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Before Submitting an Application
Annexation is required before most properties can receive Raleigh utility services or final development approvals. Use the iMAPS to confirm whether your property is inside the Raleigh city limits. Turn on these layers:
- Property
- Planning Jurisdictions
- Corporate Limits
The information below explains when annexation is needed, what qualifies for deferred annexation, and where annexation is allowed.
Service Connections and Annexation Types
Most properties outside the Raleigh city limits must be annexed before connecting to City water or sewer. This applies to both developed and undeveloped land. Property owners (current and future) are responsible for the cost of extending utilities. Annexation is required before subdivisions, site plans, water and sewer connections, and building permits can be approved and issued.
Deferred Annexation
You may qualify for deferred annexation if:
- You need water service because your well has failed, and a Professional Engineer confirms it cannot be repaired; or
- Wake County has determined you cannot receive a new well permit; or
- You need sewer service for an existing building in an area where water service is not available (sewer-only service requires a contract with Raleigh Water).
If there is a documented emergency need to connect to a single utility, then the deferred annexation:
- Does not fully annex the property.
- Does not require a public hearingAllows only one utility connection.
- Requires a new annexation petition if you later need to connect to a second utility.
Important limitations:
- Sewer-only connections are not allowed for vacant properties or new construction.
- Once water becomes available, annexation will be required.
- If there is no emergency need, the request will be treated as a full annexation and will require a public hearing.
Where Annexation Is Allowed
- Raleigh does not accept annexation petitions for property outside the City’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) unless specific exceptions apply (Resolution 2022‑380). The ETJ is an area outside the city limits where the City has jurisdiction over development regulations.
- Properties outside the ETJ must be rezoned to City zoning at the same time as annexation.
- Properties outside the Priority Annexation Boundary are not eligible for annexation before October 26, 2026 (Resolution 2025‑717).
- Property owners outside city limits must submit an annexation petition before connecting to City utilities (Resolution 1993‑208).
Preparing Your Application
To apply for Annexation, you are required to submit an Annexation Petition Application:
- The petition must be signed by ALL property owners in the proposed area.
- Signatures must match the property deed.
- Spouses must sign if the property is jointly owned.
- If a corporation owns the property, the corporation’s authorized representative must sign.
- Digital signatures must be provided in the form of DocuSign or Adobe e-signature.
- Wet (paper) signatures must be notarized.
All required documents are also listed on the Submittal Checklist, which is included in the Annexation Petition Application.
If the property is outside the ETJ, you must also submit a Rezoning Application at the same time as the Annexation Petition. Read more about the ETJ.
Submittal Instructions
There are three ways to submit your application.
- By Mail (required for applications with wet signatures that have been notarize)
City of Raleigh
Planning and Development Department
P.O. Box 590
Raleigh, NC 27602 - By Email (sufficient for digital signatures using DocuSign or Adobe e-signature)
Send application materials to: Rezoning@raleighnc.gov.
For petitions involving multiple property owners, a combination of signature types is acceptable. Applicants may email a petition listing all owners, including one DocuSign signature page and one scanned wetsignature page. Processing may begin upon receipt of the emailed documents; however, the application is not considered complete until the original notarized wetsignature page is received by mail.
What Happens After You Submit
After submitting the Annexation Petition Application, you can track your petition through a registered account in the Permit and Development Portal.
What to Expect:
- Staff reviews your petition and may ask questions.
- If the petition is complete, staff sends it to City Council.
- Council sets a date for the public hearing.
- At the hearing, staff presents the annexation request, and you and other members of the public may speak.
- Council votes to approve or deny the annexation.
- Note: Deferred annexations only appear on the City Council’s consent agenda (where a group of routine items are approved together in a single vote). Deferred annexations do not get scheduled for public hearing.
- After the public hearing, the City Clerk’s Office will send these documents to the petitioner:
- A mailed letter of the decision.
- The annexation ordinance.
- A resolution showing the Council District(s) that represent the property.
Project Review
Application processing usually takes 60–90 business days but may take longer if the annexation is associated with a rezoning, or if neighboring municipalities must be notified of the annexation.
Paying Fees
An annexation fee is due when you submit your petition. Fees depend on the size of the property and the type of development.
- Pay online through the Permit and Development Portal, or
- In-Person at One Exchange Plaza, Suite 400 in downtown Raleigh (Cash, MasterCard, Visa, e-Check, or check payable to the City of Raleigh).
- Check the Development Fee Guide for specific fees.
Other possible Annexation costs include:
- City property taxes
- Motor vehicle license fees
- Monthly solid waste and stormwater fees
- Costs to extend utilities
- Fees‑in‑lieu for past street or sidewalk projects