Johnston County public health services, phone numbers and local office routes
For Johnston County, North Carolina, the official department is the Johnston County Public Health Department in Smithfield. The main line is 919-989-5200, but WIC, Behavioral Health and Environmental Health each have their own service route.
This 2026 guide helps residents in Smithfield, Clayton, Selma, Benson, Four Oaks, Kenly, Archer Lodge and the rest of Johnston County figure out who to call before driving across the county or sending private information to the wrong office.
What does the Johnston County Health Department do?
Johnston County Public Health provides local clinic and public-health services including child health, primary care, immunizations, family planning, maternity-related programs, epidemiology, WIC, communicable-disease work, behavioral health and community health programs. Environmental Health operates separately for septic systems, wells, restaurant and lodging inspections, water testing and related public-health regulation.
Appointments, Child Health, Primary Care, family planning, maternity care, immunizations, travel vaccines, communicable-disease questions and general public-health routing.
WIC eligibility questions, nutrition appointments, benefit issuance questions, breastfeeding support and alternative appointment options.
Septic permits, septic-record copies, private wells, restaurant grading, water testing, food and lodging inspections and environmental-health complaints.
Johnston County Health Department phone numbers by service
Calling the general number works when you are not sure where to start, but several services have their own front desk or location. Use the table below before leaving a voicemail at the wrong division.
| Need | Correct Johnston County route | Phone / location | What to ask |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Public Health | Johnston County Public Health Department | 919-989-5200 · 517 N. Brightleaf Blvd., Smithfield | Appointments, clinic services, immunizations and general routing. |
| WIC | Nutrition / WIC Program | 919-989-5255 · main Public Health location | Appointment, eligibility, documents, breastfeeding or benefit issuance. |
| Environmental Health | Environmental Health Department | 919-989-5180 · 309 E. Market St., Smithfield | Septic, well, food, lodging, water testing or inspection questions. |
| Behavioral Health | JCPH Behavioral Health Division | 919-989-5500 · 521 N. Brightleaf Blvd., Smithfield | Behavioral health access, medication management or walk-in crisis services. |
| Medical records fax | Public Health Medical Records | Fax 919-989-5278 | Confirm the current release form and where records should be sent before faxing. |
| After-hours public health threat | Public Health representative on call | Call UNC Health Johnston at 919-934-8171 and ask for the Public Health Representative on call | Use for an after-hours communicable-disease, public-health or environmental-health threat. |
Do you need an appointment at Johnston County Public Health?
Yes for normal Health Department clinic services. The department’s FAQ says appointments are required and directs patients to 919-989-5200 to schedule. Individual programs may use different workflows, so do not assume every service is walk-in.
- Know which service you need.
- Have the patient’s name and date of birth ready.
- Keep insurance or Medicaid information nearby.
- Ask what ID, records, income documents or referral paperwork are required.
- Ask whether the service is offered that day before traveling to Smithfield.
The department says some services are income-based, some are free, and others have a set charge. For income-based services, patients may be asked for documentation showing income for the previous five weeks when possible.
Medicaid and Medicare are accepted for certain services, along with listed participating plans. Coverage still depends on the service and the patient’s plan, so verify benefits before the visit.
Johnston County WIC appointments, eligibility and what to prepare
Johnston County WIC serves eligible pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants and children through age five based on income and nutritional need. The program provides nutrition support, education and breastfeeding assistance.
Use the WIC number for appointment scheduling and questions about alternative appointment options.
WIC eligibility can depend on household and income information. Confirm exactly what identification, address, income or benefit documentation the office needs before your appointment.
The department describes WIC as a well clinic and asks families to notify staff about contagious illnesses so alternative arrangements can be discussed.
The department also points applicants to the North Carolina WIC referral system for appointment requests.
Child, adult and travel vaccines in Johnston County
Johnston County Public Health offers childhood immunizations by appointment and also provides a range of adult vaccines, including travel-related immunization consultation. Vaccine availability, cost and eligibility can vary, so call 919-989-5200 before visiting.
Children from birth through age 18 can receive childhood vaccines. A parent or legal guardian must accompany the child. Bring the child’s current immunization record and any insurance card.
Some children may qualify for federally supplied vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program based on Medicaid status, being uninsured or underinsured, or qualifying as American Indian or Alaska Native.
The department lists adult vaccines including Tdap, hepatitis A/B, MMR, meningococcal, influenza, shingles, HPV, pneumonia and selected rabies vaccination, plus travel consultation.
Primary Care and Child Health clinic services
Johnston County Public Health is more than a vaccination counter. Its Primary Care Clinic and Child Health Clinic provide scheduled care for eligible and established patients, although the department is not a substitute for emergency care.
Primary Care Clinic
Primary Care includes physicals, care for acute illnesses and monitoring of chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and COPD. The clinic is staffed by a physician, physician assistants and a nurse practitioner.
The clinic accepts Medicare, Medicaid and some private insurance. Sliding-fee charges are based on income, and proof of income is required for sliding-fee services. Outside diagnostic services are not covered by that scale.
Child Health Clinic
Child Health appointments include routine and sick care, physical exams, developmental screening, vision and hearing screening, selected laboratory testing, immunizations and referrals for established patients.
New Child Health patients should call the appointment desk at 919-989-5200 to schedule a physical exam and establish care.
Family planning, pregnancy care and women’s health programs
Women’s health services include family planning, pregnancy testing, prenatal care and pregnancy-related care management. Family Planning accepts Medicaid, insurance and private-pay clients, but the exact cost and available contraceptive methods can depend on funding and coverage.
Services can include annual exams, cervical screening, STI screening, HIV testing, pregnancy testing, contraception and education about birth-control methods.
The maternity program provides prenatal care and pregnancy-related support. Ask the clinic about eligibility, appointment availability and what prenatal records to bring.
The Primary Care Clinic lists the Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program and other assistance programs with their own eligibility requirements. Call before applying because age, insurance, income and residency rules apply.
Johnston County Behavioral Health has a separate Smithfield location
The Public Health Behavioral Health Division is at 521 N. Brightleaf Blvd. in Smithfield, phone 919-989-5500. Official county information lists psychiatric evaluation, medication management, comprehensive assessment, individual/group therapy and walk-in crisis assistance among its services.
Call 919-989-5500 or use the division’s walk-in route to discuss services. Current acceptance of new patients, therapy availability and insurance participation can change, so verify before relying on an older resource listing.
For a life-threatening emergency, call 911. County guidance also lists behavioral-health crisis and mobile-crisis resources for people who need urgent mental-health or substance-use help.
Septic permits, wells, restaurant inspections and environmental health
Johnston County Environmental Health is separate from the main Public Health clinic. The office is at 309 E. Market Street in Smithfield, phone 919-989-5180, Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM except holidays.
Use Environmental Health for onsite wastewater permit questions, system records and related property-development issues. For a copy of an existing septic permit, the department directs requests to envhealth@johnstonnc.gov.
Call before installing or changing a well, requesting water testing, or trying to determine which approval applies to a property.
Environmental Health handles restaurant grading and other regulated food/lodging work. New businesses and event operators should contact the office before opening or changing operations.
A parcel or site address is more useful than only saying “near Clayton” or “outside Smithfield.”
Those are different tasks. A property buyer looking for an old septic permit does not use the same process as a new construction application.
Environmental Health posts current septic and well response information. Planning around an old timeline can delay a closing or construction project.
Save approvals for future repairs, refinancing, property transfers and construction questions.
Medical records, vaccine records, birth/death records and septic records are different requests
“Health records” can mean four different things in Johnston County. Sending a request to the wrong office can slow down a school deadline, property closing or personal records request.
| Record you need | Best route | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Public Health medical chart | Johnston County Public Health medical records | The main page lists Medical Records fax 919-989-5278. Confirm the release process before sending private information. |
| Immunization record | Public Health / prior vaccine provider / NC immunization system as applicable | Bring existing records when possible. Call 919-989-5200 if the department administered the vaccine or you need local routing. |
| Birth or death certificate | Vital Records / responsible county record office | Public Health lists vital-record registrar functions, but confirm the current certificate-ordering office, ID requirements and fee before visiting. |
| Septic permit copy | Environmental Health | The department directs septic permit image requests to envhealth@johnstonnc.gov. |
Johnston County Public Health visit checklist
A short call before leaving home is especially useful if you are coming from the Clayton, Benson, Kenly or Archer Lodge side of the county. Different programs need different documents.
Official Johnston County health links
Use these government pages to confirm live hours, appointment rules, service availability, fees and forms before acting.
Johnston County Health Department FAQs
What is the Johnston County Health Department phone number?
The main Johnston County Public Health Department phone number is 919-989-5200. WIC uses 919-989-5255, Environmental Health uses 919-989-5180, and Behavioral Health uses 919-989-5500.
Where is Johnston County Public Health located?
The main department is at 517 N. Brightleaf Blvd., Smithfield, NC 27577. Environmental Health is at 309 E. Market Street, and the Behavioral Health Division is at 521 N. Brightleaf Blvd.
What are Johnston County Health Department hours?
The main Public Health page lists Monday through Thursday from 8 AM to 6 PM, except the fourth Wednesday when it closes at 5 PM. Friday hours are 8 AM to 5 PM. County holidays are excluded.
Do I need an appointment at Johnston County Public Health?
The department FAQ says appointments are required for normal Health Department clinic visits. Call 919-989-5200 to schedule and confirm the current process for the service you need.
Does Johnston County Health Department accept Medicaid?
The department says Medicaid and Medicare are accepted for applicable services, along with certain other insurance plans. Coverage depends on the clinic and plan, so confirm with the department and your insurer before the visit.
How do I make a Johnston County WIC appointment?
Call Johnston County WIC at 919-989-5255. The department also points users to North Carolina’s WIC referral system for appointment requests.
Can children get vaccines at Johnston County Public Health?
Yes. Childhood immunizations are available by appointment. A parent or legal guardian must accompany the child, and families should bring the child’s current immunization record and any insurance information.
Does Johnston County Public Health give adult or travel vaccines?
Yes. The department lists adult immunizations and travel-vaccine consultation. Call 919-989-5200 for current availability, pricing and appointment requirements.
Who handles septic permits in Johnston County?
Johnston County Environmental Health handles onsite wastewater and septic questions. The office is at 309 E. Market Street in Smithfield and can be reached at 919-989-5180.
How do I get a copy of an old Johnston County septic permit?
The Environmental Health Department directs septic permit image requests to envhealth@johnstonnc.gov. Include enough property information for staff to identify the correct record.