El Paso, Texas: which zones SB 840 and SB 15 may open
Two Texas laws from 1 Sep 2025 make cities like El Paso allow more homes. This page lists every El Paso zone we read, by our check's answer.
Not legal advice; confirm with the city.
Run the free check
It reads the city's zoning map at the site and the distance rules. You get both laws' answers, each with its sources. The best answer is Likely. It is a screen, not a promise.
SB 840: homes in commercial zones
SB 840 makes a covered city allow apartments or mixed use where offices or shops are allowed. These are El Paso's zones, from the City's code.
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El Paso's code permits mixed-use residential here (Appendix A, use 13.215; §20.10.363, Ord. 019815).
Check the airport, military base and heavy-industry distances (Planner check needed).
Likely 13 zones
The zoning test points to yes. The free check still reads the site itself and the distance rules.
| Zone | City's code | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A-1 | Appendix A, use 13.215 | SB 840 opens A-1 to homes. |
| A-2 | Appendix A, use 13.215 | SB 840 opens A-2 to homes. |
| A-3 | Appendix A, use 13.215 | SB 840 opens A-3 to homes. |
| A-4 | Appendix A, use 13.215 | SB 840 opens A-4 to homes. |
| A-O | Appendix A, use 13.215 | SB 840 opens A-O to homes. |
| A-3/O | Appendix A, use 13.215 | SB 840 opens A-3/O to homes. |
| A-M | Appendix A, use 13.215 | SB 840 opens A-M to homes. |
| C-OP | Appendix A, use 13.215 | SB 840 opens C-OP to homes. Sand and gravel extraction can be approved in C-OP by special permit (Appendix A, use 7.07). El Paso lists C-OP for mixed-use residential, so that doesn't change this verdict. |
| C-1 | Appendix A, use 13.215 | SB 840 opens C-1 to homes. |
| C-2 | Appendix A, use 13.215 | SB 840 opens C-2 to homes. |
| C-3 | Appendix A, use 13.215 | SB 840 opens C-3 to homes. |
| C-4 | Appendix A, use 13.215 | SB 840 opens C-4 to homes. |
| C-5 | Appendix A, use 13.215 | SB 840 opens C-5 to homes. |
Planner check needed 13 zones
A planner must read more before you rely on it.
| Zone | City's code | Why |
|---|---|---|
| M-1 | Appendix A | Heavy-industrial uses can be approved in M-1 by special permit (explosives and LPG storage, batching plants: Appendix A, uses 2.06, 2.09, 7.01). El Paso's code leaves mixed-use residential out of M-1. |
| PMD | §20.06.010 | PMD (Planned Mountain Development) is a special-purpose or mixed-use district. Its uses follow a site or master zoning plan. Read the zoning for this site. |
| S-D | §20.06.010 | S-D (Special Development) is a special-purpose or mixed-use district. Its uses follow a site or master zoning plan. Read the zoning for this site. |
| U-P | §20.06.010 | U-P (Union Plaza) is a special-purpose or mixed-use district. Its uses follow a site or master zoning plan. Read the zoning for this site. |
| P-R I | §20.06.010 | P-R I (Planned Residential I) is a special-purpose or mixed-use district. Its uses follow a site or master zoning plan. Read the zoning for this site. |
| P-R II | §20.06.010 | P-R II (Planned Residential II) is a special-purpose or mixed-use district. Its uses follow a site or master zoning plan. Read the zoning for this site. |
| P-C | §20.06.010 | P-C (Planned Commercial) is a special-purpose or mixed-use district. Its uses follow a site or master zoning plan. Read the zoning for this site. |
| P-I | §20.06.010 | P-I (Planned Industrial) is a special-purpose or mixed-use district. Its uses follow a site or master zoning plan. Read the zoning for this site. |
| SRR | §20.06.010 | SRR (Special Residential Revitalization) is a special-purpose or mixed-use district. Its uses follow a site or master zoning plan. Read the zoning for this site. |
| R-MU | §20.06.010 | R-MU (Residential Mixed Use) is a special-purpose or mixed-use district. Its uses follow a site or master zoning plan. Read the zoning for this site. |
| G-MU | §20.06.010 | G-MU (General Mixed Use) is a special-purpose or mixed-use district. Its uses follow a site or master zoning plan. Read the zoning for this site. |
| I-MU | §20.06.010 | I-MU (Industrial Mixed Use) is a special-purpose or mixed-use district. Its uses follow a site or master zoning plan. Read the zoning for this site. |
| SCZ | Title 21 | SCZ is a SmartCode zone (Title 21) with its own rules, which we haven't read. Read the zoning for this site. |
Not covered 3 zones
SB 840 doesn't apply in these zones.
| Zone | City's code | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Q | §20.06.010 | Q (Quarry District) is one of El Paso's own heavy industrial districts (§20.06.010), so SB 840 doesn't apply here. |
| M-2 | §20.06.010 | M-2 (Heavy Manufacturing District) is one of El Paso's own heavy industrial districts (§20.06.010), so SB 840 doesn't apply here. |
| M-3 | §20.06.010 | M-3 (Unrestricted Manufacturing District) is one of El Paso's own heavy industrial districts (§20.06.010), so SB 840 doesn't apply here. |
No verdict 11 zones
SB 840 doesn't open these zones, so there's no verdict.
| Zone | City's code | Why |
|---|---|---|
| R-1 | R-1 allows homes but no offices or shops, so SB 840 doesn't open it. | |
| R-2 | R-2 allows homes but no offices or shops, so SB 840 doesn't open it. | |
| R-2A | R-2A allows homes but no offices or shops, so SB 840 doesn't open it. | |
| R-3 | R-3 allows homes but no offices or shops, so SB 840 doesn't open it. | |
| R-3A | R-3A allows homes but no offices or shops, so SB 840 doesn't open it. | |
| R-4 | R-4 allows homes but no offices or shops, so SB 840 doesn't open it. | |
| R-5 | R-5 allows homes but no offices or shops, so SB 840 doesn't open it. | |
| RMH | RMH allows homes but no offices or shops, so SB 840 doesn't open it. | |
| R-F | R-F doesn't allow offices or shops by right in El Paso's code (Appendix A), so SB 840 doesn't open it. | |
| NOS | NOS doesn't allow offices or shops by right in El Paso's code (Appendix A), so SB 840 doesn't open it. | |
| URD | URD doesn't allow offices or shops by right in El Paso's code (Appendix A), so SB 840 doesn't open it. |
- Gas or oil well drilling (special permit) and temporary concrete batching are possible in most El Paso districts; that doesn't change this verdict.
- El Paso's code as published on Municode (version Aug 26, 2026); Appendix A history ends Ord. 019815 (18 Nov 2025); later changes not checked: Planner check needed.
- The 1,000 ft rule is about an existing heavy industrial use or site, not zoning. A heavy-industry zone nearby is only a hint.
- City limits come from the address. Check the site is inside El Paso's city limits.
SB 15: small lots on 5-acre tracts
SB 15 caps lot size on new single-family tracts of 5 acres or more. This is the zoning test only.
Find 5-acre tracts in Austin, Dallas, San Antonio and El Paso: 1 credit a tract checked.
Sign in, then run the SB 15 check on an address in one of those cities. The finder opens under its answer. New here? Create a free account.
Likely 5 zones
The zoning test points to yes. A site still needs 5 acres or more, no recorded plat and the distance checks.
| Zone | City's code |
|---|---|
| R-1 | Appendix A, uses 13.31 and 13.315 |
| R-2 | Appendix A, uses 13.31 and 13.315 |
| R-2A | Appendix A, uses 13.31 and 13.315 |
| R-3 | Appendix A, uses 13.31 and 13.315 |
| R-3A | Appendix A, uses 13.31 and 13.315 |
Planner check needed 17 zones
A planner must read more before you rely on it.
| Zone | City's code | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A-1 | Appendix A, use 13.31 | This land is zoned A-1. El Paso's code allows single-family homes here, but not only them (Planner check needed). |
| A-2 | Appendix A, use 13.31 | This land is zoned A-2. El Paso's code allows single-family homes here, but not only them (Planner check needed). |
| A-3 | Appendix A, use 13.31 | This land is zoned A-3. El Paso's code allows single-family homes here, but not only them (Planner check needed). |
| A-4 | Appendix A, use 13.31 | This land is zoned A-4. El Paso's code allows single-family homes here, but not only them (Planner check needed). |
| A-O | Appendix A, use 13.31 | This land is zoned A-O. El Paso's code allows single-family homes here, but not only them (Planner check needed). |
| A-3/O | Appendix A, use 13.31 | This land is zoned A-3/O. El Paso's code allows single-family homes here, but not only them (Planner check needed). |
| A-M | Appendix A, use 13.31 | This land is zoned A-M. El Paso's code allows single-family homes here, but not only them (Planner check needed). |
| PMD | Appendix A, use 13.31 | This land is zoned PMD. El Paso's code allows single-family homes here, but not only them (Planner check needed). |
| S-D | Appendix A, use 13.31 | This land is zoned S-D. El Paso's code allows single-family homes here, but not only them (Planner check needed). |
| P-R I | Appendix A, use 13.31 | This land is zoned P-R I. El Paso's code allows single-family homes here, but not only them (Planner check needed). |
| P-R II | Appendix A, use 13.31 | This land is zoned P-R II. El Paso's code allows single-family homes here, but not only them (Planner check needed). |
| SRR | Appendix A, use 13.31 | This land is zoned SRR. El Paso's code allows single-family homes here, but not only them (Planner check needed). |
| R-MU | Appendix A, use 13.31 | This land is zoned R-MU. El Paso's code allows single-family homes here, but not only them (Planner check needed). |
| R-4 | Appendix A, use 13.31 | This land is zoned R-4. El Paso's code allows single-family homes here, but not only them (Planner check needed). |
| R-5 | Appendix A, use 13.31 | This land is zoned R-5. El Paso's code allows single-family homes here, but not only them (Planner check needed). |
| R-F | Appendix A, use 13.31 | This land is zoned R-F. El Paso's code allows single-family homes here, but not only them (Planner check needed). |
| SCZ | This land is zoned SCZ, a SmartCode zone (Title 21) we haven't read (Planner check needed). |
Doesn't fit 18 zones
SB 15 covers only areas zoned for single-family homes.
| Zone | City's code |
|---|---|
| C-OP | |
| C-1 | |
| C-2 | |
| C-3 | |
| C-4 | |
| C-5 | |
| Q | |
| M-2 | |
| M-3 | |
| M-1 | |
| U-P | |
| P-C | |
| P-I | |
| G-MU | |
| I-MU | |
| RMH | |
| NOS | |
| URD |
Sources
The City's code and zoning map, as our check reads them:
- El Paso City Code, Title 20 Zoning, Appendix A (Municode, version Aug 26, 2026), read 2 Nov 2026
- City of El Paso, Zoning (City open data), read 2 Nov 2026
- City of El Paso, CityLimits (City open data)
- City of El Paso, Subdivisions (City open data)
- El Paso County, Records Search (Official Public Records)
The state laws: Local Government Code Chapter 218 and Chapter 211, on statutes.capitol.texas.gov.
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Not legal advice; confirm with the city.