Purpose of chapter.

El Paso City Code § 18.40.010

in effect

18.40.010 - Purpose of chapter. A. The purpose of this chapter is to establish a program for identifying and registering vacant buildings; to determine and establish the responsibilities of owners of vacant buildings and structures; to ensure that vacant buildings are maintained in compliance with applicable city code and to encourage their rehabilitation and/or demolition in efforts to minimize wider community deleterious effects. B. The city council finds, determines and declares that buildings which remain vacant and unoccupied for any appreciable period of time become a harborage for rodents, an invitation for illegal occupancy and for illegal activities, as well as a fire hazard, and that unkempt grounds surrounding the property invites dumping and rubbish thereon, that such buildings become dilapidated, contribute to commercial and residential blight, depress market values of surrounding property, require additional government services, endanger the public safety and health, and generally remain detrimental to the public good. It is the finding of the city council that buildings that remain vacant with access points boarded over are unsightly, unsafe and have a significant and negative effect on their surroundings. C. In order to protect the health, safety, morals, and welfare of the citizens of the City of El Paso, to preserve and enhance livability, preserve property values of surrounding buildings, and to ensure that buildings are promptly rehabilitated and/or demolished as appropriate, it is the policy of the city to address vacant building rehabilitation or demolition in accordance with due process requirements. (Ord. No. 17968, § 1, 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=TIT18BUCO_CH18.40VABU_18.40.010PUCHFetched: 10/28/2026