I'm not sure what you're referring to, since there are alternative and "green" places here, but if you're talking about state and county building codes, there is a workaround. It's probably different for each state, but it involves having the title to your property, not the "color of title" the state gives you by acquiring a "land patent". It's not a quick and easy process, since the state wants to own your property, but once you have all water, mineral, forest rights, you actually own the land and can ignore codes.