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What Is Annexation?

A voluntary process for acquiring city services.

State laws allow cities to add properties to the city (annex) so they can provide essential services such as police and fire protection, water and sewer lines, recreation, solid waste collection, and street maintenance. Annexations by the City of Salisbury are voluntary and happen when a petition comes from a landowner.

Annexation Time Lapse Map

Annexation Time Lapse Screenshot

Annexation Petitions Under Review Map

Annexation Time Lapse Screenshot

Services Received Upon Annexation

Residents of newly annexed areas receive City services, including:

  • Police Department: Emergency Assistance, crime prevention, traffic enforcement, investigations, etc.
  • Fire Department: First emergency responder, medical and rescue assistance, fire code inspections, fire prevention education
  • Public Works Department: Street maintenance, storm drain maintenance, collection of garbage, yard waste, recycling and bulky items, water quality monitoring.
  • Transportation Department: Street lighting, traffic signals, and right-of-way signage
  • Salisbury Rowan Utilities: Water and sewer service
  • Planning and Neighborhoods Department: Enforcement of city codes for nuisances such as tall grass, front yard parking, junk vehicles, trash and debris
  • Services from other City departments including, Land and Development Services, Communications, Parks and Recreation, and Transit

Areas Eligible for Annexation Petition

The process to voluntarily annex into municipal limits is governed by North Carolina General Statutes. Annexation is voluntary, and is most often requested in exchange for municipal services (water, wastewater, fire protection, solid waste collection, etc.). The state grants authority for municipalities to consider voluntary petitions to annex when the property is within three (3) miles of the primary corporate limits, and it has been determined to be the closest municipality. To determine if your property is already inside the Salisbury city limits, within the boundaries of a growth agreement with a neighboring town, or within the city’s statutory limits for annexation, search this online city map by your address. Before applying, confirm requirements with City staff.

Before Submitting an Application

For property owners interested in applying, it is important to know:

  • Annexation rules apply to developed and undeveloped property
  • If you are requesting water and sewer service, you should contact Salisbury-Rowan Utilities ahead of time
  • Property owners and successive property owners are responsible for the cost of extending utilities to the annexed area

The City of Salisbury accepts annexation petitions for property within our growth areas. Acceptance of a petition does not guarantee the annexation will be approved. City policy (Salisbury City Code Section 25-88) requires owners of property outside the Salisbury city limit to submit an annexation petition application before they can connect to Salisbury Rowan Utilities. This applies to property that is already developed or proposed for development. The petitions and successive property owners are responsible for the costs of utilities extended to and with the annexed area.

Prepare Application Materials

Listed below are links to application forms and supporting documents.
  • Annexation Petition Application:
    • Contact Levi Coldiron at LCold@salisburync.gov to request an annexation petition. It will come pre-filled with the parcels you are requesting to annex.
    • All property owners having an interest in the application must sign the petition. Signatures should replicate those on the property deed and should include the spouse’s signature if the property is jointly owned through marriage. If the property owner is a corporation, include a corporate seal on the petition signature page. The signatures must be handwritten or digitally signed with DocuSign or another signature verification platform.
    • The annexation must be officially applied for on the city’s Citizen Self Service Portal. This is where you will submit your petition and preliminary plat (if completed). Once the annexation application is submitted with all signatures on the petition, the annexation request will go on the next city council meeting agenda.
    • Eight (8) days before the second council meeting a preliminary plat and legal description (metes and bounds) must be submitted. The final, signed plat must be submitted eight (8) days before the final council meeting.
    • Download the survey plat requirements checklist.
  • If the property is outside the City’s ETJ, a Rezoning Application must be filed simultaneously.

Submittal Instructions

There are two ways to submit your annexation application and supporting documents:

Via Citizen Self Service Portal:

Self Service Portal

By Email:

LCold@SalisburyNC.gov

Inquiries about rezoning

Inquiries should be directed to the Land and Development Services Department:

Victoria Bailiff, Senior Planner
Victoria.Bailiff@salisburync.gov (704) 638-5212

Petition Review and Process

  1. City staff reviews the petition and will contact you with any questions.
  2. If the petition is sufficient, staff submits it to City Council with recommendations for proceeding with annexation consideration. The initial City Council appearance will be to acknowledge the annexation petition and to direct the city staff to investigate the sufficiency of the request. This will typically occur on the City Council’s consent agenda.
  3. At its second City Council appearance, Council will receive a Certificate of Sufficiency and a memo summarizing fiscal impact and impact to city service delivery. Council will set a date for a public hearing. This will typically occur on the City Council’s consent agenda.
  4. At its third Council appearance, Council will receive a presentation from staff and hold a public hearing. Hearings are advertised in the Salisbury Post at least 10 days prior to the public hearing. Council will consider adopting an ordinance to annex.
  5. The petitioner is notified of Council’s decision. If the Council approves the annexation, the petitioner receives notification of the decision, a copy of the ordinance with the effective date of the annexation

Standard processing time is approximately 40 to 60 business days from submittal of petition to approval of annexation. More time may be required for requests involving notification of other municipalities and/or rezoning.

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