How to Apply for El Paso Building Permits

For any work on your home beyond a simple fuse, fan, light fixture, or switch replacement, you need a building permit in El Paso, TX. Whether you want to put in a swimming pool or convert your home's garage into a bedroom or office, you'll need an El Paso building permit.

This could provide a simple process if you live in a new neighborhood with few or no building covenants. If you reside in a historic district though, or your property contains a historic landmark, you must first have the city conduct a plan review, whether the work requires a building permit or not. After the plan review, you still must apply for and obtain a building permit if the work does require it.

Using the DoNotPay solution offers you a much faster, more convenient way to plow through the application process. The site uses an automated process for you to alleviate frustration and quickly solve the problem. You can find the process for applying for other areas ' building permits, too, including Palm Beach County, Los Angeles, Chicago, or Sarasota.

When Is a Building Permit Necessary in El Paso?

Most types of renovation require a building permit in El Paso, TX. As long as your home or commercial property does not lie within a historic district, you can avoid a permit for painting, hanging wallpaper, or installing siding. Your first accessory storage building of less than 200 square feet does not require a permit. If you install more than one storage building, you do need a permit.

Many specific types of construction or renovation do require an El Paso building permit. Other reasons for applying for City of El Paso building permits include:

• Accessory dwelling units
• in-law suites
• ponds
• pools
• attached or detached canopies
• attached or detached porches
• garage conversions
• adding partitions or walls
• building an addition
• awnings
• carports
• masonry walls and fences of 42 inches in height or taller
• chain link fences of six feet in height or taller
• the placement of a mobile home
• any concrete work 30 inches above grade or for structural support
• residential roof coverings
• any remodeling requiring a structural change
• permanent HVAC installs
• electrical work
• plumbing work
• curb cuts for driveways
• temporary placement of a dumpster

How to Get a Building Permit in El Paso

What Are the Required Documents for a Permit?

If you reside in a historic district, you'll need to provide your full site plans for a plan review before you begin work or apply for a permit. For these properties, any work will require this review - even wallpapering or other normally allowed work, since it may alter a historical structure.

For all other items that only require a building permit, you will also need to complete the El Paso Building Permit Application in English or the El Paso Building Permit Application in Spanish. To place a mobile home, you'll also need to submit a mobile home placement form.

Other special items also include their own form. This includes the construction of a residential fence or residential swimming pool.

Who Do I Contact to Get a Building Permit?

The City of El Paso provides a One-Stop-Shop located at 811 Texas Avenue in El Paso, Texas 79901. You can phone them at (915) 212-0104 or email them at OSSHelp@elpasotexas.gov. This special division of its planning department handles all building permits.

What Fees Are Associated With Getting a Permit?

The fee structure of The City of El Paso consists of a complex set of fees. More than 100 building permit fees exist, depending on what you want to do. For example, building weatherization requires a different fee in El Paso than building placement. A general residential fee requires calculation by square footage and/or building value. Commercial building permits carry different fees than residential projects.

Next Steps for Applying for a Building Permit if You Can't Do It Yourself

You could hire an attorney or consultant to handle the process for you. Of course, that means you need to interview the attorney or consultant. You now have a go-between to deal with the city or county for you, but you double your fees. Hiring someone else to handle it for you could create more stress. There is an easier way. You can solve the problem with the help of DoNotPay.

Solve the Building Permits Application Problem With the Help of DoNotPay

DoNotPay wants to help make the application process easier, so you can successfully get a building permit and start your renovation with ease. Through our new Planning Permissions product, we'll help you:

1. check if your project even needs a building permit in the first place
2. contact any HOAs you're a part of to request building permission
3. generate a step-by-step guide on how to start and complete your building permit application process

Some of the permits and projects we can help with include:

• Building a fence
• Building a deck or porch
• Roofing changes
• Interior Remodeling
• Demolition
• Basement Changes
• Residential Addition
• New Accessory Dwelling Units
• Garage Renovations
• Installing a Pool
• Installing a Hot Tub
• Repair, replacement, or installation of a plumbing/gas system
• Repair, replacement, or installation of an electrical system
• Repair, replacement, or installation of a mechanical/gas system

If you want to apply for a building permit easily in El Paso but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered. Create your own cancellation letter in 6 easy steps:

1. Go to the Planning Permissions product on DoNotPay.
2. Choose one of the following options:
   1. Check whether your project needs a building permit or if it's exempt
   2. Generate a permission request letter to send to your HOA
   3. Generate a guide on how to complete the building permit application
3. Choose the focus of your project (new ADU, pool, shed, fence, etc.) and answer a few questions about your plans, including the size of the structure and estimated cost.

   

4. Indicate whether you're hiring a contractor and include the estimated start date and the timeline for the project.
5. Indicate whether any public sidewalk/street space will be used during construction.
6. And that's it! DoNotPay will help guide you through the building permit process by checking if your project needs a building permit, contacting any HOAs you're a part of to request building permission, or generating detailed instructions on how to start and complete your building permit application process.

Why Use DoNotPay to Apply for El Paso Building Permits

There are a lot of reasons why you should choose DoNotPay: