Johnston County temporarily suspends 350‑foot mandatory hookup policy for single‑family lots while staff reviews changes

Johnston County commissioners on Nov. 3 voted to temporarily suspend a policy that required landowners within 350 feet of a public water line to connect to the county system. The suspension applies to new individual single‑family lots that are not part of a larger common plan of development while staff reviews potential policy modifications.

A manager’s report explained the policy’s origin in rural water district rules established about 30 years ago and noted the county will review whether the distance‑based mandatory hookup remains appropriate. The manager said the temporary waiver would apply only to individual parcels, not to subdivisions or larger development projects.

County staff estimated the county averages about 1,500 to 2,000 new connections per year and said the number of affected individual lots would be a small percentage (staff said less than 10% of annual new connections). Staff recommended monitoring and reporting back to the board on the change.

The board approved the temporary suspension by voice vote and directed staff to track the number and impacts of affected connections during the review.

Why it matters: The change restores the option for some homeowners to choose private wells instead of being required to tap into a public water line, and it could affect future utility revenue and development patterns if the policy is revised permanently.

Sources: Manager’s report at Nov. 3 commission meeting and comments by public utilities staff.