Definitions.
El Paso City Code § 20.14.030
in effect20.14.030 - Definitions.
The following definitions are specific to this chapter and control if in conflict with other provisions of this Code:
A. Base Course/Sub-Grade. A minimum four-inch thick layer of chosen and compacted soil below the wearing surface layer of the parking area whether asphalt, concrete, screenings, gravel, or other approved material. The base course layer should be a course mixture with aggregate no larger than three inches in diameter unless otherwise designed by a professional engineer. A gravel/screening-leveling course may be used atop a rocky compacted and/or semi-cemented conglomerate base course/sub-grade;
B. Desilting Area. Where on-site ponding is not provided, for the purposes of gravel/screening surfaces desilting areas are defined as depressions incorporated into the parking or landscaping upstream of any discharge onto public streets for the purpose of desilting and stilling runoff. Desilting basins shall have a minimum capacity of 0.05 cubic feet per square foot of gravel parking surface (five CF of desilting per one hundred SF parking) unless otherwise designed by a professional engineer and approved by the city engineer.
Example: 1 parking space 9′ x 20′ = 180 SF x 0.05 = 9 CF desilting basin
Use: 2 FT x 3 FT x 1.5 FT deep or triangular swale
(Entire site may have other requirements)
C. Gravel/Screenings. A coarse aggregate mixture of pebbles and/or rock fragments coarser than sand with fifty percent volume greater than or equal to one-half inch;
D. Hard Surface. For the purposes of gravel/screenings surfaces, hard surfaced areas are defined as any rigid durable surface such as concrete, asphalt, pavers, or composite surface which may include the incorporating of strip drains, drain fields, spacers between pavers, etc., for permeable qualities (porous, allowing in this case for water to pass through) and stormwater harvesting;
E. Motor Vehicle. For the purposes of this chapter, a motor vehicle is defined as a passenger vehicle or light truck with a carrying capacity rated at one ton or less intended for highway use;
F. On-Site Ponding. On-site ponding is defined as privately maintained ponding areas or as storm drainage retained on-site as inherent in low lying areas such as but not limited to valley areas of the city. For the purposes of gravel/screening surfaces, for nonresidential sites, the defined pond shall be designed for a fifty-year storm, however the rest of the unoccupied area (excluding enclosed buildings) shall be designed to contain a one hundred year storm, with no additional capacity for emergency, silt, or freeboard storage required, and fencing requirements if any are to be determined by a professional engineer based on the conditions and design of the ponding area;
G. Utility Facility. Equipment, mains, lines, and required infrastructure and appurtenances for the transmission of power, fuel, water, sanitary sewer, or communication not including office and administrative building uses.
(Ord. 16653 § 2 (part), 2007)
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=TIT20ZO_CH20.14OREPALOSTST_ARTIVEPA_20.14.030DEFetched: 10/28/2026