Garage conversion rules in El Paso, TX — sometimes called garage-to-ADU or accessory living unit conversions — govern permits, ceiling height, egress, and parking replacement.
Garage conversions in El Paso must comply with Title 18 Building Code (IRC) permitting and, if used as a separate dwelling, with Section 20.10.035 (Accessory Dwelling Units). ADUs are capped at 800 sq ft (1,200 sq ft on lots of 8,000+ sq ft), are limited to one bedroom, require a 5,500 sq ft minimum lot, owner-occupancy of one of the two units, and a separate entrance. Only one ADU per lot.
El Paso treats a converted garage that is used as additional living area as a building/zoning matter under Title 18 and Title 20. Any conversion to habitable space requires building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits administered under Title 18, Chapter 18.08 (Building Code), which adopts the International Residential Code with El Paso amendments. Plans must show IRC compliance for ceiling height, egress, ventilation, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, insulation, and electrical and mechanical work. If the converted space is intended to be used as a separate dwelling unit (its own kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping area), it is treated as an Accessory Dwelling Unit and must comply with El Paso City Code Section 20.10.035 (Accessory Dwelling Unit). Section 20.10.035 limits ADUs to lots with a detached single-family dwelling - they are not permitted on lots with a duplex or multi-family use - and only one ADU is permitted per lot. The ADU's gross floor area may not exceed 800 square feet, except that on lots of 8,000 square feet or larger the ADU may be up to 1,200 square feet. The ADU is limited to one bedroom. The minimum lot area for an ADU is 5,500 square feet. The property owner must occupy either the principal unit or the ADU as their permanent residence; an owner who is absent for one year or less may rent both units during that temporary absence. The ADU must have a separate entrance and must comply with all applicable building code requirements for a dwelling unit, including heating and cooling, cooking, and bathroom facilities. Design must resemble the principal unit in scale, materials, and color, with roof pitch, siding material, and color matching the main house. Vehicular access to the ADU may come from an abutting alley if on-site parking is provided for the ADU, and off-street parking standards in Chapter 20.14 apply. Setback, height, and lot-coverage rules of Section 20.10.030 also apply to the converted structure. Garage conversions that eliminate required off-street parking under Chapter 20.14 typically require replacement parking elsewhere on the lot.
Converting a garage without the required Title 18 permits violates the El Paso Building Code and is subject to citations, stop-work orders, and orders to restore the garage or remove unpermitted work. Operating a converted space as a separate ADU without complying with Section 20.10.035 (size, lot size, owner occupancy, design match, separate entrance, single ADU per lot, single-family lot only) violates the Zoning Ordinance and the property's underlying zoning district. Eliminating required off-street parking without providing replacement parking violates Chapter 20.14.
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See how El Paso's garage conversions rules stack up against other locations.
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