Annexations

A voluntary annexation is when a person or entity asks the City to bring property into the City in order to receive City of Durham services. The most common example is when a property owner wants to connect to City water or sewer for a development project. Land owners outside the City limits with well and septic tank problems may also seek to connect to public water and sewer.

Types of Annexation Petitions

There are two types of voluntary annexations applications: contiguous annexation and non-contiguous annexation:

1. “Contiguous Annexation Petition” is required for annexation of property that abuts the city’s primary corporate limits.
2. “Non-Contiguous Annexation Petition”, sometimes referred to as a satellite annexation, is required for annexation of a property that does not abut the city’s primary corporate limits. Property that abuts satellite areas annexed  into the City of Durham, that are not themselves contiguous, are also deemed non-contiguous annexations by state statutes.   

Process:

Presubmittal Meeting

The first step is to request a Presubmittal Meeting with the Growth Management Team. Please note that presubmittal meetings are only good for 6 months from the time they are held until application submittal. Please upload any relevant presubmittal documents ahead of your meeting to allow staff to look over your project. Please add the project name, or some type of unique identifier, to each file (ex: 888 Main Street Apartments - Site Plan).

Neighborhood Meeting

Once this meeting has been held, the next step is to hold a virtual Neighborhood Meeting following the Neighborhood Meeting Guidelines. 

Application Submittal

Once these requirements have been met, a formal Annexation Petition can be formally submitted to the Box.com customer portal. To ensure timeliness and accuracy, please use the most current applications and forms found on this website. Once the application is submitted, and staff have deemed the application complete, Planning will initiate the review of the annexation petition with other departments. During this time, a Fiscal Impact Analysis (FIA) will be conducted by various City departments. The City Clerk’s office will determine whether the annexation is sufficient for certification. Public Works will work on a Utility Extension Agreement (UEA) contract on extending utilities to the site. Staff will also upload the project to the Growth Management Engagement Site, so that community input may be collected throughout the lifecycle of the project.

Public Hearings

After the proposal has been reviewed, and all staff comments are satisfied, the case will be scheduled for a City Council Public Hearing. The governing body makes the final determination on approval or denial of the annexation petition request. When City Council approves an annexation request, the adoption date becomes effective quarterly after the date of approval (for example on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31).

Submission Process

1. Schedule a Pre-submittal Meeting

• Annexation Pre-Submittal Meeting

2. Schedule a Neighborhood Meeting 

• Neighborhood Meeting Materials

3. Complete Application Materials

• Voluntary Annexation Petition (PDF)
• Utility Extension Agreement Application (PDF)
• Clerks Certification Requirements (PDF)
• Annexation Map Requirements (PDF)
• Utility Statement Application 
• Traverse File Instructions