Petitioned Annexations vs. City-Initiated Annexations

State law provides for two types of annexations:

• Those initiated by a city government.
• Those initiated by a petition from property owners who wish to be annexed.

City-Initiated

The US Supreme Court has upheld the rights of states to determine political subdivisions, such as city limits, within their borders. The North Carolina General Assembly has given cities the right to annex areas that are contiguous to the city and urban in character, saying that these areas should be subject to the regulations and services necessary for the “health, welfare, safety, convenience, and general prosperity of the entire urban area.” However, the General Statutes provide for the right to challenge a city’s annexation. Challenges must be filed within 60 days of the approval of the annexation ordinance.

• In a city-initiated annexation, a city adopts a Resolution of Intent, prepares a special report showing plans for extending and financing municipal services to the area, conducts a public informational meeting, and then holds a public hearing on the proposed annexation. If the municipal governing board then passes the annexation ordinance, it becomes effective from 70-400 days later. Properties annexed by city initiative are entitled to the same privileges and services as petitioned annexation properties.
• Property owners annexed by city initiative can submit special water and sewer petitions provided for in the NC city-initiated annexation law.
• Any property that is taxed as farmland can receive an exemption from city tax provided for in the NC city-initiated annexation law.
• When the City of Greensboro makes both water and sewer available to your property, you have 10 years to connect to city water and sewer -- unless the Guilford County Health Department determines that your well or septic system is unacceptable and requires earlier connection. If only a water line or a sewer line (not both) is available to your property, the City does not require you to connect.

 Annexation Petition

• A property owner may submit an annexation petition to a city. It may cover property next to the city limits (contiguous) or at some distance (satellite).
• Since 1997, property owners outside the Greensboro city limits wanting to connect to Greensboro water and / or sewer have been required to sign an annexation petition. The City may process such a petition either immediately or at a later date.
• Petitioned annexation properties are entitled to the same privileges and services as properties annexed by city initiative, with a few exceptions.
• Petitioners for annexation cannot submit special water and sewer petitions provided for in the NC law for city-initiated annexations.
• No public information meeting is required for petitioned annexations.
• Any property that is taxed as farmland but is covered by a petitioned annexation cannot receive the exemption from City tax provided for in the NC city-initiated annexation law.

The process to establish Greensboro original zoning is the same for both types of annexations.

The date for providing basic City services is the effective date of annexation.