Even though building codes exist to protect people from dangerous construction, they can also be a huge hassle – especially if you want to build a home on a budget, live off-grid, or use alternative materials such as cob or adobe.
In most places in the USA, there is no getting around building codes (or the expensive permits and inspections process!). However, there are still many places in the USA without building codes.
Here’s what you need to know about no building codes and a list of counties in the USA without residential building codes.
Places With No Building Codes Interactive Map
Hover over each state to get a brief status. Click any green state to get more in-depth information.
States without Building Codes
There are 12 states in the USA that do not have statewide building codes or allow jurisdictions to opt out of the codes. However, this does not mean you can build whatever you want in these states.
Many counties within the states have chosen to adopt codes. For example, even though Delaware has no statewide residential codes, every county in Delaware has adopted a building code.
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- North Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
List of Places without Residential Building Codes in the USA
Here is a comprehensive list of counties and local jurisdictions in the USA that don’t have residential building codes.
Important: I did not call every single county on this list. Also, laws are constantly being updated, so some counties may have enacted building codes since the time of writing. There may be some inaccuracies!
Please let us know in the comments if you find an inaccuracy. Also, let us know of counties without building codes that didn’t make this list. It will be updated regularly!
Alabama
Alabama does have statewide building codes. However, they only apply to residential construction and certain types of commercial construction.
Further, the Division of Construction Management cannot enforce residential codes. Instead, it is left up to the local counties. If there is no local authority, then codes are enforced by the State Fire Marshall. Read more here.
Also read: Alabama Off-Grid Laws
Below are counties that do not have local code enforcement in Alabama.
- Covington County
- Colbert County
- Conecuh County
- Chilton County
- Bibb County
- Coosa County
- Wilcox County
- Bullock County
- Perry County
- Choctaw County
- Crenshaw County
- Lamar County: Lamar County unincorporated areas currently do not conduct inspections on single-family residential construction. In addition, we do not conduct structural inspections in unincorporated areas for any construction project at this time. Lamar County does not have structural building codes outside of the city limits. However, we do require a Flood Permit for any structure requiring a utility of any type.
- Hale County
- Washington County
- Cleburne County
- Henry County
- Pickens County
- Macon County
- Marengo County
- Randolph County
- Clarke County
- Winston County
Arizona
Arizona has no statewide building codes, but most larger towns and cities have adopted codes.
Currently, there is one county in Arizona without building codes.
Also read: Arizona Off-Grid Laws
Colorado
Colorado does not have statewide residential codes. However, statewide codes apply to factory-built homes and manufactured homes. The IBC applies to certain commercial and state-owned buildings.
Also read: Colorado Off-Grid Laws
Counties with No building Codes in Colorado:
- Saguache County: Has no building codes but land use permits are required. According to one reader, the county has one of the nation’s highest concentrations of off-grid and alternative building folks.
- Mineral County
- Sedgwick County: No building codes, but permits are required.
- Baca County
- Costilla County: It seems the county requires permits but does not have any building codes. Check with the county first.
- Phillips County: It appears that the county only enforces the National Electric Code. There is zoning.
- Washington County: Does not have building codes in effect but does require permits.
- Custer County: No building codes but does have zoning.
- Delta County: Note that Delta City and incorporated areas have building codes.
- Montezuma County
- Prowers County: They require zoning permits but do not seem to have building codes.
Illinois
Illinois does not have statewide building codes for residential buildings. Instead, it is up to local counties and cities to adopt codes.
Many places in the southern part of Illinois do not have building codes. Unfortunately, many of these places also don’t have websites to find that information – you’ll have to call each county individually to ask.
You can find a directory of places that do have codes here.
Also read: Illinois Off-Grid Laws
Places without building codes in Illinois:
- Woodford County
- Macoupin County
- Ogle County: The county does not have building codes but enforces zoning laws.
- Pope County
- Gallatin County
Kansas
Kansas has no statewide building codes besides the Kansas Fire Prevention Code and 2006 IECC for commercial buildings.
Many counties have not adopted building codes, though building permits are usually still required. Note that cities and towns in the counties below usually have building codes.
Also read: Kansas Off-Grid Laws
Counties without building codes in Kansas (click + to open)
- Allen County
- Anderson County
- Barber County
- Barton County
- Bourbon County
- Brown County
- Chase County
- Chautauqua County
- Cherokee County
- Cheyenne County
- Clay County
- Cloud County
- Coffey County
- Comanche County
- Cowley County
- Decatur County
- Dickson County
- Doniphan County
- Edwards County
- Elk County
- Ellsworth County
- Finney County
- Ford County
- Geary County
- Gove County
- Graham County
- Grant County
- Gray County
- Greeley County
- Greenwood County
- Hamilton County
- Harper County
- Harvey County
- Haskell County
- Hodgeman County
- Jackson County
- Jefferson County
- Jewell County
- Kearny County
- Kingman County
- Kiowa County
- Labette County
- Lane County
- Leavenworth County
- Lincoln County
- Linn County
- Logan County
- Lyon County
- McPherson County
- Marion County
- Marshall County
- Meade County
- Mitchell County
- Montgomery County
- Morris County
- Morton County
- Nemaha County
- Neosho County
- Ness County
- Norton County
- Osage County
- Osborne County
- Ottawa County
- Pawnee County
- Phillips County
- Pottawatomie County
- Pratt County
- Rawlins County
- Reno County
- Republic County
- Rice County
- Riley County
- Rooks County
- Rush County
- Russell County
- Saline County
- Sheridan County
- Sherman County
- Smith County
- Stafford County
- Stanton County
- Stevens County
- Sumner County
- Thomas County
- Wabaunsee County
- Wallace County
- Washington County
- Wichita County
- Wilson County
- Woodson County
Mississippi
Mississippi has state-wide building codes but allows local jurisdictions to opt-out. Two that did are:
- Warren County
- Adams County
If you know any other counties in Mississippi without building codes, let us know in the comments section!
Also read: Mississippi Off-Grid Laws
Missouri
Missouri has no statewide building code, and codes are adopted locally. Many places outside of major cities have not adopted any codes, nor do they require permits. You can find a list of counties without codes here.
Also read: Missouri Off-Grid Laws
Here are just some of the counties without building codes in Missouri:
- Buchanan County
- Douglas County
- Jasper County
- Lawrence County
- Lincoln County
- Newton County
- Texas County
- Vernon County
- Webster County
*Montana
Contrary to common belief, Montana does have statewide building codes. However, local jurisdictions are not required to enforce these codes.
You’ll have to call the county to determine whether they enforce codes. Because some counties are so small, this can be quite difficult. There often isn’t a website or a phone number to call. You must also get a state permit before doing most types of construction. More info here.
Also read: Montana Off-Grid Laws
North Dakota
North Dakota has a state building code but does not require local jurisdictions to enact it. If the jurisdiction does choose to enact a code, it must enact the state code.
Also read: North Dakota Off-Grid Laws
The following counties in North Dakota do not have building codes:
- Steele County: Permits are required, but there do not seem to be codes.
- Golden Valley County
- Sheridan County
- Slope County
- Oliver County
- Logan County
- Towner County
- *Burke County: Bowbells City, Columbus City, Flaxton City, Lignite City, Portal City, and Powers Lake City have adopted building codes.
- Dickey County
- Emmons County
Tennessee
Tennessee has a very confusing building code system. There are statewide codes, but jurisdictions can choose to enact their own building codes.
Further, jurisdictions can also vote to completely opt out of having codes. When voting, they can choose to opt out of just unincorporated areas or just certain towns or cities. This has created a patchwork system of codes across the state.
Voting to opt out occurs pretty frequently, so there is no guarantee that your county will continue to opt out of having building codes.
Places that have not opted out of code can choose to enforce the codes themselves. Or they can enroll in a program where the State Fire Marshal’s Office conducts inspections and enforces codes. It uses local contractors for this.
Even if your place in Tennessee has no codes, you can still request an inspection from the Fire Marshall. This allows you to get financing and insurance, which may require passing code inspection. You can get more info here.
Also read: Tennessee Off-Grid Laws
Places in Tennessee without residential building codes are:
- Benton County
- Auburntown
- Carroll County
- Cocke County
- Parrottsville
- Decatur County
- Dowelltown
- Slayden
- Vanleer
- Fentress County
- Franklin County
- Ardmore
- Minor Hill
- Grundy County
- Henry County
- Puryear
- Houston County
- Humphreys County
- Jackson County
- Lawrence County
- Lewis County
- Moore County/Lynchburg
- Perry County
- Pickett County
- Scott County
- Huntsville
- Stewart County
- Van Buren County
- Wayne County
Texas
Texas has adopted the IBC, IEBC, and IRC for residential dwellings. However, in unincorporated areas, the code does not apply automatically; the area must specifically adopt a resolution ordering the code.
Further, jurisdictions are allowed to amend the code as they see fit. As a result, many places in Texas still have no building codes or very relaxed building codes. Many areas also don’t enforce existing building codes.
You’ll have to do some digging to determine which counties have building codes. I suggest going to Wikipedia to get a list of Texas counties and filtering it by population. The counties with the fewest residents tend not to have any codes at all.
Also read: Texas Off-Grid Laws
Places in Texas without building codes:
*There are probably many more, but I didn’t research them all. Also, please double-check with these counties in case I made a mistake or the laws have changed!
- Loving County
- McMullen County
- Borden County
- Roberts County
- Motley County
- Foard County
- Glasscock County
- Stonewall County
- Cottle County
- Sterling County
- Briscoe County
- Throckmorton County
- Oldham County
- Armstrong County
- Jeff Davis County
- Menard County
West Virginia
West Virginia has a state building code but does not require communities to adopt or enforce it. As a result, many unincorporated areas in West Virginia have no building codes.
You can find a list of places that have adopted the state building code here.
Also read: West Virginia Off-Grid Laws
Here are some places in WV without building codes:
- Monongolia County
- Pocohontas County
- Terra Alta County
- Preston County
- Braxton County
- Pendelton County
- Calhoun County
Wyoming
Wyoming has building codes but leaves it up to local jurisdictions to adopt them. As a result, many places in Wyoming are still without building codes.
Also read: Wyoming Off-Grid Laws
Some places in Wyoming without building codes are:
- Johnson County
- Fremont County
- Crook County
- Park County
- Niobrara County
- Hot Springs County
- Weston County
How Are Building Codes Regulated?
Most states have adopted a statewide building code that automatically applies to every community in the state.
Some states have a statewide code but let local jurisdictions decide whether to enact it (either through an opt-in or opt-out system).
And a few states have no statewide building codes and leave it entirely up to local jurisdictions.
Residential vs. Commercial Building Codes
Even in states with relaxed building codes, there are usually still codes for commercial buildings or certain types of buildings (such as schools and government buildings).
In this article, we are going to focus on residential codes. Farm buildings are generally excluded from commercial building codes.
No Codes vs. No Code Enforcement
Many places do have building codes but choose not to enforce them.
One example is Montana. It regularly appears on lists of states without building codes when, in fact, it does have statewide codes. However, the state is so large and rural that most areas cannot perform inspections or enforce code. The same applies to Alaska and South Dakota.
Even if a place does not enforce code, building something not up to code is always a risk. You never know when the jurisdiction will hire inspectors to do enforcement – meaning you could suddenly face hefty fines for violations.
There are plenty of horror stories online from people who had this happen to them. Some were even forced to demolish their homes because there was no way to get them up to code.
Septic and Wastewater Codes Still Apply
Septic and “onsite wastewater” laws are enacted on a statewide level. So, even if there are no building or plumbing codes in your area, you will still have to follow these laws.
If you aren’t connected to the municipal sewer system, you will probably need a state wastewater permit and may require an inspection, too. Getting a building permit is often impossible until you get your wastewater permit.
Building Codes vs. Zoning Laws
Building codes are very detailed rules regarding building practices. The goal is to ensure buildings are safe to live in. By contrast, zoning laws focus more on how you can use your property.
Zoning laws aim to preserve the local culture, ensure complementary uses, and control development.
There is often some overlap between the two sets of rules. For example, building codes and zoning laws usually have minimum floor size requirements for dwellings.
Here are some examples of each.
- Building code examples: Allowed materials, stairway heights, number of electrical outlets required, non-potable water labeling, baluster spacing
- Zoning laws: Setback requirements, maximum building height, required number of parking spaces, whether you can have ADUs, number of permitted farm animals
Just because a place doesn’t have building codes doesn’t mean there aren’t zoning laws (and vice versa).
Problems with Not Building to Code
Aside from the safety aspect of building a home that isn’t up to code, you can face other problems if you don’t follow code. They include:
- Not being able to get financing for your build: This is rare, but some lenders consider it too risky to finance homes not built to code
- Difficulty selling the home later on, Especially if the county has since adopted codes
- County may enact code later on: You may be forced to pay for expensive upgrades to get your home up to code.
- Expensive building code insurance: This insurance covers costs to get your home up to code. If your home isn’t built to code, this insurance will be expensive.
- Can’t use it commercially: Many places without residential codes have commercial codes. If you ever want to open a commercial business in your home, you would have to get up to code first.
Know of other places without building codes that didn’t make this list? Or find an inaccuracy? Please let us know in the comments section. We will update this list regularly.
- https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/most-states-are-failing-on-building-codes-fema-says/
- https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/risk-management/building-science/bcat/fact-sheets
- https://www.sbcmag.info/news/2012/mar/alabama-adopts-2009-irc-and-iecc
- https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/6f/d0/9d3564d443399b596fbc88b78f27/middle-tn-residential-codes.pdf
- https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/colorado-doesnt-have-a-statewide-building-code-would-enacting-one-help-protect-homes-against-wildf/
This list is missing both Vermont and Maine. While the states themselves have adopted building codes, it is up to individual TOWNS, not COUNTIES to regulate or enforce. Almost all small towns in Maine and Vermont have no building codes or inspections other than wastewater permitting (which is at the state level in both states).
I’ve lived in both states and have personal experience with both.
This is not true anymore. Please update. I have found building permit applications that are required, with zoning and code restrictions in costilla county, saguache county, and many others. They include minimum sqft, detailed dwelling drawings, etc., just like any other regulated county. Please update this site, thanks.
do you have 1 like this for Canada?
Jackson County, AL has no building codes
Hello. Saguache County in Colorado does not have building codes. We just went through an extensive process and we will remain without Building Codes although there is huge pressure from the State with HB22-1362.
I would be interested in talking to the author of this article to help us with some of our research. Also we are not on your comprehensive list and we have one of the highest concentrations of off-grid and alternative building folks in the nation.
Thanks for letting us know about that one. I’m going to update the article to include Saguache.
Hey Lisa. What town in Saguache County do most of the off gridders reside? I am interested going to talk with them about their off grid experience and how they get their water.
Idaho has been tightening the rules over the past few years, even in the liberty loving northern rural areas. Idaho County ID has the least restictive building rules in north/north central Idaho. The commissioners fought for complete building liberty to reflect the will of the residents but they finally had to capitulate to state regulators who were theatening to sue them. https://idahocounty.org/planb/resources/building-living-in-idaho-county/. Boundary County has “relatively few administrative requirements” and does not require anything beyond what the state DEQ enforces through Panhandle health — which involves water and septic. Kootenai County is super strict and will red tag you in a heartbeat. The other counties are more restrictive than Idaho and Boundary counties.
Guilford, Vermont. I have seen a few tiny houses there.
Nevada does not have statewide building codes. Their statewide building code applies to public and state owned buildings. Counties and cities enact their own for residential.
ESMERALDA County NV has zero building and fire codes. No permits and no inspections.
Jackson County, AL also has no building permits
Hi!
Great post and I very much appreciate your work here! You might consider adding Oklahoma to your list. Oklahoma county (OKC area) has building codes, but the rest of the state does not. As you can see on this website, clicking through the counties, only Oklahoma county has adopted codes. Thanks again!
https://www.ok.gov/oubcc/Jurisdictions/Counties/index.html
Thanks for the good info!
Just found this post. Something I’ve been looking for for a while now!
I’ll add:
Socorro County, NM has no building codes. I know that from personal experience. There are state codes, but they’re not enforced if you don’t draw attention to yourself.
Montana has no building codes outside of city limits. I got that info first hand when I called up whichever govt. department a year or two ago.
Idaho has many counties without building codes, especially in the Northern area.
Eureka County, NV has no building codes.
Cochise County, AZ allows owners to opt out of building codes if they’re going to build themselves.
I have heard rumors that there are many places in Alaska with no building codes, but I can’t confirm.