What do these permits involve in El Paso County?

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Driveway (Right-of-Way Access) Permit, County Roads

Under the County's Right-of-Way Access Management Policies & Procedures Order (o21-0926), it is a violation to build an access point from private property onto a county right-of-way without a permit from the Planning & Development Department (800 E Overland, Suite 200, (915) 273-3330), and the Order applies only to public roads in the unincorporated area. The County's Inspections page adds that a driveway installation or modification, or other work such as a sidewalk, within the public right-of-way needs a permit in advance. Driveways must be built to the County Subdivision Design Standards for commercial or residential driveways and are subject to the fees and rules of the Right-of-Way Cut & Entry Regulations. The figures come from the County's FY2027 adopted Schedule of Rates and Fees (budget adopted 14 September 2026), which lists the driveway permit at $110.00 preliminary and $120.00 standard. A business building or changing a driveway onto a county road needs this permit; inside a city, that city's own right-of-way rules apply instead.

Floodplain Determination and Floodplain Development Permit

The County's Flood Damage Prevention Order, with revisions adopted on 24 August 2026, defines its regulated area as unincorporated El Paso County. Under Article IV, a floodplain determination is required before any construction activity in the regulated area, and under Article III a Floodplain Development Permit is required before construction starts; development may not begin until the permit is issued. The Order sets four permit classes (I to IV) by whether the site is in or outside the Special Flood Hazard Area or an area contributing to flooding, and whether a drainage plan was approved with an earlier plat. Construction must start within 180 days of issue. The Floodplain Administrator in Planning & Development (800 E Overland, Suite 200, (915) 273-3330) handles both steps. This record carries no amount, because the Order's Appendix A fee table is labelled a draft and defers to the adopted Schedule of Rates and Fees, which lists no floodplain permit row. Inside a city, that city's floodplain rules apply instead.

Commercial Security Alarm Permit (Sheriff)

Operating a security alarm system at commercial premises in the unincorporated area of El Paso County requires a permit from the Sheriff's Office Alarm Permit Officer (3850 Justice Dr, (915) 538-2292), one permit per alarm site. The commercial fee is $60 for the initial permit and for each renewal, and each permit is valid for three years; the residential fee is lower and is not covered here. The Order excludes premises located in an incorporated area, so a business inside the City of El Paso or another municipality is outside it. The county's alarm application form also sets a $75 service fee for each false alarm above five in twelve months. The permit is a condition of using an alarm, not a general business license; it applies only to a business that operates an alarm system at an unincorporated site.

On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permit

A business on premises in the unincorporated area of El Paso County that is not connected to public sewer needs an OSSF construction permit and, after the final inspection, a license to operate from County Public Works (14698 Van Ln, (915) 273-3105). The county process sheet (rev. 2-04-26) and the application form print one set of permit fees, while the County's FY2027 adopted Schedule of Rates and Fees lists different amounts under Public Works 'Fee Items' that do not name the OSSF program, so this record states no amount. Fees are paid at any County Clerk office and are not refundable. Review takes 30 days for a residential or commercial permit and 45 days for a disposal plan, and the installer must be TCEQ-licensed. Inside a municipality on public sewer there is no county septic trigger.

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
Driveway (Right-of-Way Access) Permit, County Roadsonly if it applies to you	El Paso County Planning & Development Department	Preliminary $110.00; Standard $120.00, as listed for 'Driveway Permit (ROW Cut & Entry Regulations)' under Planning and Development in the County's FY2027 adopted Schedule of Rates and Fees (lines 1255-1256, approved by Commissioners Court on 8 June 2026). The 2018 Right-of-Way Cut & Entry Regulations apply the preliminary fee when it is paid in full before the right-of-way is disturbed and the standard fee otherwise.	one permit per access point; not stated as a renewable license	2026-10-09
Floodplain Determination and Floodplain Development Permitonly if it applies to you	El Paso County Planning & Development Department	No amount is published here. Appendix A of the Flood Damage Prevention Order describes its fee table as a draft fee structure and refers readers to the current adopted El Paso County Schedule of Rates and Fees, and the FY2027 adopted Schedule of Rates and Fees lists no floodplain determination or floodplain development permit row. Contact the Floodplain Administrator at Planning & Development, (915) 273-3330, for the amount currently charged.	construction must start within 180 days of issue or the permit is void; up to two six-month extensions on written request	2026-10-09
Commercial Security Alarm Permit (Sheriff)only if it applies to you	El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Alarm Permit Officer	$60 per commercial alarm permit, initial and each renewal, valid three years	3 years	2026-09-29
On-Site Sewage Facility (Septic) Permitonly if it applies to you	El Paso County Public Works, On-Site Sewage Facility Program	No amount is published here. The County's OSSF process sheet and application form print one set of permit fees, and the County's FY2027 adopted Schedule of Rates and Fees (adopted 14 September 2026) lists a different set of Public Works 'Fee Items' (commercial application, residential, sewage disposal plan, re-inspections) without naming the OSSF program. Contact the On-Site Sewage Facility Program at (915) 273-3105 for the amount currently charged. Fees are non-refundable.	authorization to construct valid for one calendar year; a license to operate is issued after final inspection and transfers to a new owner on sale	2026-09-29

Business licenses and permits in El Paso County, Texas

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Permits that apply to every type of business in El Paso County