El Paso, TX Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- R-1 front yard minimum
- 30 feet
- R-1 rear yard minimum
- 30 feet
- R-1 side yard minimum
- 15 feet
- R-1 side street yard minimum
- 20 feet
- Governing instrument
- Title 20 Appendix B (base zoning, not SmartCode)
Summary
In El Paso's R-1 single-family district, the Title 20 Appendix B dimensional table sets a 30-foot minimum front yard, a 30-foot rear yard, and a combined front-and-rear minimum of 100 feet. Side yards must be at least 15 feet and side street yards 20 feet, with a 40-foot combined minimum. Denser districts like R-3 and R-4 cut these to as little as 5-foot side yards and 10-foot fronts.
20.12.020 - Table of density and dimensional standards. 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. Where calculation of cumulative yard setbacks is permitted, all the individual minimum yard requirements (front, rear and side) as well as the minimum cumulative requirements must be satisfied... In case of a conflict, the more restrictive standard shall apply. || Appendix B, Row D - R-1: Minimum Lot Area (square feet) 20,000 | Minimum Average Lot Width (in feet) 125 | Minimum Lot Depth (in feet) 150 | Minimum Front Yard (in feet) 30 | Minimum Rear Yard (in feet) 30 | Minimum Cumulative Front & Rear Yard Total 100 | Minimum Side Yard (in feet) 15 | Minimum Side Street Yard (in feet) 20 | Minimum Cumulative Side & Side Street Yard Total 40 | Maximum Height Limitation (in feet) 35
Full Breakdown
' For the R-1 district, the table's row D lists a minimum lot area of 20,000 square feet, 125-foot average lot width, 150-foot lot depth, a 30-foot front yard, 30-foot rear yard, 100-foot cumulative front-and-rear total, 15-foot side yard, 20-foot side street yard, and 40-foot cumulative side total, alongside a 35-foot height cap. Denser single-family districts scale down fast: R-2 requires only a 25-foot front/rear yard (60-foot cumulative) and 8-foot side yard (20-foot cumulative) on a 10,000-square-foot lot, while R-3A drops to a 15-foot front yard (with a 20-foot driveway required) and 5-foot side yard.
040 layers in modifications on top of the table: an unenclosed porch, carport, or entranceway with a wall up to six feet high may extend up to 10 feet into a required front yard if under 150 square feet, chimney backs and bay windows may project up to 30 inches into the front yard, and pre-1979 residences may let a screened carport extend three feet into a required side yard. '
Violations & Fines
Building or maintaining a structure that violates the Appendix B setbacks is a Title 20 zoning offense under § 20.24.020: a misdemeanor with a fine up to $2,000 and each day of the encroachment a separate offense, plus a civil penalty of up to $500 a day under § 20.24.030. An owner who can't meet the table's minimums must seek relief from the Zoning Board of Adjustment rather than build the encroachment first and ask forgiveness later.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do setback rules differ by zoning district in El Paso?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Paso
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