HomeMy WebLinkAbout003 - ANNEXATION CHECKLIST ANNX
Annexation Application Checklist 1 March 2025
ANNEXAT ION APPL ICAT ION CHECKL I ST
Annexation is the process of expanding the boundaries of a city. This handout provides details for
the application requirements to submit to annex a property. The following application, procedures,
and policies are hereby established for the consideration of annexations to the City of Bozeman in
Resolution No. 2025-07 and are mandatory.
ANNEXATION APPLICATION CHECKLIST
1.Project narrative. Briefiy describe the property and reason for requesting annexation.
2.Annexation application. Submit a complete and signed Annexation Application (ANNEX)
3.Annexation map. An annexation map required rights-of-way easements meeting standards
for annexation maps described below.
4.Annexation narrative. Please address each Annexation Policy described below.
5.Zoning map. A Zone Map meeting the standards. (ZMA)
6.Zoning narrative. Initial zoning request narrative addressing the State Criteria under ZMA
Application Checklist number 5. (ZMA)
7.Notice. Complete and signed property adjoiners certiflcate form N1 and materials. (N1)
DIGITAL SUBMITTALS & NAMING PROTOCOL
1.Create and submit a Planning application using the ProjectDox portal;
a.After completing your Development Review Application, you will receive a Notiflcation
Letter (example) via email. Please download this document and obtain owner’s
signature. Upload as a PDF to the “Documents” folder in ProjectDox.
2.The digital copies must be separated into two categories: Documents and Drawings.
a.The Documents folder should include items such as application forms, narrative,
response to City comments, supplemental documents, technical reports, easements,
legal documents, etc.
b.The Plans folder should include items such as site plans, civil plans, landscape plans,
photometric plans, elevations, etc. All drawing flles must be drawn and formatted for a
24” x 36” sheet flle or 11” x 17” sheet flle. Plan pages shall be properly oriented in
landscape mode. Refer to our Quick Guide for additional information.
3.Naming protocol. All flles should be numbered and named according to their order listed on
your provided Submittal Checklist. File names should start with a numeric value followed by
the document name. The numeric value at the beginning of the flle name ensures the order
in which they are displayed. Refer to our Quick Guide for additional information.
ANNEXATION MAP REQUIREMENTS
1.Include an exhibit of the property to be modifled. Provide existing County zoning designation
and the proposed zoning designation clearly labeled. The exhibit should include the legal
Annexation Application Checklist 2 March 2025
limits of the property and size in square feet and acreage. If adjacent to a right-of-way, the
annexation must include the full width of the right-of-way per 7-2-4211 MCA.
2. Scale not greater than 1 inch to 20 feet nor less than 1 inch to 100 feet.
3. Scale, north arrow and date of preparation.
4. Subject property well deflned.
5. Land use pattern of surrounding area.
6. Existing zoning of the surrounding property.
7. Boundaries of proposed zoning (if more than one designation being requested) well deflned.
8. Proximity of all existing and proposed water and sewer mains and extension.
9. Location of all existing structures on the subject property.
10. Adjacent streets and street rights-of-way.
11. Water bodies and wetlands.
12. All existing county road infrastructure including but not limited to culverts, crossings,
headgates, and diversion, and other appurtenances visually identifled or know through
document search.
ANNEXATION POLICIES
1. Annexations must include dedication of all rights of way for collector and arterial streets,
public water, sanitary sewer, or storm or sewer mains. When required, rights of way for
anchor routes as recognized in the City’s adopted parks and trails plans, must be provided
when such anchor routes are not located within the right of way for arterial or collector
streets.
2. Annexations may be required to include dedication of rights of way for adjacent or internal
local streets to complete street connectivity and provide required legal and physical
access.
3. Annexations must include written waivers of a property owner’s right to protest the creation
of special improvement districts necessary to provide essential services. The waivers must
run with the land, be binding on the owner and owner’s successors in interest and be recorded
concurrently with the annexation agreement.
4. The petition for annexation must be in conformance with the current Bozeman land use plan
(growth policy). If a land use plan (growth policy) amendment is necessary for anticipated
land uses, the land use plan amendment process must be completed prior to any action for
approval of a petition for annexation.
5. The City prefers petitions for annexation of land larger than flve acres. However, the City will
consider annexation of smaller areas of land when one or more of the following are present:
topographic limitations; the land is served by one or more City utilities; septic system
failure; extension and integration of transportation infrastructure; enhancement of the
existing traffic circulation system or to provide for transportation systems that do not
currently exist; annexation will make the City boundaries more regular; annexation will
Annexation Application Checklist 3 March 2025
better incorporate unannexed property for the provision of City flre, police, and emergency
services; or when annexation provides improved access to and maintenance of public
facilities.
6. The City will review infrastructure and emergency services available to an area proposed for
annexation for the health, safety and welfare of the public and conformance with the City’s
adopted plans. If the City determines adequate services cannot be provided to ensure
public health, safety and welfare, the City may deny the petition for annexation.
Alternatively, the City may require all property owners within the land to be annexed provide
a written plan for accommodation of services at the expense of the property owner(s). The
land to be annexed may only be provided sanitary sewer service via the applicable drainage
basin deflned in the City Wastewater Collection Facilities Plan.
7. The City may require annexation of any contiguous property for which City services are
requested or for which City services are currently being provided. In addition, any person,
flrm, or corporation receiving water or sewer service outside of the City limits is required as a
condition of initiating or continuing such service, to record a consent to annexation of the
property serviced by the City.
8. The City Manager may enter into an agreement with a property owner for an emergency
connection to the City’s sanitary sewer or water system. In doing so, the property owner
must submit a petition for annexation and flle a notice of consent to annex with the Gallatin
County Clerk and Recorder’s Office prior to connection to City utilities. The City will prepare
the notice of consent to annex. The agreement for connection to City sewer or water must
require the property owner to complete annexation or consent to disconnection of the
services. Connection for purposes of obtaining City sewer services in an emergency
requires, when feasible as determined by the City, the connection to City water services.
9. The use of Part 46 annexations is preferred.
10. Where a road improvement district has been created, annexation does not repeal the
creation of the district. The City will not assume operations of a road improvement district
until the entirety of the district has been annexed. Any funds held in trust for the district will
be used to beneflt the district after transfer to the City. Inclusion within a district does not
absolve a landowner of the obligation to participate in general City programs that address
the same subject.
11. The City requires connection to and use of City utilities and services upon development of
annexed properties. The City may establish a flxed time frame for connection to municipal
services. Upon development, unless otherwise approved by the City, septic systems must
be properly abandoned, and the development must be connected to the City sanitary sewer
system. Upon development, unless otherwise approved by the City, water wells on the
subject property may be used for irrigation but must be disconnected from any structure.
Potable water must be supplied from the City water distribution system. The property owner
must contact the City Water and Sewer Division to verify disconnection of wells and septic
systems.
12. All annexations must be contiguous with or wholly surrounded by the existing City
boundary. The City Commission may agree to annex property that is not contiguous or
wholly surrounded. If the land to be annexed is not contiguous to or wholly surrounded by
the City, the reasoning and justiflcation for annexation must be explicitly addressed within