Environmental Rules in El Paso County, TX (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in El Paso County, Texas.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
El Paso County requires every new subdivision in the unincorporated area to handle its own storm and flood water under Section 2.8(o) of the county's Subdivision Regulations. The County Engineer sets inlet spacing, storm sewer sizing, and easement widths, and the Commissioners Court can withhold plat approval until a subdivision's runoff won't overload downstream drainage.
El Paso County Subdivision Drainage Rules
Some RestrictionsEl Paso County Subdivision Regulations, § 2.8(o)
(o) Drainage and Storm Sewers. (1) No subdivision shall be approved which does not make adequate provision for storm or flood water runoff channels or basins. The storm water drainage system shall be separate and independent of any sanitary sewer system. Storm sewers, where required, shall be designated by such methods as are approved by the County Engineer. Inlets shall be provided so that sur...
Flood Zones
Any unincorporated El Paso County subdivision that falls inside a HUD-defined Flood Hazard Area must be built to the county's own Flood Plain Regulations and National Flood Insurance Program rules under Section 2.8(p) of the Subdivision Regulations. The Commissioners Court can flatly prohibit subdividing land that lies within a stream's flood plain.
El Paso County Flood Hazard Subdivision Rules
Significant RestrictionsEl Paso County Subdivision Regulations, § 2.8(p)
(p) Flood Hazard Areas. If a subdivision or a portion of a subdivision is in an area that has been defined as a Flood Hazard Area by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development maps, then said subdivision or portion of subdivision shall be constructed according to the Regulations passed by El Paso County Commissioners' Court and by regulations set by the National Flood Insurance Progra...
Flood Elevation Requirements
El Paso County requires one foot of freeboard above the 100-year flood level for any lot in FEMA's 'A' flood zone, under Section 3.3(e)(1)(F) of the Subdivision Regulations. A Texas engineer must calculate that elevation, certify it, and show it on the final plat before Commissioners Court can approve it.
El Paso County Flood Zone Freeboard Rule
Some RestrictionsEl Paso County Subdivision Regulations, § 3.3(e)(1)(F)
(F) If any portion of any lot shown on a subdivision final plat is covered by the "A" zone as per FEMA flood plain maps the building elevation (one foot (1') above the 100-year flood level) for each site so affected shall be determined by an engineer, and shall be shown on the plat, with a professional engineer's certification.
Environmental Rules by City in El Paso County
1 cities in El Paso County have their own environmental rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All El Paso County ordinances
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