Natural drainage standards.
El Paso City Code § 21.50.130
in effect21.50.130 - Natural drainage standards.
A. General to zones T3, T4, T4-O, T5, T5O, T6, SD6, SD7.
1. Buildings should be equipped with roofs of shallow four-inch soils and drought-tolerant plants. Buildings approved for intensive green roofs may hold soils deeper than four inches and larger plants and trees.
2. Balconies should be equipped with planter boxes designed to capture runoff from the balcony.
3. Green walls, if provided, shall be restricted to non-invasive species.
4. Cisterns may be used to capture and recirculate stormwater from buildings.
B. Specific to zone T3.
1. The landscape installed shall consist primarily of native species requiring minimal irrigation, fertilization and maintenance.
C. Specific to zones T3, T4, T4-O.
1. Native plant perennial landscapes should replace turf grass wherever possible and be highly diverse. These should be placed lower than walkways, not mounded up.
D. Specific to zones T4, T4-O, T5, T5O, T6, SD6, SD7.
1. The landscape installed shall consist primarily of durable species tolerant of soil compaction.
2. Planter boxes should be bottomless, flow-through boxes with native plants, placed next to buildings and designed to capture building runoff. They may be placed in courtyards or adjacent sidewalks with runoff sent to them via French drains or hidden pipes.
(Ord. 16945 § 2 (part), 2008) (Ord. No. 17542, § 34, 4-26-2011; Ord. No. 17787, § 14, 5-15-2012; Ord. No. 17962, § 11, 3-5-2013)
Source: City of El Paso, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/el_paso/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT21SMCO_CH21.50BUSCPL_21.50.130NADRSTFetched: 10/28/2026