Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-07-01
7 of Vermont's 14 counties — 50% — have no county-wide zoning. That is the 27th-largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is Orleans County (82/100). 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 → Vermont counties with no building codes → Full Vermont profile →
7 of 14 Vermont counties · sorted by Index score
Zoning in Vermont is enacted and administered by municipalities under 24 V.S.A. ch. 117; there is no county-level zoning in Orleans County.
Vermont Statutes - 24 V.S.A. Chapter 117 (Municipal and Regional Planning) ↗Caledonia County itself does not administer zoning; under 24 V.S.A. Chapter 117 zoning is adopted and enforced at the town level, and many Caledonia County towns (e.g., St. John…
24 V.S.A. Ch. 117 - Municipal Zoning Permits ↗Vermont has no county zoning; zoning bylaws are adopted and administered by individual municipalities under Title 24 Chapter 117 (e.g., towns in Addison County), not by the county.
Vermont Statutes - 24 V.S.A. sec 4411 (Zoning bylaws) ↗Zoning in Vermont is administered at the municipal (town) level under Title 24 Chapter 117; there is no county zoning in Grand Isle County.
Vermont ACCD - Planning Statutes and Rules (Title 24 Ch. 117) ↗There is no county zoning in Vermont; zoning bylaws are adopted and administered by individual municipalities (Burlington, South Burlington, Colchester, etc.) under 24 V.S.A. Ch…
24 V.S.A. 4414 - Vermont municipal zoning ↗There is no county zoning in Vermont; zoning bylaws are adopted and administered by individual towns (e.g., Town of Windsor, West Windsor) under 24 V.S.A. Chapter 117.
24 V.S.A. Chapter 117 - Vermont municipal zoning ↗Vermont counties have no zoning authority; zoning is adopted and administered by individual towns/cities (each with its own Zoning Administrator), not by Rutland County.
Town of West Rutland (Rutland County, VT) - Zoning ↗One email a week: the best counties to live off-grid, rule changes that matter, and rule changes as Vermont 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 Vermont state page for all 14 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.