Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-08-08
25 of New York's 62 counties — 40% — have no county-wide zoning. That is the 13th-largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is Lewis County (74/100). 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 969 counties nationwide → Full New York profile →
25 of 62 New York counties · sorted by Index score
There is no county-level zoning; zoning laws are enacted by individual towns/villages and the county only administers them through intermunicipal agreements.
Lewis County Building and Fire Code Department ↗New York counties do not zone; land-use zoning is administered by each town/village, and the Town of Herkimer has a Zoning Enforcement Officer who enforces town zoning ordinances.
Town of Herkimer - Codes Department ↗New York counties do not zone; land-use zoning is a municipal (town/village) power, and the Franklin County Planning Department serves only an advisory review role.
NY DOS - Franklin County Planning Department ↗New York counties do not zone; zoning is a town/village function, and the Steuben County Planning Department only performs advisory GML 239 referral review of municipal zoning a…
Steuben County Planning & Zoning Assistance ↗Zoning in New York is a municipal (town/village) power; Allegany County does not administer county-wide zoning - its Planning department only assists local municipalities.
Allegany County Planning ↗In New York land-use zoning is administered by municipalities (towns/villages), not the county; Clinton County does not run a countywide zoning ordinance.
Town of Clinton (Clinton County) - Building Permit Application ↗The county does not administer zoning; applicants must go to their local Town or Village Compliance Officer, who determines whether the project requires Zoning or Planning Board…
Washington County Building FAQ ↗New York counties do not zone; land-use zoning in Schoharie County is administered at the town/village level (e.g., Town of Schoharie ZBA and zoning boards).
Town of Schoharie Zoning/ZBA Forms ↗New York counties have no zoning authority; zoning is administered by individual towns and villages, not Cattaraugus County.
Cattaraugus County FAQ ↗Zoning in New York is a municipal (town/village) function rather than a county one; Schuyler County does not administer county-wide zoning, though individual municipalities (e.g…
Schuyler County, NY - Code Enforcement ↗The county does not zone; the Yates County Planning Department only reviews municipal referrals and consults with towns/villages, which set their own zoning.
Yates County Planning & Development ↗In New York, zoning is a municipal (town/village/city) power, not a county function; Jefferson County's Community Planning and Development office assists municipalities but the …
Jefferson County - Community Planning and Development ↗New York counties do not zone; the county Code Enforcement office lists building/electrical/septic/pool permits but no zoning permit, as zoning is handled by individual towns an…
Otsego County Code Enforcement - Permit Applications ↗The county does not administer zoning; under New York home-rule municipal law, towns, villages, and cities determine land-use and zoning decisions and are the first point of con…
Madison County Land Use / Zoning ↗New York counties do not zone; land-use zoning is handled by towns (county documents reference the Town Zoning Office), while the county handles building-code enforcement.
Wyoming County Environmental Health - Sewage Disposal Instructions ↗In New York, zoning is administered by municipalities (towns/villages), not the county; Chemung County itself does not adopt zoning, though individual towns enforce local zoning…
Town of Chemung Code Enforcement ↗Zoning in New York is enacted at the municipal (town/village) level, not by counties; Chenango County itself has no county zoning ordinance and defers zoning/planning board matt…
Chenango County Code Enforcement - Town Representatives ↗New York counties do not zone; zoning is a municipal (town/village) function, and Livingston County's role is only advisory review of municipal zoning actions through its County…
Livingston County Zoning Referral Process ↗New York counties do not adopt zoning; zoning is administered by individual towns and the City of Oswego, not by Oswego County.
City of Oswego Zoning Code ↗Zoning in New York is administered by municipalities (towns/villages/cities), not by counties; Cortland County itself does not zone, though its constituent municipalities conduc…
City of Cortland - Code Enforcement Division ↗Zoning is handled at the town/village level (a Building Permit requires a copy of the Town or Village's Zoning Permit if applicable); the county itself does not zone.
Seneca County - Code Enforcement and Building Permit Forms ↗The county does not zone; the Wayne County Planning Board is advisory only, and zoning authority and decisions rest with individual towns and villages, which handle referrals th…
Wayne County Department of Planning ↗Ontario County has no countywide zoning; zoning is adopted and administered by individual towns and villages, as shown by the current Town of Canandaigua zoning law.
Town of Canandaigua - Current Zoning Law ↗Genesee County does not adopt county-level zoning; zoning is exercised by towns and villages, with the county Planning Board performing General Municipal Law Article 12-B (239-m…
Genesee County, New York - Planning ↗Zoning in New York is a municipal power; Orange County itself does not zone land, so each town and village adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance.
NY Department of State - Building Standards and Codes ↗Every county here has a full profile — water, land prices, hazard safety, seclusion, and the rest of its building rules. See the New York state page for all 62 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.
