Pay & submit online: Request for Annexation Review Form
Annexation transfers territory frosm unincorporated towns to cities and villages.
Landowners seek to annex property to obtain sewer and water or other city or village services not available in the town, but they may annex for other reasons as well.
Wisconsin statutes authorize a number of different
Annexation Methods. Two methods require
department review.
Annexations are sometimes contentious, however, annexations can also be a catalyst to bring communities together to talk about disagreements, shared goals and visions for the area, and future intergovernmental cooperation such as a
Boundary Agreement. The Department maintains a
Roster of Trained Mediators who are trained to help communities resolve disputes and can facilitate boundary agreement discussions.
Annexation Resources
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Municipal Data System - an interactive and searchable database of municipal boundary adjustments via annexation, boundary agreement, detachment, consolidation, and incorporation
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Annexation Legal Resources – annexation statutes, caselaw, bills, acts, and law review articles
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Annexations articles, fact sheets, and publications
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Ordinance Filing Checklist
Department Review of Annexations
Review of annexation petitions by the Department of Administration is required when:
- The annexation is located in a county with a population of 50,000 or more persons, referred to as
Urban Counties. The Department also reviews annexations from rural counties when requested.
- The
Annexation Method being used is either a Unanimous Consent or One-half Approval type of annexation. The Department may review other types of annexations too when requested.
- A town has asked its neighboring city or village to develop a boundary agreement using the
Mediated Cooperative Boundary Agreement procedure and its neighbor refuses. Reviews in this situation apply statewide, not just within urban counties.
Department review of annexation ordinances by the Department of Administration is required when:
A town requests the Department to conduct a Contiguity Review of an annexation ordinance to determine whether that annexation is contiguous, or connected to, the annexing city or village. Annexation ordinances found not to be contiguous may be challenged in court.
Department review period is 20 days, starting upon receipt of an annexation petition or notice and the
Request for Annexation Review form and fee.
The Department reviews annexations for their shape, their contiguity and 'homogeneity' with the annexing jurisdiction, proposed municipal services, and accuracy of the legal description and scale map.
The Department issues a finding within 20 days that the annexation is either In the public interest or Against the Public Interest. This finding is advisory upon the annexing jurisdiction, however the city or village must at least consider the Department’s advice before taking final action and passing an ordinance to annex the territory.
Upon adopting an annexation ordinance, a city or village must immediately file a certified copy with the Department, which then communicates to state and federal agencies that a boundary change has occurred. Failure to notify the Department may result in reduced state and federal aids and other problems.
Annexation Resources: