Zoning Report
El Paso, TX Zoning
El Paso regulates land use through Title 20 of its City Code, with a broad set of residential, apartment, commercial, industrial, and special-purpose zoning districts. The city’s published use table organizes permitted, accessory, and disallowed uses by district, while additional standards are handled through appendices and supplemental regulations. Based on the sources reviewed, El Paso appears to use a mix of standard zoning districts, special permits, conditional zoning conditions, and board/council review for exceptions and rezoning actions.
Last researched May 2026
Zoning Districts in El Paso, TX
R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-3A
Light-density residential districts intended for suburban-to-urban neighborhood settings, primarily for single-family and two-family residential areas with neighborhood-serving recreational and institutional uses.
Allowed uses: Single-family residential uses, Two-family residential uses, Recreational uses incidental to the neighborhood, Institutional uses serving the neighborhood
R-4, R-5
Residential districts grouped with light-density residential categories in the city’s zoning framework, supporting low-density neighborhood development.
Allowed uses: Residential uses as listed in the Table of Permissible Uses
RMH
Residential Mobile Home District for mobile home residential development.
Allowed uses: Mobile home residential uses as listed in the Table of Permissible Uses
A-1, A-2, A-3, A-O
Medium-density apartment districts intended as a transition between low-density residential neighborhoods and more intensive areas, while preserving neighborhood character and architectural integrity.
Allowed uses: Apartment residential uses, Certain nonresidential support uses, Office uses in A-O as indicated by district title
A-4, A-3/O, A-M
High-density residential districts intended for the city’s most intensive residential development, including a range of dwelling types and some integrated office or mobile home park forms.
Allowed uses: High-density multifamily residential uses, Compatible office uses in applicable districts, Mobile home park uses in A-M
C-OP, C-1
Neighborhood commercial districts for convenience goods and services, offices, and retail uses serving nearby residential areas.
Allowed uses: Business and professional offices, Retail uses serving day-to-day needs, Neighborhood-scale commercial services
C-2, C-3
Community commercial districts intended for a wider range of commercial activity serving multiple neighborhoods, including some light auto-related uses.
Allowed uses: General commercial uses, Trade and service establishments, Light automobile-related uses
C-4
Regional commercial district intended for heavier commercial activity, including automotive and light warehousing, often functioning as a transition toward industrial areas.
Allowed uses: Heavy commercial uses, Automotive uses, Light warehousing
C-5
Central Business District intended for major commerce, service, and employment activity with less restrictive height and area regulations than many other districts.
Allowed uses: Retail trade, Service uses, Intensive downtown commercial activity
M-1
Light manufacturing district for lower-intensity industrial activity such as manufacturing, assembly, distribution, and warehousing, with controls on nuisance impacts.
Allowed uses: Manufacturing, Assembling, Distribution, Warehousing, Supporting commercial uses
Q, M-2, M-3
Quarry and heavier industrial/manufacturing districts for more intensive industrial uses, including uses with nuisance or hazardous characteristics subject to protective standards.
Allowed uses: Quarry uses in Q, Heavy manufacturing, Unrestricted manufacturing in M-3
R-F
Ranch and Farm district for semi-rural, very-low-density residential and agricultural areas within or near urban development.
Allowed uses: Agricultural uses, Semi-rural residential uses, Related low-intensity uses consistent with urban-rural character
PMD
Planned Mountain Development district for environmentally sensitive mountain and hillside areas, focused on minimizing disturbance and preserving open space and aesthetics.
Allowed uses: Development consistent with hillside and environmental protection standards
S-D
Special Development district for integrated mixed-use projects in certain older residential areas, allowing some nonresidential activity while maintaining residential appearance and landscaping.
Allowed uses: Mixed-use projects, Certain nonresidential uses integrated with residential character
Recent Zoning Changes
The available sources show several active 2026 rezoning and special permit matters in front of City Council, along with at least one adopted special permit ordinance in May 2026. The online Municode supplement was updated April 22, 2026 and codified through Ordinance No. 019846 enacted February 17, 2026, but the research set does not include the full text of recent zoning amendments beyond listed public notices.
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