Owner-Builder Opt-Out for Taos County

Support Freedom to Build | Preserve Tradition | Address Housing Needs

Taos County is currently reviewing county codes with a wide range of impacts. This is our chance to push for a "Owner Builder Opt-Out" permit process as many in our community advocated for in the past.

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✨ Our Mission

We’re calling on Taos County leaders to adopt an Owner-Builder Opt-Out option — a legal pathway for residents to construct their own homes without being burdened by complex building codes or forced to hire licensed contractors. This initiative empowers individuals, supports affordable housing, and protects our cultural legacy of self-sufficient, sustainable living.

📌 What is the Owner-Builder Opt-Out?

The Owner-Builder Opt-Out is a policy that allows people to:

  • Build a home on their own land for personal use

  • Opt out of certain building code requirements and contractor mandates

  • Use natural, traditional, or alternative methods of construction

  • Embrace affordable, self-directed housing solutions

⏳ Why Now?

Taos County is currently reviewing and updating its Land Use and Subdivision Regulations — a rare opportunity for the community to shape policy in a meaningful way. These changes only come around every few decades, and what we do now will affect future generations.This is our chance to advocate for:

  • A legal Owner-Builder Opt-Out option as part of the new regulations

  • Recognition of traditional, indigenous, and rural building methods

  • Affordable housing solutions that are community-driven, not developer-driven

If we don’t act now, the updated rules could make it even harder for residents to build affordably and sustainably. Once the window closes, it may be years before we get another chance to push for this kind of flexibility. 🔗 Read about the County’s update process here

🛠 Why It Matters to Taos

  • Affordable Housing: Traditional code compliance can make building a home out of reach for many. Opt-out lets families invest in their land and build without going into massive debt.

  • Cultural Relevance: Taos has a long history of adobe homes, passive solar design, and alternative building styles that don’t always fit the mold of standardized code.

  • Rural Empowerment: Many rural residents have the skills and land to build — they just need legal permission and flexibility.

  • Environmental Sustainability: Natural building techniques are low-impact, energy-efficient, and often better suited to our unique high-desert environment.

🌎 Real-World Examples

  • Cochise County, AZ has supported off-grid living and owner-built homes for over a decade. Communities there thrive with earthships, tiny homes, and more. 📺 Watch a short documentary

  • Oregon allows owner-builders to construct personal dwellings with relaxed enforcement in rural areas. 📘 View the statute

  • Sierra & Catron Counties, NM have similar informal allowances that have enabled off-grid living and homesteading lifestyles.

🖊 Sign the Petition

This is our window of opportunity. Taos County is revising its land use and subdivision regulations right now. Let’s make our voices heard while the door is open.

📢 Then share it with your friends, neighbors, and networks.

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Citizen Petition
Owner Builder Opt Out

This petition is for everyone who lives in Taos County and is in support of the establishment of a Owner Builder Opt Out for option in Taos County.

Thank You

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