Can you really build anything you want in these counties?

At the county level there is no building permit and no use districts — the county does not review what you build or what your land is used for. But state septic and electrical rules, floodplain regulations, and subdivision covenants can still apply, and cities inside the county set their own rules. Always confirm with the county before you buy or build; each state page below cites every county source.

Which states have the most counties with neither building codes nor zoning?

Texas (158), Missouri (50), Arkansas (48), Alabama (42), Oklahoma (41).

Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-10-10

U.S. Counties With No Building Codes and No Zoning

Q: How many U.S. counties have neither building codes nor zoning?

517 of America's 3,143 counties (16%) require no residential building permit AND have no county-wide zoning in their unincorporated areas, based on each county's own official sources (checked 2026-10-10).

517 of America's 3,143 counties — 16% of the country — require no residential building permit and have no county-wide zoning in their unincorporated areas. These are the places where what you build on your own land is, at the county level, entirely up to you. No national agency tracks either rule, so we checked every county's own official sources; each entry cites the county's website. State septic, electrical, and floodplain rules can still apply.

Method: our scout checked official county sources (county websites, codes, planning departments) for all 3,143 counties, and the research fleet has since re-checked many with verbatim quotations. Each state page cites every county’s own page. Rules change — treat this as a verified starting point, not legal advice.

517 counties across 23 states — open a state for its full cited list

Texas158 of 254 Missouri50 of 115 Arkansas48 of 75 Alabama42 of 67 Oklahoma41 of 77 Kansas29 of 105 Illinois19 of 102 Kentucky19 of 120 Montana19 of 56 West Virginia15 of 55 Ohio13 of 88 Alaska11 of 30 Tennessee10 of 95 Iowa9 of 99 South Dakota7 of 66 Wyoming7 of 23 Vermont6 of 14 Georgia3 of 159 Indiana3 of 92 Nebraska3 of 93 North Dakota3 of 53 Colorado1 of 64 Nevada1 of 17

Top 50 by Index Score

Keep exploring

Every county here has a full profile — water, land prices, hazard safety, seclusion, and the rest of its building rules. Start from the best states to live off-grid, the cheapest states for off-grid land, or search your own spot.

General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.