El Paso, TX Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)

030(A) of the El Paso City Code governs freestanding sheds, detached garages, workshops and similar accessory buildings on residential lots. A residential accessory building cannot exceed one story or 15 feet in height, and it must sit in the rear yard, or in a side yard only if the district's minimum side setback is still met. Central air conditioning condensing units must stay at least 5 feet from any lot line. If a detached shed or garage sits closer than 5 feet to the house, the code no longer treats it as an accessory building: it becomes part of the main building and must meet every setback and area rule that applies to the house itself.

035). Size is capped citywide: the combined gross floor area of every detached accessory building on the lot cannot exceed the more restrictive of 50% of the main house's floor area or 40% of the rear yard area, though the code always allows at least one building up to 400 square feet regardless of that math. Garages entered from an alley must sit at least 5 feet off the property line, and a shed may connect to the house by a breezeway (up to 6 feet high, 5 feet wide, 75% open) without losing its accessory classification.