HB 5602
Provide a statutory mechanism allowing property owners of undeveloped or unimproved land located within municipal boundaries to petition for annexation of their property into the county.
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House of Delegates
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill creates a process for property owners of undeveloped land within cities and towns to petition for annexation into the surrounding county. It establishes requirements for eligibility, including undeveloped land status, property owner consent, and potential county development authority acquisition. The county commission will review applications and, if approved, the property will transition to county governance and regulations.
Key provisions
- Allows property owners of undeveloped land to petition for county annexation.
- Defines key terms such as ‘municipality,’ ‘county,’ and ‘undeveloped land.’
- Requires property owner consent and county commission approval for annexation.
- Establishes a five-year right of first refusal for county development authorities to purchase annexed property.
- Outlines an application process including map submissions and documentation.
- Specifies a public hearing process for county commission review.
- Provides for judicial review of county commission decisions.
- States that the annexation will result in the property becoming subject to county zoning and services.
Who is affected
- Property owners of undeveloped land
- Municipalities
- Counties
- County development authorities
- Residents of the county
Notable changes
- Creates a specific statutory process for annexation of undeveloped land, previously not explicitly defined.
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