The Effects Of Annexation On Small North Carolina Cities And Towns

Annexation is the legal procedure by which a municipality may extend its boundaries to include surrounding fringe areas. The State of North Carolina has five methods of annexation: special act of the General Assembly, petition, referendum, municipal ordinance meeting specific requirements, and satellite. Each of these methods has advantages and disadvantages associated with each. A municipality that is contemplating annexation must decide which method to select and then proceed with the legal requirements of that method. The petition and municipal ordinance methods are the most frequently used by municipalities in North Carolina.