Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-07-01
7 of New Mexico's 33 counties — 21% — have no county-wide zoning. That is the 26th-largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is McKinley County (54/100). 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 Mexico profile →
7 of 33 New Mexico counties · sorted by Index score
McKinley County has no general zoning ordinance; land development is regulated only through subdivision regulations and the county master plan.
McKinley County - Land Use ↗The county states it does not have a zoning ordinance; land use is regulated instead by Ordinance 2020-01 (Comprehensive Environment and Safety Ordinance), while incorporated ci…
Cibola County Planning and Zoning ↗San Juan County has no comprehensive countywide zoning for unincorporated areas; only limited land-use ordinances exist (e.g., manufactured home parks, Farmington extraterritori…
San Juan County Ordinances ↗The county's published ordinance list (61 ordinances) includes subdivision regulations but no zoning ordinance, indicating the unincorporated county is not zoned.
Quay County, NM - Ordinances ↗The county's published ordinance list contains no zoning ordinance; land use is guided only by an advisory Comprehensive Land Use Plan, not zoning regulations.
Catron County Ordinances ↗The county states plainly that 'Otero County has no zoning or licensing requirements,' though covenants, deed restrictions, and other regulations may apply.
Otero County Zoning page ↗Sierra County has no zoning ordinance; land use is governed by a subdivision ordinance, floodplain and manufactured-housing ordinances, and a comprehensive plan, but not zoning …
Sierra County Comprehensive Plan Update 2017 ↗One email a week: the best counties to live off-grid, rule changes that matter, and rule changes as New Mexico 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 Mexico state page for all 33 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.