provided a guidance document on on the Updated House Bill 211 (SL2022-49) Social District Law. This state law allowing local governments to establish social districts was passed in September of 2021. The Clayton Town Council approved the Clayton Social District Ordinance in April of 2024. 

The way the law is written, the following must be addressed in an ordinance to create a social district:

1. A geographic zone must be established and a map of that zone must be filed with the ABC.
2. Special cups must be used that say “Must be 21-please drink responsibly”. Additionally, the cup must identify the social district and the name of the business in which it was sold.
3. The zone must be clearly marked and delineated with visible markings and/or signs.
4. Sanitation, safety and public health must be considered and adequately addressed.
5. The district map, hours of operation, and days of operation are approved by Clayton Town Council via approval of an ordinance.
6. Businesses that do not serve alcohol may choose to opt out of allowing beverages in their store. Businesses that do serve alcohol are not obligated to participate. 

• Encourages economic vitality in the community.  
• Enhances exposure to cultural experiences for residents and visitors.  
• Increases foot traffic and revenue for retailers.  
• Business attraction for businesses interested in locating in social districts. 

No. In the absence of a decal, your business will be treated the same as a business marked with the "No Social District Alcohol Permitted Here" red stickers.

Signage will be posted throughout the district with the map of the district as show above. Sidewalk graphics (also shown above) will be located at the major exit points throughout the district. No alcohol is allow beyond these sidewalk graphics. 

The Downtown Clayton Social District is operational Monday through Saturday 10AM to 10PM, and Sunday from Noon to 10PM.

Window clings will be displayed on participating businesses' doors/or windows to identify those that have opted into the district. A list of participating locations will also be available on the Town's Social Districts' webpage. ONLY, If you see a GREEN "Welcomed here" decal are you allowed inside that business with your drink. 

Businesses must submit the Social District Registration Form in order to opt in, or to opt-out and request a red decal. Any business that has not completed this registration form will not receive a decal and therefore by default will be opting out. A business can re-submit this form to change their selection at any time. For a link to the registration form, please email ldavis@townofclaytonnc.org. 

Per the state legislation, Social District cups must:

• Container clearly identifies the permittee (business) from which the alcoholic beverage was purchased.
• Container clearly displays a logo or some other mark unique to the social district in which it will be consumed.
• Container is not comprised of glass.
• Container displays, in no less than 12-point font, the statement, "Drink Responsibly–Be 21."
• The container cannot hold more than 16 fluid ounces.

Businesses are responsible for purchasing and using their cups, which must conform to the statutory requirements for social district cups. The Town of Clayton will provide the official sticker template that must be displayed on the cups (as shown in example photo above). Establishments are required to display their business name on the sticker in addition to the date and time the alcoholic beverage is served.

No. Only beverages purchased by an ABC-permitted business located within the social district may be consumed within the social district. No outside alcohol is permitted. No refilling of cups is allowed. Dispose of your cups and get a new one for each beverage.

A single patron cannot be sold or delivered alcoholic drinks in excess of:

• Not more than two beer or wine alcoholic beverage drinks at one time.
• Not more than one alcoholic beverage at one time if an alcoholic beverage drink contains liquor.

• No. Cups should be disposed of in a nearby receptacle prior to exiting the social district OR entering your car.
• Alcoholic beverages must be sold by a permittee located within the social district. No personal beer, wine, or liquor may be brought into the social district.
• No person shall possess an alcoholic beverage while driving a vehicle, including bicycles. 
• An open container of any alcoholic beverage is also prohibited in the passenger area of any vehicle while on right-of-way within the social district.

No. Only drinks purchased from qualified ABC-permittee businesses within the social district are allowed. No cans, glass bottles, or outside drinks are permitted within the boundaries.

No. Participating locations must have an ABC permit for on-site consumption as outlined in NCGS 18B-904.1(a).

All businesses within the social district can opt out of the district. Businesses do not have to allow alcohol within their place of business. Signage will be provided to all businesses that choose to participate or not participate in the social district program.

ALE/state laws regarding the unlawful possession and consumption of alcohol applies to patrons who violate open container laws. Individuals who leave the social district possessing alcoholic beverages can be criminally charged under the Town's open container ordinance.

If a special event is taking place downtown within the social district, the event criteria of the special event will supersede that of the social district's program regulations (e.g., if a special event does not allow alcohol, signage will need to be posted at points of entry to the special event notifying the public that alcohol is prohibited). otherwise, social district beverages are allowed to enter a special event. If a special event area overlaps with the social district and there is an outside vendor selling alcoholic beverages at that event, those drinks are NOT allowed to leave the special event area (e.g. beer or wine purchased at a Downtown Clayton Concert cannot leave the concert boundaries)

The Town of Clayton's Police Department and the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) has jurisdiction over the social district and will enforce local and state laws.

We have had conversations with the USPS Address Management Specialist in Raleigh. They have started making updates in their system to permanently link the old and new addresses, so there will be a buffer to ensure mail delivery well past Feb. 10. The preliminary changes in their system should start working no later than Feb. 1, according to the information we’ve been provided. We would recommend waiting until then to ensure there is no interruption in services.

No. The Town of Clayton and Johnston County have worked with the US Post Office to make this transition as seamless as possible for businesses and residents impacted by the change. However, please make sure to update your address with any vendors mailing you letters, bills or packages. If you have any mail delivery concerns, please reach out to your local post office.  

Please email info@townofclaytonnc.org. We will assist you with determining if your current address is affected by the road renaming.

Yes, Johnston County 9-1-1 has actively participated in our coordination meetings and is fully prepared for the road name changes.

No, you do not need to contact us to update your address on your Town of Clayton utilities account. Our system will automatically handle this update for you.

This applies only to Town of Clayton utilities. Please remember to update your address with other service providers, such as Duke Energy, cable/internet providers, Aqua, etc.

Note: If you did not receive this address change notification via email or text, please update your contact information at ClaytonNC.org/UpdateInfo.

Yes, the Town of Clayton, Johnston County, and NCDOT are coordinating with navigation app providers to update the road names. However, please note that these apps are managed by third-party companies, and it may take some time for the updates to be reflected.

No, NC-42 East, which runs past Clayton Fire Station 2, Glen Laurel Road, and through the Flowers Community, will not be renamed to Veterans Parkway. This portion of NC-42 will remain unchanged and is not affected by the road renaming.

A portion of NC-42 West is being redesignated as NC-36, but not all of it.  

The following roads will make up the new NC-36. See the map below for a visual representation.

• NC 42 between NC 50 and US 70
• US 70 between NC 42 and Ranch Road (Technically this stretch will be I-42/NC 36) 
• Ranch Road (once completed) between US 70 and US 70 Business 

Contractors are installing fiber optic cable for enhanced internet and telecommunication services.

The contractor is installing fiber optic cable in public right-of-way adjacent to the street.

Currently Brightspeed and Lumos communications companies are responsible for installation. However, subcontractors are performing the physical installation. 

Yes. The contractor is working in the public right-of-way.

Grants from the Federal Government are funding the fiber optic cable installation.

The Town of Clayton’s annual budget is the legally authorized plan for how we expect to raise and spend money during the fiscal year that runs from July 1 to June 30. Specifically, the FY 2026 budget (adopted in June 2025) is about $141.2 million across the three major funds, the General Fund, Water and Sewer Fund, and Electric Fund. In simple terms, it is our 12-month roadmap for funding the work we do for our community.

In addition to the annual operating budget ordinance, the Town may adopt project ordinances for specific capital projects on an as-needed basis. Unlike the annual budget ordinance, which is adopted for a single fiscal year, a project ordinance covers the completion of the project and does not have to be readopted in a subsequent fiscal year.

The Town’s operating budget is developed through a series of discussions, requests, analyses, and decisions that begin in the winter of the preceding fiscal year. The process starts with base-level estimates of anticipated revenues and expenses. Departments then participate in a formal request period, where they may propose adjustments to their base budgets, including new positions, equipment, programs, and revenue changes.

These requests are reviewed by the Town’s executive leadership and the Budget Manager. The Town Manager, serving as the Town’s Budget Officer, determines what is included in the Manager’s Recommended Budget. The Recommended Budget is presented with a required Budget Message, and a public hearing is scheduled. In accordance with North Carolina law, the proposed budget must be available for public inspection for at least 10 days prior to adoption. 

Following the public hearing and Council discussion, the Town Council votes to adopt the budget ordinance, which legally authorizes spending for the upcoming fiscal year. 

The Operating Budget is adopted annually before June 30 and includes a balanced plan for the Town’s revenues and expenses for the upcoming fiscal year, which runs from July 1 through June 30. It outlines how the Town funds its day-to-day operations, such as staffing, maintenance, utilities, programming, supplies, contracted services, and other routine costs needed to deliver services to residents. By state law, the Operating Budget must be balanced, and adoption of the budget ordinance legally authorizes the Town to spend funds for that fiscal year.

The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), on the other hand, is a multi-year planning document. It outlines major capital projects, such as buildings, parks, road improvements, utility infrastructure, and large equipment, whose construction, acquisition, and useful life span multiple years. The CIP prioritizes and schedules these projects based on scoring criteria that balance community needs, regulatory compliance, risk reduction, economic development, health and safety, and quality of life.

While the Operating Budget provides authorization to spend in a single fiscal year, the CIP does not appropriate funds on its own. Instead, it serves as a roadmap for future capital needs. Projects identified in the CIP are funded later through the annual budget process or through separate project ordinances once Town Council formally authorizes them.

In short, the Operating Budget funds ongoing yearly operations, while the CIP plans for long-term investments in major infrastructure and facilities.

The Town’s revenue comes from a mix of local taxes, service charges, fees, and intergovernmental sources. The largest single source is property tax, which helps fund general government services such as police, fire, parks, public works, and administration. The Town also collects utility revenues from its water, sewer, and electric systems. These revenues are restricted to supporting those utilities.

Other important revenue sources include sales taxes from the State of North Carolina, user fees for recreation and cultural programs, development-related fees, vehicle taxes, solid waste fees, and grants. Together, these revenue streams allow the Town to fund both daily operations and long-term infrastructure needs.

The Town decides how to allocate money through an annual budget process that balances legal requirements, community priorities, and long-term planning. Each year, the Town begins by reviewing its Strategic Plan, which outlines the community’s long-term goals and guides decisions about where resources are most needed. Input from residents is also an important part of the process. The Town conducts a Budget Survey to gather feedback on services, priorities, and areas where residents would like to see investment.

Departments use this information to develop budget requests based on operational needs, service demands, and upcoming projects. These requests are reviewed by the Town Manager and Budget Office to ensure they align with strategic priorities, support core services, and fit within available revenues.

The Town Manager then presents a Recommended Budget and Budget Message to the Town Council. After public review and a formal public hearing, the Town Council adopts the budget ordinance, which legally authorizes how funds may be spent in the upcoming fiscal year.

The Town’s largest expenses vary by fund, but generally fall into a few major categories. In the General Fund, the biggest costs are personnel, such as police officers, firefighters, parks and recreation staff, public works crews, and administrative staff, because most Town services are delivered by people. Public safety, including police and fire, typically represents the single largest category of operating costs.

In the Town’s enterprise funds, including Water and Sewer and Electric, the largest expenses are related to system operations and infrastructure, such as treatment plant operations, power purchases, system maintenance, and large-scale capital improvements needed to support growth and reliability.

Residents can explore the Town of Clayton Budget Book, which includes details about revenues, expenses, major projects, and long term financial planning. 

The Town uses its Strategic Plan to guide decisions and track progress toward community goals. Each priority area includes measurable outcomes and action steps.

The Town welcomes public input throughout the year. Residents can share ideas or feedback at any time by emailing budget@townofclaytonnc.org. The Annual Budget Survey is another way for the community to voice priorities, rank services, and highlight needs that should be considered during the upcoming budget cycle. Community involvement plays an important role in shaping Town services.

Residents with questions about the Town budget, financial information, or performance data can contact budget@townofclaytonnc.org. Staff are available to help explain the process, provide clarification, or connect residents with the appropriate department.