Lee Ann Roblee has a Cedar Park address, but her home’s location is not that simple. “We’re not in the city of Cedar Park; we are not in Austin,” she said. Roblee lives in Cedar Park’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, or ETJ, the unincorporated area within 3.5 miles of city limits, according to Texas Local Government Code. Because of this Roblee has limited access to city services and cannot participate in city elections. As her case demonstrates, a mailing address does not always reflect a property’s true jurisdiction.

ROLE OF THE POSTAL SERVICE

The root of the inconsistencies may come from ZIP codes. “The [U.S.] Postal Service established ZIP codes and delivery boundaries to ensure timely and efficient mail sortation and delivery service,” said Sam Bolen, a spokesperson for the USPS. “[ZIP codes] are not intended to determine town, city, municipal or other identities.” Bolen said the place name used in an address corresponds with its ZIP code, but ZIP codes do not necessarily conform to municipal boundaries as a USPS delivery area can span different cities or counties. That means the place name—such as “Cedar Park” or “Leander”—can transcend city limits and apply anywhere within the ZIP code. “Our extensive experience with proper addressing and use of ZIP codes allows us to minimize issues or disruptions around addressing,” he said.

DIFFERING CITY AMENITIES

Homeowners will only be taxed by a city if they fall within the municipality’s borders, according to Cedar Park and Leander documents. People who live outside city limits do not pay city taxes, regardless of the city on their address. However, they may also not be able to access all city services, vote in city elections or run for city office. Daron Butler, Cedar Park director of business services, said people who live outside city limits and are not under a fire service agreement—which currently allows some municipal utility district residents to access park and library amenities like city residents—may use the amenities by buying the appropriate passes. In Leander anyone can access the city’s library and park facilities, although park and library fees are higher for people from outside city limits, city spokesperson Mike Neu said. Discrepancies in addresses may occasionally cause confusion when it comes time for elections, Neu said. “People living in the Summerlyn and Block House MUD neighborhoods especially [may be confused] because they have a Leander ZIP but do not live within the city’s boundaries,” he said. “Individuals outside of the city limits, once verified, are provided a provisional ballot to vote.”

EXTENDING SERVICES

In some cases city services can reach households outside city limits. Neu said the city of Leander is contracted to provide emergency services in those areas as part of an Emergency Services District. “Because of increased service demands from city growth we’ve either created ESD agreements to offset the cost of those services or removed service from areas without established ESDs,” he said. Cedar Park spokesperson Jennie Huerta said there are many areas in the city’s ETJ that have water utilities provided by the city of Cedar Park, and some areas have paid fire contracts in place for fire protection. She said some city ordinances may extend to the ETJ. Butler said the county sheriff’s office is the law enforcement agency that responds to issues, including animal control services, within Cedar Park’s ETJ, such as where Roblee lives. “The biggest thing that impacts us is police coverage ... we have to call Williamson County,” Roblee said. “[The] sheriff is extremely responsive.”