Administrative overview · FIPS 48141
El Paso County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
El Paso County Planning and Development / On-Site Sewage Facility Program
For a project in or near El Paso County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
El Paso County OSSF: 915-855-9664; County Judge: 915-273-3591; Planning and Development contact numbers vary by program
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
El Paso County OSSF Program, 14612 Greg Drive, El Paso, TX 79938; El Paso County Courthouse, 500 E San Antonio Street, Room 301, El Paso, TX 79901
Operating hours
N/A; contact the OSSF office at 915-855-9664 before visiting.
Review expectation
N/A; the reviewed El Paso County materials do not publish a fixed county review timeline.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for El Paso County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
El Paso County Planning and Development / On-Site Sewage Facility Program is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
No verified online portal was located in the reviewed public materials. Contact El Paso County OSSF: 915-855-9664; County Judge: 915-273-3591; Planning and Development contact numbers vary by program and request the current application route before preparing a final submittal.
How long might review take?
N/A; the reviewed El Paso County materials do not publish a fixed county review timeline.
How are inspections scheduled?
For an unincorporated development, verify jurisdiction, floodplain status, potable water, sewer availability, and grading/drainage requirements before construction. For OSSF, submit the county application with a TCEQ-licensed evaluator or professional engineer site evaluation and use a licensed septic installer. The county requires grading/drainage approval and a passed final inspection for septic-related addressing; contact OSSF at 915-855-9664.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
In unincorporated El Paso County, the county does not issue building permits or Certificates of Occupancy; ordinary building-permit questions are directed to the applicable Emergency Service District or municipality. County land-development controls include floodplain permits, grading/drainage plans, subdivision regulations, and OSSF requirements under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 366 and 30 TAC Chapter 285. The county FAQ states no county permit is required for roofing or solar-panel installation in unincorporated areas, subject to municipal rules where applicable. A septic system still requires county OSSF approval when required, and grading/drainage plans are required for septic installation on land of 10 acres or less. No broader cosmetic-work list was published.