El Paso, TX Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- A-O lot coverage cap
- 50% (Appendix B, Row P.2)
- A-O min. lot area/unit
- 750 sq ft
- A-1 open space min.
- 50% interior / 40% corner lots
- Governing table
- Appendix B, Title 20 § 20.12.020
- Conflict rule
- More restrictive standard applies
Summary
In El Paso's A-O zoning district, single-family attached dwellings, atriums, patios and townhomes, cannot cover more than 50% of the lot under the Title 20 Table of Density and Dimensional Standards (Appendix B, § 20.12.020), on a minimum 750-square-foot-per-unit lot with a 0-foot front and 5-foot side setback.
The Table of Density and Dimensional Standards found in Appendix B, adopted in its entirety and incorporated herein by reference, sets forth the regulations for minimum zoning district areas, minimum lot sizes, densities and heights, required setbacks, and other general standards as applicable to specific zoning districts. ... In case of a conflict, the more restrictive standard shall apply. [Appendix B, Zoning District A-O, Row P.2, Single-family attached dwellings (Atrium, Patio, and Townhomes)]: Minimum lot area of 750 sf per dwelling unit; lot coverage not to exceed 50%.
Full Breakdown
020, sets a distinct 'Other Standards' figure for each district and use. 2 governs single-family attached dwellings built as atrium, patio or townhome product: the minimum lot area is 750 square feet per dwelling unit, and lot coverage cannot exceed 50%. That coverage cap pairs with a 0-foot minimum front yard, 25-foot rear yard, 5-foot side yard and 10-foot side-street yard, and a 45-foot height limit, in the same table row. 2), attached atrium, patio and townhome lots must keep open space equal to at least 50% of an interior lot or 40% of a corner lot, on a minimum lot area of 2,400 square feet per unit, the practical inverse of a coverage cap.
' Homeowners and builders should read the Appendix B row for the specific zoning district and use category on their lot rather than assume one citywide coverage percentage, since the limit is set district-by-district.
Violations & Fines
Development Services reviews building and site plans against the applicable Appendix B row before issuing a permit, and a structure or paving plan that pushes lot coverage past the district's cap is a Title 20 zoning violation. Under § 20.24.020, violating any Title 20 standard, including an Appendix B dimensional limit, is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $2,000, with each day of the violation a separate offense, and § 20.24.010 lets the city seek injunctive relief.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a single citywide lot-coverage limit in El Paso?
What is the lot coverage limit in the A-O district?
How do open-space minimums relate to lot coverage?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Paso
Texas rules heatmap·Compare El Paso to another location·View the Texas building setbacks & zoning overview
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