Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-09-12
1 of New York's 62 counties — 2% — let an owner build their own home without a licensed contractor. That is the 50th-largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is Chemung County (62/100). 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 York: no zoning → Full New York profile →
1 of 62 New York counties · sorted by Index score
STS construction permits normally issue only to a Registered Contractor, but a homeowner building the OWTS themselves may claim an exemption to the contractor-registration requi…
Chemung County - New Sewage Treatment Systems (Owners) ↗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.
