Bolthole Index

Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-08-08

U.S. Counties With No County-Wide Zoning

969 of America's 3,143 counties — 31% of the country — have no county-wide zoning: no use districts telling you what your land may be used for. We checked every county's own official sources to build this list; each entry links to the county's page saying so.

Method: our scout checked official county sources (county websites, codes, planning departments) for all 3,143 counties. Each state page cites every county’s own page. Rules change — treat this as a verified starting point, not legal advice. See also: Counties With No Building Permit Requirement → See also: Counties With No Building Codes and No Zoning →

969 counties across 41 states — open a state for its full cited list

Texas251 of 254Pennsylvania55 of 67Alabama54 of 67Arkansas54 of 75Missouri52 of 115Oklahoma49 of 77Kentucky46 of 120Kansas39 of 105West Virginia39 of 55Ohio29 of 88Tennessee29 of 95Mississippi27 of 82New York25 of 62Georgia23 of 159Montana21 of 56Illinois20 of 102North Carolina18 of 100Alaska14 of 30Iowa13 of 99Michigan13 of 83South Dakota11 of 66Louisiana10 of 64Maine9 of 16Vermont9 of 14Wyoming8 of 23Nebraska7 of 93New Mexico7 of 33New Jersey6 of 21Virginia6 of 133Indiana5 of 92North Dakota5 of 53New Hampshire4 of 10Colorado2 of 64South Carolina2 of 46Florida1 of 67Idaho1 of 44Massachusetts1 of 14Minnesota1 of 87Nevada1 of 17Washington1 of 39Wisconsin1 of 72

Top 50 by Index Score

  1. 1Knox CountyMaine95
  2. 2Oxford CountyMaine92
  3. 3Hancock CountyMaine92
  4. 4Penobscot CountyMaine92
  5. 5Houghton CountyMichigan89
  6. 6Orleans CountyVermont87
  7. 7Fentress CountyTennessee86
  8. 8Missaukee CountyMichigan86
  9. 9Houston CountyTennessee86
  10. 10Newton CountyTexas86
  11. 11Rusk CountyTexas85
  12. 12Lincoln CountyMaine85
  13. 13Cherokee CountyTexas85
  14. 14Stewart CountyTennessee85
  15. 15Sabine CountyTexas85
  16. 16Angelina CountyTexas85
  17. 17Windsor CountyVermont84
  18. 18Benzie CountyMichigan84
  19. 19Shelby CountyTexas84
  20. 20Nacogdoches CountyTexas84
  21. 21McKean CountyPennsylvania84
  22. 22Jasper CountyTexas83
  23. 23Windham CountyVermont83
  24. 24Clark CountyArkansas83
  25. 25Addison CountyVermont83
  26. 26San Augustine CountyTexas83
  27. 27Antrim CountyMichigan83
  28. 28Telfair CountyGeorgia83
  29. 29Lamoille CountyVermont83
  30. 30Polk CountyTexas83
  31. 31Menominee CountyMichigan82
  32. 32Caledonia CountyVermont82
  33. 33Cleveland CountyArkansas82
  34. 34Clearfield CountyPennsylvania82
  35. 35Brown CountyIllinois82
  36. 36Drew CountyArkansas82
  37. 37Pushmataha CountyOklahoma82
  38. 38Grafton CountyNew Hampshire81
  39. 39Schuyler CountyIllinois81
  40. 40Jefferson CountyPennsylvania81
  41. 41Monroe CountyAlabama81
  42. 42Cass CountyTexas81
  43. 43Rutland CountyVermont81
  44. 44Lewis CountyTennessee81
  45. 45Van Buren CountyTennessee81
  46. 46Glascock CountyGeorgia81
  47. 47Venango CountyPennsylvania81
  48. 48Butler CountyAlabama81
  49. 49Greene CountyIndiana80
  50. 50Osceola CountyMichigan80

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.