Shed permit rules in El Paso, TX — also referred to as storage shed, backyard shed, or accessory building regulations — set size limits, setbacks, and when a building permit is required.
El Paso City Code Section 20.10.030 caps residential accessory buildings at one story or 15 feet in height and requires placement in the rear yard (or side yard if side setbacks are met). Detached accessory buildings must sit at least 60 feet behind the front lot line and at least 5 feet from the main building. One accessory building up to 400 square feet is allowed even if cumulative caps are otherwise exceeded.
Sheds and other detached residential accessory buildings in El Paso are governed by Title 20 (Zoning), Chapter 20.10, Section 20.10.030 (Accessory buildings and structures). The ordinance limits residential accessory buildings to one story or 15 feet in height, whichever is less, and requires that they be located in the rear yard - or in a side yard if the minimum required side setbacks for the underlying zoning district are maintained. Detached accessory buildings must be set back at least 60 feet from the front lot line, must stand at least 5 feet from the main building, and must comply with the side and side-street yard setback requirements established in Title 20, Appendix B (Table of Density and Dimensional Standards) for the property's zoning district. The ordinance caps the total gross floor area of all combined detached residential accessory buildings on a lot, but expressly allows one accessory building up to 400 square feet regardless of that cap. Section 20.10.030 also addresses portable storage containers (storage sheds delivered as a unit): they must meet side and rear setbacks for buildings, must be located at least 20 feet from any abutting apartment or residential zoning district, must sit at least 5 feet behind the front wall line of the principal building, and require a building permit; their design and installation must comply with Title 18 (Building and Construction). Condensing units for central air conditioning are required to be at least 5 feet from any lot line. Building permits for the accessory structure itself are administered under Title 18, Chapter 18.08 (Building Code), which adopts the International Residential Code with El Paso amendments; permit applicability depends on size, height, foundation, and presence of utilities. Sheds must also comply with utility easements and overall lot coverage limits in Appendix B.
Building or placing an accessory structure without a required permit, exceeding the 15-foot height limit, locating an accessory building in the front yard, or violating the 60-foot front, 5-foot main-building, or applicable side/rear setbacks violates Section 20.10.030 and Title 18. Code enforcement may issue citations, stop-work orders, and orders to relocate or remove the structure. Portable storage container violations (placement, setbacks, distance from abutting residential zoning) are also enforceable under Section 20.10.030.
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