ADU rules in El Paso, TX — also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances — cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
El Paso permits accessory dwelling units on lots with a detached single-family dwelling under City Code Section 20.10.035 (Title 20 Zoning, Chapter 20.10 Supplemental Use Regulations). The minimum lot area is 5,500 square feet; maximum ADU size is 800 square feet of gross floor area, increasing to 1,200 square feet on lots of 8,000 square feet or more. Only one bedroom is permitted, owner occupancy of the principal or accessory unit is required, and the ADU must match the principal unit in scale, roof pitch, siding, and color. Texas Local Government Code Chapter 211 supplies the city's zoning authority.
El Paso's ADU rule is codified at 20.10.035. The principal dwelling must be a detached single-family home; ADUs are not permitted on lots containing a duplex or multi-family building. Only one ADU is permitted per lot. The unit may not exceed 800 square feet of gross floor area on lots smaller than 8,000 square feet, or 1,200 square feet on lots of 8,000 square feet or more, and may contain only one bedroom. The ADU's height may not exceed the height of the principal unit, and design (roof pitch, siding material, color) must match the principal dwelling. A separate entrance is required and the ADU must comply with all building-code requirements for a dwelling unit, including independent heating and cooling, cooking, and bathroom facilities. The property owner must occupy either the principal or the accessory unit as a permanent residence; an owner absent for one year or less may rent both units during the temporary absence. The City of El Paso Planning Division ((915) 212-0104) administers ADU permits, with construction reviewed under Title 18 (Building and Construction). Texas Local Government Code Chapter 211 supplies the underlying authority for municipal zoning. As of the 89th Legislature, statewide ADU preemption legislation has not been enacted into general statewide law.
Violations of Title 20 zoning are enforced by the City of El Paso Planning and Code Enforcement under Chapter 1.20 of the City Code, with daily fines and stop-work authority. Operating an unpermitted second dwelling, exceeding the 800/1,200-square-foot cap, adding a second bedroom, or losing owner-occupancy can trigger code-enforcement action and require removal or alteration of the structure. Building without a Title 18 permit is separately enforceable. Deed restrictions and HOA covenants may further restrict ADUs independent of city rules.
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