The Bolthole county-legal census · checked 2026-07-01

U.S. Counties With No County-Wide Zoning

960 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. Every entry below cites the county’s own page. Rules change — treat this as a verified starting point, not legal advice. See also: Counties With No Building Permit Requirement

960 counties in 41 states

Alabama 55Alaska 14Arkansas 60Colorado 2Florida 1Georgia 23Idaho 1Illinois 20Indiana 5Iowa 14Kansas 39Kentucky 46Louisiana 10Maine 9Massachusetts 1Michigan 11Minnesota 1Mississippi 28Missouri 54Montana 21Nebraska 7Nevada 1New Hampshire 4New Jersey 6New Mexico 7New York 25North Carolina 18North Dakota 5Ohio 29Oklahoma 50Pennsylvania 37South Carolina 2South Dakota 11Tennessee 29Texas 251Vermont 7Virginia 6Washington 1West Virginia 40Wisconsin 1Wyoming 8

Alabama · 55 counties

Alaska · 14 counties

Arkansas · 60 counties

Colorado · 2 counties

Florida · 1 county

Georgia · 23 counties

Idaho · 1 county

Illinois · 20 counties

Indiana · 5 counties

Iowa · 14 counties

Kansas · 39 counties

Kentucky · 46 counties

Louisiana · 10 counties

Maine · 9 counties

Massachusetts · 1 county

Michigan · 11 counties

Minnesota · 1 county

Mississippi · 28 counties

Missouri · 54 counties

Montana · 21 counties

Nebraska · 7 counties

Nevada · 1 county

New Hampshire · 4 counties

New Jersey · 6 counties

New Mexico · 7 counties

New York · 25 counties

North Carolina · 18 counties

North Dakota · 5 counties

Ohio · 29 counties

Oklahoma · 50 counties

Pennsylvania · 37 counties

South Carolina · 2 counties

South Dakota · 11 counties

Tennessee · 29 counties

Texas · 251 counties

Vermont · 7 counties

Virginia · 6 counties

Washington · 1 county

West Virginia · 40 counties

Wisconsin · 1 county

Wyoming · 8 counties

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Keep exploring

Every county here has a full profile — water, land prices, hazard safety, isolation, 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.