El Paso Releases Land to Horizon City
Approximately 2,295.613 acres south of Eastlake Boulevard will fall under Horizon City's regulations as annexation proceeds.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in City Hall
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The El Paso City Council unanimously voted to release roughly 2,295.613 acres of land to Horizon City. Horizon City plans to annex the land within the year.
Why it matters
El Paso holds no authority over the land beyond subdivision control and collects no taxes or revenue from it, while Horizon City seeks controlled growth and says some developers avoid pulling permits. Releasing the land lets Horizon City regulate new construction in the area.
The El Paso City Council voted unanimously on November 10, 2026, to release approximately 2,295.613 acres located within its five-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction. The annexation timeline is set for within the year, and the stub does not confirm final owner consent.
The players
El Paso City Council
The elected legislative body governing the City of El Paso, Texas, which holds subdivision control over land within its extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Horizon City
A city in El Paso County, Texas, that is seeking to annex the released land to regulate new development under its own rules.
The details
The land lies south of Eastlake Boulevard and west of Darlington Road, and El Paso provides no city services there. Horizon City requested annexation so that new developments would comply with Horizon regulations, and it has begun the process with the private owners of the land.
Timeline
November 10, 2026: El Paso City Council unanimously votes to release the land.
Within the year: Horizon City plans to complete annexation of the land.
Political Context
Under Texas extraterritorial jurisdiction rules, El Paso's authority over this land has been limited to subdivision control, which it is now ceding so Horizon City can regulate construction. The move reflects a broader effort in fast-growing border communities to bring unincorporated development under a single set of municipal rules.
Residents and developers building on the land will need to follow Horizon City's permitting and construction rules once annexation is complete. Because El Paso collects no taxes or revenue from the area and provides no city services, the practical effects fall on Horizon City's regulatory process.
The takeaway
Land-use authority in border-region ETJ areas can shift between cities, so property owners and builders near Eastlake Boulevard should expect Horizon City's permitting rules to take effect as annexation moves forward.
What happens next
Horizon City's annexation of the released land is expected to be completed within the year, at which point its regulations will apply to new construction there.
Further reading
Follow local decisions on land use and annexation in the City Hall section for more context on El Paso's council votes.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KVIA.
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