YES, if you are modifying or attaching to an existing structure.

This is a registration number obtained from a RAS (Registered Accessibility Specialist). Projects valued at or above $50,000 require that the applicant go to http://www.license.state.tx.us/ to obtain a list of RAS plan reviewers. Take your plans to one of these individuals, and they will provide you with the EAB registration number when they register your project with the state.

For work less than $500.00 in value.

A homeowner’s permit is issued to the property owner, who is residing at that address for work to be performed by the property owner. Subcontracting work to be performed would not qualify as a homeowner’s permit.

No, the responsibility for code compliance would be with the homeowner and not the contractor. The City of El Paso would require you, the permit holder to make all corrections for code compliance.

Call 915-541-4700.

Zoning establishes the types of land uses permitted on a specific tract of land. Zoning also sets development standards such as lot area, setbacks, density, parking and loading requirements, landscape and screening requirements, and building height. The City of El Paso currently has 34 zoning districts.

The purpose of zoning is to protect the public’s health, safety, morals and general welfare and is an important tool for implementing the City’s long range plans. Property must be zoned for a given use before a building permit will be issued, and development plans for the property must comply with the applicable standards for that zoning district.

Contact the Planning, Research & Development Department at (915) 541-4024 to verify the zoning district classification for the property and types of uses that are permitted. If your intended use is not permitted on the property based on its existing zoning, staff will advise you of the rezoning process and other options (if any) available to you.

In order to change the zoning on a property, the property owner is required to submit a rezoning application that must go through a public hearing process. Prior to submitting the application, the property owner is encouraged to discuss the application with staff in the Planning, Research & Development Department. A pre-application conference will include a discussion of the surrounding zoning, land uses, recent area zoning trends, adopted development-related zoning policies, adopted neighborhood plans or overlays, and any other relevant factors related to the application.

A completed rezoning application, with all required documentation, must be submitted to the Planning, Research & Development Department. The application must contain an original signature of the owner(s) of the property proposed for rezoning.

After acceptance of a completed application, the Planning, Research & Development Department reviews the request, obtains the review and comments from other City departments, schedules the case for public hearing by the City Plan Commission, obtains a recommendation from the Development Coordinating Committee, prepares a staff report, and notifies property owners within 300 feet of the proposed rezoning and any appropriate recognized neighborhood associations.
The City Plan Commission holds a public hearing approximately six weeks following the submittal of the application, and votes to approve, approve with modifications, deny, or to postpone the rezoning application. A report by staff is presented, public input is received (either for or against the application), and the Commission deliberates its findings.

Where a recommendation to approve the application is made by the City Plan Commission, an ordinance will be prepared and forwarded for City Council finalization. The final hearing by the City Council will take place approximately four to five weeks after the Commission hearing. A report is presented by staff with the recommendations of the Development Coordinating Committee and the City Plan Commission, public input is received, and the City Council deliberates its findings, and either approves, approves with modification, denies or postpones the application. Upon finalization, the Planning, Research & Development Department makes the necessary changes to the Official Zoning Map Series of the City.

If an application is denied by the City Plan Commission, the applicant may file an appeal of the denial action to the City Council within fifteen days of the Commission hearing. Once an appeal is filed, an ordinance will be prepared and forwarded to City Council for finalization in the same manner described above.

All property owners within 300 feet of the property proposed for rezoning and any appropriate registered neighborhood associations are notified for the City Plan Commission and the City Council hearings. In addition, if the property proposed for rezoning is one or more acres in size, a sign must be placed on the property proposed for rezoning by the applicant at least 15 days before the City Plan Commission hearing.

During the public hearings before the City Plan Commission and the City Council, the applicant and the public will be afforded an opportunity to present their views on the application. In addition, letters and faxes may be sent to the Planning Department regarding any application. Letters should be addressed to the City Plan Commission (c/o Planning Division, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 2 Civic Center Plaza, El Paso, TX 79901-1196) and faxes should be sent to (915) 541-4028. The letter or fax must state the case number, your name and address, and your position.

A rezoning application, from submission to finalization, takes approximately ten to twelve weeks. Incomplete applications and unique circumstances or factors may increase the processing time.

There are 3 types of grading permits, Clearing and Access Grading Permit that basically allows for clearing of grub to provide access to site, Pre-Final Grading Permit allows preliminary grading of soils to allow the shaping of the land and the Final Grading Permit allows for the grades to be finalized using imported or exported soils with a Borrow / Waste Permit.

Any time there is any disturbance of the surface of the land with earth-moving or other heavy equipment that will modify drainage patterns.

A set of Civil Drawings originally signed and sealed by a registered Civil Engineer in the State of Texas. The information provided shall include Grading Plan, Drainage Plan, and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan Permit.

FEMA has identified areas to be in different levels of flooding, the areas have been identified on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps that were implemented. This maps are kept on file in the Development Services Department

An Elevation Certificate is a FEMA form that an Engineer or Surveyor may Certify that your building will be or is built above the base flood elevation (BFE) in the area.

A BFE is a base flood elevation as identified on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps; elevation of possible flooding in the area.

Discharge/de-watering permit is permit that is required to discharge storm water from private properties into the City’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4). This permit is required for the purpose of protecting the waters of the United States.

Storm Water Pollution prevention Permit (Construction) is required of land disturbance sites greater that 1 acres. In order to obtain a construction storm water permit, a SWPPP reviewed, signed & seal by a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas needs to be submitted to the Land Development Division-Storm Water as well as a copy of the Notice of Intent (NOI) for the project. This permit is required for the purpose of protecting the waters of the United States

Storm Water Pollution prevention Permit (Industrial): are required from certain industries within the City of El Paso. The industries that required a permit are based upon Federal and State requirements. Industries that are required to obtain an industrial Storm Water Permit are identified by their Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code. This permit is required for the purpose of protecting the waters of the United States.