Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-09-11
2 of New Hampshire's 10 counties — 20% — let an owner build their own home without a licensed contractor. That is the 47th-largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is Coos County (75/100). 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 1516 counties nationwide → New Hampshire: no zoning → Full New Hampshire profile →
2 of 10 New Hampshire counties · sorted by Index score
Statewide rule. An owner-builder acting as the builder or general contractor for a building subject to New Hampshire energy-code compliance requirements. Before occupancy, an EC…
Puc 1805.01 As-Built Construction Certification Required ↗NHDES exempts homeowners installing a septic system for their own primary domicile from the requirement to use a permitted installer, a state owner-builder allowance.
NH Department of Environmental Services - Septic Systems ↗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.
