El Paso County, Texas
29 local notes for El Paso County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. Big Bend / Far West.
See the El Paso place page ->Money & Taxes
Property Tax Basics
Who Appraises Your Home for Taxes in El Paso County
The El Paso Central Appraisal District sets the value on your property, and that value drives what you owe in property taxes.
Homestead Exemption
How to Lower Your Tax Bill with a Homestead Exemption
If your home is your primary residence, you can apply for a homestead exemption that reduces the taxable value of your property.
Appraisal Cap
Your Appraised Value Can Only Rise 10% Per Year with a Homestead
Texas law limits how fast a homestead property's taxable value can grow each year, which protects owners in fast-rising markets.
Home & Property
Unincorporated County
Living Outside City Limits in El Paso County Means No Zoning
If your property is in unincorporated El Paso County — outside any city — there are no county zoning rules and the county cannot issue building permits.
City vs. County Jurisdiction
The City's ETJ Reaches Beyond Its Official Limits
El Paso has an ETJ — a zone just outside city limits where some city rules still apply to land development.
Flood Risk
El Paso County Now Has Its First Complete Digital Flood Maps
FEMA released revised preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps for El Paso County — the first complete set of digital flood maps the county has had.
Fire Hazard
Wildfire Is a Real Risk in El Paso — Especially in Spring
El Paso's dry desert climate and frequent drought make wildfire a serious hazard, particularly during spring when winds pick up.
Weather Hazards
El Paso Faces Frequent Drought and Intense Summer Heat
El Paso County is one of the hottest and driest parts of Texas, with drought conditions present in most years and summer temperatures regularly above 100 degrees.
Water Supply
El Paso's Water Comes from the Rio Grande and Two Underground Basins
El Paso Water serves hundreds of thousands of people using water from the Rio Grande and two large underground basins.
Water Conservation
El Paso Has Water Restrictions — Outdoor Watering Is Regulated
El Paso Water limits when and how much you can water outdoors, and those limits get stricter when drought conditions worsen.
Mineral Rights
In El Paso County, Mineral Rights and Surface Rights Can Be Separate
When you buy land in Texas, you may not own what is underground — mineral rights and surface rights are often held by different owners.
Water Infrastructure
El Paso Recycles Treated Water Back Into the Aquifer
El Paso Water sends treated water into infiltration ponds so it soaks back into the Hueco Bolson aquifer underground.
Cars & Driving
Vehicle Registration
El Paso Is an Emissions-Test County — Not Just a Safety Inspection
Vehicles registered in El Paso County must pass an emissions inspection every year — skipping it means you cannot renew your registration.
New Residents
Moved to El Paso? Register Your Vehicle Within 30 Days
New Texas residents must register their out-of-state vehicle within 30 days of moving, and El Paso's emissions test requirement applies right away.
Border Crossings
El Paso Has Multiple International Ports of Entry into Mexico
El Paso sits directly on the U.S.-Mexico border with several international bridge crossings into Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua.
Outdoors
State Park
Franklin Mountains State Park Sits Inside El Paso City Limits
Franklin Mountains State Park covers nearly 27,000 acres of desert mountain terrain inside El Paso, with over 100 miles of trails.
State Park and Historic Site
Hueco Tanks Has Ancient Rock Art and Strict Daily Visitor Limits
Hueco Tanks State Park protects thousands of ancient pictographs in the Chihuahuan Desert and limits daily visitors to preserve the site.
State Park Facility
The Wyler Aerial Tramway at Franklin Mountains Is Being Rebuilt
The Wyler Aerial Tramway at Franklin Mountains State Park is closed for rebuilding. Texas got $27 million to reconstruct it.
Hunting Seasons
What You Can Hunt in El Paso County and When
El Paso County falls in the Trans-Pecos region, with mule deer, dove, quail, javelina, and duck as common game species.
Fishing Rules
El Paso County Has Restrictions on Live Bait for Fishing
Only certain fish species can be used as live or dead bait in El Paso County. TPWD sets these rules to protect local waters from invasive species.
Desert Ecology
El Paso Sits at the Heart of the Chihuahuan Desert
El Paso County sits near the northern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert, one of North America's largest deserts and more biologically rich than it looks.
Rules & Licenses
History & Culture
Mission History
Ysleta Mission Was Established in 1682 and Is Still Active Today
The Corpus Christi de la Isleta Mission in Ysleta, now part of El Paso, was founded in 1682 and is tied to the Tigua people who have lived there continuously since.
Military History
Fort Bliss Has Shaped El Paso Since 1854
Fort Bliss, established in 1854, is one of the largest military installations in the country and a defining part of El Paso's economy and culture.
County History
El Paso's County Seat Moved Four Times Before Landing in El Paso City
El Paso County was created in 1850. Its county seat bounced between San Elizario and Ysleta before El Paso city took over for good in 1883.
Economic History
Four Railroads Arrived in 1881 and Transformed El Paso Overnight
The arrival of four major railroads in 1881 turned El Paso from a small village of 736 people into a regional hub of over 15,000 within two decades.
Texas History
The Salt War of 1877 Was a Violent Border Conflict in El Paso County
The Salt War of San Elizario in 1877 was a months-long violent fight over salt lake rights. It drew in Texas Rangers and led to Fort Bliss being reopened.
Higher Education
UTEP Has Been Part of El Paso Since 1914
The University of Texas at El Paso was founded in 1914 as a mining school. Today it is a major research university and a key part of city life.
Archaeological Site
The Rock Art at Hueco Tanks Is Protected Under State and Tribal Stewardship
Hueco Tanks holds thousands of pictographs — ancient painted images — created by multiple cultures over thousands of years, and strict rules protect them.