Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-07-08
4 of New Hampshire's 10 counties — 40% — have no county-wide zoning. That is the 32nd-largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is Grafton County (71/100). 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 → Full New Hampshire profile →
4 of 10 New Hampshire counties · sorted by Index score
Zoning in New Hampshire is a municipal (town) function; Grafton County has no county-level zoning (only Coos County holds zoning authority over unincorporated places).
NH Municipal Association: The State of Local Land Use Regulations in New Hampshire ↗The county does not administer zoning; in New Hampshire zoning is a municipal (town) function and Carroll County has no planning/zoning department.
Carroll County, NH - Departments ↗Cheshire County has no zoning or planning department and exercises no zoning authority; zoning is a municipal (town) function in New Hampshire.
Cheshire County, NH - Departments ↗Belknap County exercises no zoning authority; zoning is a municipal (town) function in New Hampshire and the county has no planning or zoning department.
Belknap County, NH - Departments ↗One email a week: the best counties to live off-grid, rule changes that matter, and rule changes as New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire state page for all 10 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.