Texas · Counties · El Paso County

El Paso County

What it takes to put a carport, garage, barn or RV cover on your property in El Paso County, Texas. Permit authority, wind speed, and who to call.

El Paso · county seat West Texas 877,858 people · 1,013 sq mi VERIFIED 09 / 2026
COUNTY MAP
outline + city dots
slot, not yet drawn
DO YOU NEED A PERMIT?
Not a permit, but notice and inspections on residential work

El Paso County runs a residential building inspection program under Subchapter F, Chapter 233 of the Texas Local Government Code, adopted by Commissioners Court order on 17 September 2012 and effective 1 January 2013. Before starting a residential project in the unincorporated county a builder, contractor or property owner must file a Commencement of Residential Construction form, and three inspections follow: the foundation stage before the placement of concrete, the framing and mechanical systems stage before covering with drywall, and one at completion. The code applied is the International Residential Code and amendments as adopted by the City of El Paso. Inspections are performed by third parties, not by county staff.

Texas counties have no general zoning power. Outside city limits there are no county setbacks, no lot coverage rule and no design review, so nobody at the county can tell you where on your land the building goes.

This program is aimed at residential construction. El Paso County's published material does not say whether a delivered pre-built structure such as a carport or a metal garage triggers anything, and it does not state whether the county has adopted Chapter 233 Subchapter C. Ask Public Works directly before taking delivery.

  • Subchapter F, Chapter 233, Texas Local Government Codesource ↗ · read 2026-09-09 · not archived
  • provide notice of a construction project prior to beginning the project on a Commencement of Residential Construction formsource ↗ · read 2026-09-09 · not archived
  • the foundation stage, before the placement of concretesource ↗ · read 2026-09-09 · not archived
  • the framing and mechanical systems stage, before covering with drywallsource ↗ · read 2026-09-09 · not archived
  • International Residential Code and amendments as adopted by the City of El Pasosource ↗ · read 2026-09-09 · not archived
  • building code standards, inspections and notices for certain residential construction begun after September 1, 2009 in the unincorporated portions of the countysource ↗ · read 2026-09-09 · not archived
  • 800 E Overland, Suite 200, El Paso, TX 79901source ↗ · read 2026-09-09 · not archived
DESIGN WIND SPEED

Regional band for west texas. Wind speed follows your address, not the county line, so this is context and not a site figure.

90 – 110 mph
NOT SITE VERIFIED
9090–110130160 MPH

ASCE 7, Risk Category II. Look up your exact address →

County zoning
None
Statewide. Texas counties hold no general zoning power.
Windstorm certification
Not required
El Paso is inland. Only the 14 coastal counties need a TDI WPI-8.
Floodplain administration
Not verified
We have not confirmed who administers FEMA floodplain permits here. Call the county before you pour.
Septic / OSSF setback
Not verified
If your slab lands near a septic field, the OSSF authority has a say. Ask when you call.
SPONSOR · 970×120AD 1 OF 2
TEXAS DEALER OR CONTRACTOR
photo + one line, always labeled
[email protected]

Cities and communities in El Paso County

Inside city limits the city's rules apply on top of the county's, and cities do zone. We have not yet read each city's ordinance, so every row below is marked unverified.

AnthonyRules not verified
CanutilloRules not verified
ClintRules not verified
El PasoRules not verified
FabensRules not verified
Fort BlissRules not verified
San ElizarioRules not verified
TornilloRules not verified
ALL ZIP CODES · 31
79821798357983679838798497985379901799027990379904799057990679907799087991179912799157991679918799207992279924799257992779928799307993279934799357993679938
WHO TO CALL

El Paso County Public Works

800 E Overland Avenue, Suite 200, El Paso, TX 79901
Call (915) 273-3330 County permit page ↗
Ask them three things: do I need a permit to put up a carport here, is my site in a floodplain, and how far from the septic field.
CHECK YOUR EXACT SITE

Opens ATC Hazards by Location, the source we use for wind, snow and seismic values.

SPONSOR · 300×250AD 2 OF 2
TEXAS DEALER OR CONTRACTOR
photo + one line, always labeled
[email protected]
Call El Paso County