Zoning Case File 26-0528
View full legal title
An Ordinance amending Title 18 (Building and Construction), Chapter 18.46 (Landscape) of the El Paso City Code, by deleting Chapter 18.46 (Landscape) in its entirety and adopting a new Chapter 18.46 (Landscape) in its place, the penalty being as provided in Section 18.46.140 (Violations-penalty) of the El Paso City Code.
Get notified on new hearings, votes, or status changes for this matter.
Actions
Showing all 4 actions. Filter by: , , , .
Obtain signed landscape ordinance to confirm effective date, penalties
Why now: The item repeals Chapter 18.46 in its entirety with the penalty provided in Section 18.46.140, was carried on April 28, 2026 as part of a group vote on items 47-52 with a public hearing set for May 12, 2026, and the supplied record verifies no implementation date.
What to do: Request the signed ordinance and the April 28 agenda packet to determine whether the new chapter contains a savings, transition, or grandfathering clause and when Section 18.46.140 penalties begin applying to projects permitted under the repealed chapter. Without that document you cannot advise clients whether existing approved landscape plans remain compliant or become violations.
Act before: After the signed ordinance is produced
Compare pending site plans against rewritten El Paso landscape rules
Why now: City Council adopted the ordinance deleting Chapter 18.46 (Landscape) in its entirety and adopting a new chapter in its place on May 12, 2026 by a 7-1 vote, and the record shows no verified implementation date.
What to do: Obtain the adopted replacement text of Chapter 18.46 and check every project currently in plan review against it, since the old chapter was deleted in its entirety rather than amended section by section. Ask the development services counter in writing which projects fall under the old chapter and which must be redesigned, because no effective or transition date is verified in the record.
Act before: After the adopted chapter text and its effective date are published
Ask why postponement sponsors voted against their own landscape motion
Why now: Minutes record the postponement motion failing 1 to 7 with motion maker Fierro and seconder Limón both voting against their own motion, followed by adoption 7-1 with only Acevedo opposed, after an 8-0 group vote on April 28, 2026.
What to do: Pull the May 12 audio or verbatim minutes for item 29 and ask Representatives Fierro and Limón why they moved and seconded a postponement and then both voted against it, leaving the motion to fail 1-7 before the same ordinance passed minutes later. Also ask why Representative Acevedo cast the lone no vote on adoption after the item cleared 8-0 on April 28 in a bundled vote with items 47-52.
Act before: After the requested records are produced
Check whether new landscape rules and fines reach private yards
Why now: The May 12, 2026 ordinance deletes Chapter 18.46 (Landscape) in its entirety and replaces it, with the penalty provided in Section 18.46.140 (Violations-penalty), and it passed 7-1 after a public hearing noticed on April 28, 2026.
What to do: Get the replacement text of the landscape chapter and read the violations and penalty section to see whether it applies to existing single-family yards, irrigation, or turf, or only to new commercial and multifamily development. If your property is covered, non-conforming landscaping could carry a fine under the new penalty section rather than the old rules you planted under.
Act before: After the adopted chapter text is published
Timeline
A motion was made by Representative Chávez, seconded by Representative Fierro, to Adopted the item. The motion carried by the following vote:
An Ordinance amending Title 18 (Building and Construction), Chapter 18.46 (Landscape) of the El Paso City Code, by deleting Chapter 18.46 (Landscape) in its entirety and adopting a new Chapter 18.46 (Landscape) in its place, the penalty being as provided in Section 18.46.140 (Violations-penalty) of the El Paso City Code.
Vote: 7 for, 1 against
adopt Ordinance 019874 amending Chapter 18.46 (Landscape) of the El Paso City Code
An Ordinance amending Title 18 (Building and Construction), Chapter 18.46 (Landscape) of the El Paso City Code, by deleting Chapter 18.46 (Landscape) in its entirety and adopting a new Chapter 18.46 (Landscape) in its place, the penalty being as provided in Section 18.46.140 (Violations-penalty) of the El Paso City Code.
Vote: 8 for, 0 against
advertise for public hearing (first reading); amend Title 18, Chapter 18.46 Landscape code
Voted as group with items 47-52; public hearing May 12, 2026