Per state law, annexations can only be executed in three ways. These are the options cities have when annexing land within their extraterritorial jurisdiction, or ETJ. An ETJ is a region measured from any city limit line to a mile out or more based on the population of the adjacent city. A city can only annex land within its ETJ.
Voluntary: A landowner approaches the city asking to be annexed and to gain access to city services, including water, wastewater and emergency services. Round Rock Development Director Brad Wiseman said this typically occurs when new developments are being built. After the city accepts the voluntary annexation, it can zone the land a certain way to develop the land uses and exercise control. The city is not constrained by any rules in extending utilities and does not have any required timeline to do so.
Involuntary: The city initiates the annexation of a piece of land that is not seeking it. Wiseman said cities do this to gain land-use control over the land, and the land must be contiguous to city limits. The city might seek such an annexation if officials are worried about what kind of development will go onto the property without city zoning. Once the city annexes, it is required to provide services to the property within two and a half years.
Annexation development agreements: When land qualifies for ad valorem tax purposes as agricultural, wildlife management or timber management use, a city cannot annex it involuntarily. It can offer a development agreement to the owner that ensures should development occur on the property, the land will be annexed into the city. If the land continues to be used for agricultural, wildlife or timber purposes, the city cannot annex it. However, if the landowner refuses to sign the agreement, the city can then annex the property involuntarily.
