Unincorporated El Paso County

County permits are required in advance for driveway installation and modification, sidewalks, and other work in the public right-of-way. Road-cut work requires a permit before work begins. For residential construction in the unincorporated area, the county runs a residential inspection program for certain projects under Chapter 233, Subchapter F rather than a general county building-permit system.

Note: The county does not present a general unincorporated-area building permit requirement for all construction. The county page instead focuses on limited residential inspection-program compliance and public right-of-way permits. Important: Unincorporated projects may still be regulated by other agencies, utility districts, emergency services districts, floodplain rules, septic rules, or municipal ETJ subdivision controls even where the county itself does not issue a general building permit.

Building code

HB 2833 allows the county to require building-code standards and inspections for certain residential construction. The county uses an adopted residential building inspection code order; the county does not present itself as a full-service building department for all unincorporated construction.

Permit validity

Not clearly stated on county page; confirm directly with Planning and Development.

Owner-builder

Not separately stated on county page.

Contractor requirements

No general county contractor-licensing rule identified on county page.

Source: El Paso County Planning and Development, Inspections and Enforcement Division ↗

1. 01
   Confirm the project site is in unincorporated El Paso County rather than inside a municipality, because municipal permit rules control inside incorporated city limits.
2. 02
   Determine whether the project falls into one of the county-administered categories: HB 2833 residential inspection program work, driveway or sidewalk work in county right-of-way, or road-cut work.
3. 03
   For covered residential construction in the unincorporated area, file the county Commencement of Residential Construction notice before work starts and file the Completion of Residential Construction notice when work finishes.
4. 04
   For driveway, sidewalk, or road-cut work in county right-of-way, obtain the applicable county permit before starting work. Submit road-cut applications through the county's online Smartsheet form.
5. 05
   For residential inspection program work, ensure the project meets the county's adopted residential inspection standards and coordinate required inspections.

Typical processing time: No general turnaround published on county page; confirm directly with Planning and Development.

Source: El Paso County Planning and Development, Inspections and Enforcement Division ↗

• Call El Paso County inspector after permit issuance (phone)

Inspection hours

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Typical sequence: For residential inspection-program work, inspections are tied to the county's adopted residential inspection program. For right-of-way permits, a county inspector approves construction.

Source: El Paso County Planning and Development, Inspections and Enforcement Division ↗