unincorporated

Unincorporated is a term used to describe territory or communities that lack their own municipal government, such as a city, town, or village charter. In these areas, formal political authority is vested in a higher level of government—typically a county, parish, or regional authority—rather than in a local council or mayor.

Because they are not incorporated, zoning, policing, fire protection, and public works are usually provided by the overseeing government or by special districts. Property taxes and service levels can differ from those in nearby incorporated municipalities. Residents may have less direct control over local policies, though they can influence decisions through county boards, district elections, or planning processes. Some unincorporated areas are designated for statistical purposes as census-designated places or equivalent; others have established names but no separate legal status.

Incorporation is the process by which a community becomes an incorporated municipality with its own government and charter. This typically requires meeting legal criteria, population thresholds, and voter approval, and it creates powers to enact ordinances, levy taxes, and provide services. The specifics vary by country and jurisdiction. In many regions, unincorporated areas remain as such until a community chooses to incorporate or is annexed by a neighboring municipality.