Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-07-01
5 of North Dakota's 53 counties — 9% — have no county-wide zoning. That is the 31st-largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is Sargent County (75/100). Every entry below cites the county’s own official source.
Rules change, and cities inside these counties set their own — treat this as a verified starting point, not legal advice. All 959 counties nationwide → North Dakota counties with no building codes → Full North Dakota profile →
5 of 53 North Dakota counties · sorted by Index score
ND DEQ records show zoning in Sargent County adopted at the individual township level (e.g., Forman, Herman, Vivian townships) rather than a countywide county zoning ordinance.
North Dakota DEQ - Sargent County Zoning records ↗The county states it does not implement countywide zoning; zoning regulations are implemented by the individual cities and townships.
Ramsey County, ND — Planning & Zoning ↗The county lists no zoning/planning department; land-use control in unincorporated areas is handled by individual townships (e.g., Roland Township) rather than a countywide zoni…
Bottineau County - Departments ↗The ND Association of Counties official directory for Sioux County lists no planning/zoning office; consistent with an unzoned rural North Dakota county.
North Dakota Association of Counties - Sioux County Officials Directory ↗The county states plainly that Traill County does not have countywide zoning regulations.
Traill County ND - Permits & Planning ↗One email a week: the best counties to live off-grid, rule changes that matter, and rule changes as North Dakota counties adopt or drop codes. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Every county here has a full profile — water, land prices, hazard safety, seclusion, and the rest of its building rules. See the North Dakota state page for all 53 counties ranked, or go back to the national list.
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.