Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-07-01
6 of Virginia's 133 counties — 5% — have no county-wide zoning. That is the 29th-largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is Dickenson County (78/100). 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 Virginia profile →
6 of 133 Virginia counties · sorted by Index score
Dickenson County relies on the statewide USBC and no countywide zoning ordinance was found among the county's ordinances; county housing materials note the county lacks zoning o…
Dickenson County, VA - County Ordinances ↗The county code contains subdivision (Land Use, Ch. 51), building, and flood-damage-prevention ordinances but no countywide zoning ordinance with zoning districts.
Buchanan County, VA Code - Table of Contents (eCode360) ↗Floyd County's official ordinance list contains no countywide zoning ordinance (only a Land Division/subdivision ordinance, manufactured home and solid waste ordinances), indica…
Floyd County Code of Ordinances ↗The county's official Economic Development page states plainly, "Patrick County does not have zoning and does not require a business license."
Patrick County, VA - Economic Development ↗The county's own economic development page markets Carroll County as having 'no zoning'; the county administers only a Subdivision of Land ordinance and manufactured home park r…
Carroll County Economic Development ↗As of mid-2026 Wythe County is one of the few Virginia localities without an adopted zoning ordinance; only a draft land-use classification ordinance is under public review.
Wythe County - Land Use Classification (draft) ↗One email a week: the best counties to live off-grid, rule changes that matter, and rule changes as Virginia 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 Virginia state page for all 133 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.