Assigned to GOV FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1268
annexation; notice; approval
Purpose
Increases, from 50 percent to 60 percent, the percentage of property owners required to
circulate and file petitions to the office of the county recorder for the purpose of extending and
increasing the corporate limits of a city or town by annexation.
Background
A city or town may extend or increase the corporate limits of the city or town by annexing
contiguous territory. To be considered contiguous and proper for annexation, a territory must:
1) adjoin the exterior boundary of the annexing city or town for at least 300 feet; 2) be at least 200
feet wide at all points; and 3) have a distance between the location where the annexed territory
adjoins the annexing city or town and the farthest point of the annexed territory that is no more
than twice the maximum width of the annexed territory. A city or town may not annex territory if
it would result in an unincorporated territory that is completely surrounded by the annexing city
or town or a combination of other cities or towns.
A city or town must file a blank petition with the office of the county recorder of the county
in which the annexation is proposed. The blank petition must include the map and description of
the territory to be annexed. Before petitions may be circulated, there must be a 30-day waiting
period after filing the petition with the county recorder. Within the last 10 days of the waiting
period, the city or town must hold a public hearing to discuss the annexation proposal. Notice of
the public hearing must be sent by first-class mail to the chairperson of the board of supervisors of
the county in which the territory proposed to be annexed is located. Within one year following the
public hearing and the end of the waiting period, the petition containing signatures of at least 50
percent of eligible property owners must be filed with the county recorder. After outlined
requirements are met, the city or town may adopt the annexation ordinance (A.R.S. ยง 9-471).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Increases, from 50 percent to 60 percent, the percentage of real and personal property owners
required to circulate and file petitions to the office of the county recorder for the purpose of
extending and increasing the corporate limits of a city or town by annexation.
2. Requires notice of the public hearing be sent by certified mail, rather than first class mail.
FACT SHEET
S.B. 1268
Page 2
3. Makes a conforming change.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 6, 2023
AN/slp