Title 20 includes mountain development standards and a Mountain Cluster overlay that limit grading, lot coverage, building height, and color palette for parcels on slopes above the Franklin Mountains foothills to protect view corridors and reduce erosion.
Steep slope and ridgeline development is constrained by Title 20 mountain development provisions and the Mountain Cluster overlay covering portions of the Franklin Mountains foothills. Standards include slope-based density caps, restrictions on cut and fill, requirements to follow natural contours, color palettes that blend with rock tones, and limits on retaining wall height. The state-managed Franklin Mountains State Park boundary further restricts encroachment. Subdivision of slopes above defined gradient triggers additional engineered grading and drainage submittals under Chapter 15. Roof pitch, lighting, and view-shed protections apply on west-facing slopes. Variances are reviewed by City Plan Commission.
Unpermitted grading or construction on protected slopes can lead to stop work orders, restoration requirements, fines under Title 20, and denial of certificate of occupancy.
El Paso, TX
El Paso requires grading permits for land disturbance activities through Title 18 and the city engineering department. The city's desert topography with the ...
El Paso, TX
El Paso regulates building height through Title 20 (Zoning Code) and Title 21 (SmartCode). Height limits vary by zoning district: single-family residential i...
See how El Paso's hillside overlay rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.