Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Socorro, Texas

Socorro’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Every building, structure or service system inside Socorro city

  • One- or two-family dwellings: accessory buildings, structures and fences may be on the same permit as the principal building if on same lot and same owner

  “Permits shall be required for every building, structure, or service system.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Socorro city limits

  • Chapter 46 Zoning with district regulations; zone changes via city council and planning and zoning commission

  “The city council may not grant a zone change for special use without a public hearing”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 Single-Family Residential District, Socorro city

  • Depends on ponding area

  minimum lot area, ponding areas: >= 8500 sq ft · minimum lot area, no public ponding: >= 10000 sq ft

  “minimum lot area: a. 8,500 square feet [for] areas with ponding. b. 10,000 square feet [for] areas without public ponding.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — A-1 Agricultural District, Socorro city (RE Rural Estate is also one acre)

    “Area requirements for this zone shall include: (1) Minimum lot area: one acre.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 Single-Family Residential District, Socorro city

  • Larger front setbacks facing collector (35 ft), minor arterial (55 ft), major arterial (60 ft) streets
  • Accessory structures may be as close as five feet to any property line

  front: >= 25 feet · interior side: >= 5 feet · exterior side: >= 10 feet · rear: >= 25 feet

  “minimum yard setbacks: a. front: 25 feet; b. side ([interior]): five feet; c. side ([exterior]), street: ten feet; d. rear: 25 feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — A-1 Agricultural District, Socorro city

    “minimum yard setbacks: a. front: 35 feet; b. side: 15 feet; c. rear: 25 feet.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  RV occupancy in A-1 Agricultural District, Socorro city

  • Only as seasonal/temporary agricultural worker housing on the same parcel
  • Parcel at least two acres
  • Temporary use permit; up to 180 days, extension by conditional use permit
  • Must be licensed, mobile, connected to potable water and sanitary sewage
  • Removal within 30 days after agricultural work ends
  • RV campgrounds only by SU-1 zoning with two-acre minimum park size

  maximum occupancy: <= 180 days per calendar year (extension by conditional use permit)

  “occupancy is permitted only during periods of active agricultural work and must not exceed 180 days in any calendar year unless extended by conditional use permit in accordance with section 46-292 (4).”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camping in Socorro city parks only; private-land camping rule not found

  • Park rule only

  “No person in a city park shall camp in the open, or in tents, or shacks, or any other temporary shelter”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District, Socorro city; no residential-district ADU provision found

  • One accessory dwelling per business

  “Permitted uses in this zone shall include: (1) One accessory dwelling per business.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Platting and development inside Socorro city and its ETJ

  • Adequate water, wastewater, roadway and drainage facilities required; subdivider extends facilities

  “land shall not be approved for platting or development unless and until adequate public facilities necessary to serve the development exist or provision has been made for the facilities”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Subdivisions and manufactured home parks inside Socorro city

  • Base flood elevation data required for subdivisions over 50 lots or five acres, whichever is less, if not otherwise provided

  “base flood elevation data shall be generated for subdivision proposals and other proposed development, including the placement of manufactured home parks and subdivisions greater than 50 lots or five acres, whichever is less, if not otherwise provided pursuant to this article.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Socorro or El Paso County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Socorro city
• Inspections — Inspections inside Socorro city
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new buildings in Socorro city
• Lot coverage — Inside Socorro city
• Building height — Inside Socorro city

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.