Living Outside City Limits in El Paso County Means No Zoning

Texas counties have very limited powers compared to cities. El Paso County cannot create zoning laws or issue building permits for homes in unincorporated areas. That means your neighbors could build a shop or run a business next door, and the county has little power to stop it.

For building permits in unincorporated areas, contact Emergency Service District (ESD) No. 1 or No. 2. These local districts handle some fire and permit functions outside city boundaries. If your land is inside the City of El Paso's Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ), meaning it is near the city but not yet inside it, some city subdivision rules may apply even if you do not pay city taxes.