2030 Comprehensive Plan Update, April 2024

Land Use

Annexation in North Carolina

Under North Caroling General Statute §160A - Article 4A, there are three methods of annexation: • City-initiated. • By petition of property owners (“voluntary annexation”). • By act of the General Assembly. Due to recent legislative changes by the North Carolina General Assembly, “voluntary” annexation is the most prevalent method of annexation into the City of Raleigh. For city-initiated annexations, the state statutes require a referendum of voters in the area to be annexed. A majority of voters must approve before the annexation may proceed.

Policy LU 3.4 Infrastructure Concurrency The City of Raleigh should only approve development within newly annexed areas or

Raleigh’s ETJ when the appropriate transportation, water, stormwater, and wastewater infrastructure is programmed to be in place concurrent with the development.

Policy LU 3.5 Watershed Management

When the city annexes land that includes designated watershed supply areas, development of these lands should be managed to minimize impervious surface cover and protect the quality of the water supply.

See also Section 14: ‘Regional and Inter Jurisdictional Coordination’ for additional policies and actions related to annexation and management of land development within the region.

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