ADU rules in El Paso

Detached ADUs are an accessory use allowed by right (an 'A' for use 13.35 in the Table of Permissible Uses) in every residential district (R-1 through R-5, R-2A, R-3A, RMH) and every apartment district. Only one ADU is allowed per lot, the lot must hold a detached single-family dwelling (not a duplex or multifamily building), and the lot must be at least 5,500 sq ft. Detached units must meet §20.10.035.A plus the general accessory-building rules of §20.10.030.

§20.10.035.B expressly permits attached ADUs with their own checklist: one per lot with a single-family dwelling, minimum 5,500 sq ft lot, the same size caps as detached units, a separate entrance, and compliance with the district's yard standards. The exterior must match the principal unit in scale, material, color, roof pitch, and window style.

The same size caps apply to detached and attached ADUs. Every ADU is limited to one bedroom and cannot be taller than the principal unit. Detached ADUs also count toward the general accessory-building cap in §20.10.030.A.4: combined detached accessory buildings limited to the more restrictive of 50 percent of the main building's floor area or 40 percent of the rear yard.

For a detached ADU the owner must occupy either the principal unit or the ADU as their permanent residence, and may rent out both units only during a temporary absence of one year or less. The attached-ADU subsection (§20.10.035.B) does not repeat this requirement, so as codified the owner-occupancy rule is stated only for detached units; confirm with Planning whether the city applies it to attached ADUs in practice.

Appendix C (Table of Parking Requirements and Standards) has no row for the ADU use (13.35), so the code sets no numeric ADU parking minimum; for uses not shown in the table, the city manager or designee is authorized to establish the requirement. §20.10.035 touches parking only once: alley access is permitted only if on-site parking is provided for the ADU.

In the Table of Permissible Uses, ADU (use 13.35) carries an 'A' in all main single-family districts (R-1 through R-5, RMH) and all apartment districts: allowed by right as an accessory use with only building-permit review, subject to the Chapter 20.10 standards. No special permit, hearing, or board approval applies there. Special purpose and mixed-use districts (R-F, PMD, S-D, P-R I and II, P-C, P-I, SRR, R-MU, G-MU, I-MU) carry a 'D' requiring detailed site development plan approval, and ADUs are not allowed in commercial or manufacturing districts.

For detached ADUs the owner-occupancy rule effectively limits rental to one of the two units, except during a temporary owner absence of one year or less; the attached-ADU subsection imposes no such limit. Ord. 019840 (February 3, 2026) added only the STR definition (§20.02.870.5); as codified through March 17, 2026 there is no STR permit, registration, cap, or minimum-stay chapter anywhere in the city code.