Cochise County Board proclaims October "Opt Out" month after large public support for owner‑builder tradition

The Cochise County Board of Supervisors voted 3-0 on Oct. 7 to proclaim October as Cochise County Opt Out Month, recognizing the county’s owner‑builder opt out tradition established in 2006. Supervisor Lisonbee Gomez read the proclamation at the hearing and the board unanimously approved it.

Supporters — many of them owner‑builders or people who moved to Cochise County to build alternative homes — told the board the opt‑out tradition attracts residents, tourism and small‑scale economic activity. Raymond Korleski, who described himself as an early supporter of the opt‑out movement, told the board: “Please let us pursue it. Benjamin Franklin said it best. Those who exchange freedom for safety deserve neither.”

Jonathan Longnecker, a local content creator, said the county’s owner‑builder environment has national visibility: “The opt out gives this community the freedom to design, build and experiment with cost effective and sustainable building styles that would normally get squashed by zoning regulations.” Others described workshops, apprenticeship-style mentoring and local spending tied to alternative building projects.

Supervisor Gomez said the 2006 owner‑builder opt out amendment allows “residents to build their own homes with lower permitting costs due to reduced plan reviews and inspections while still requiring compliance with all Cochise County building safety code, zoning regulations, floodplain regulations, and applicable statewide codes,” language she read as part of the proclamation. The proclamation also said a poll of owner‑builder residents favored October as the month for celebration and outreach.

The board did not change county permitting rules as part of the proclamation. The action was a ceremonial recognition and outreach effort: the board approved the motion to adopt the proclamation, with Supervisor Crosby seconding. The vote was recorded as 3–0 in favor.

Supporters asked the county to use the month to expand educational events and tourism opportunities and to continue outreach and mentoring to reduce confusion among new property buyers about zoning and permitting. Supervisor Crosby and Supervisor Antonori praised local mentors and encouraged continued education efforts to avoid misunderstandings about property purchases and zoning.