Arizona cities must plan services before annexing land

A city or town must wait at least 45 days before filing again to annex territory from its own unsuccessful attempt. The wait applies to territory included in the same city or town's unsuccessful annexation attempt. An unsuccessful attempt means an annexation that was withdrawn or not completed under this section. An owner may waive the wait for the owner's property if it was part of the original unsuccessful attempt. The 45-day wait runs after the unsuccessful attempt is completed.

A city or town may waive the 30-day wait and public hearing and file a signed petition for a qualifying annexation. This applies when the owner who starts the annexation owns all property in the proposed area that would be taxable by the city or town. The property of the owner who starts the annexation must make up all property in the proposed area that would be taxable by the city or town. The city or town may file after receiving the ownership statement, but no later than one year after it files for annexation. The city or town must file the petition within one year after filing for annexation.

A city or town's governing body must approve a plan for infrastructure and services in the area to be annexed. The plan covers the territory proposed for annexation. The plan must cover appropriate levels of infrastructure and services for anticipated new development. The plan must be approved on or before the annexation ordinance; it must address development expected within ten years after annexation becomes final.

A city or town may annex a county-owned park only with the county supervisors' agreement; otherwise, it must leave the park out of the annexation area. The rule covers county-owned parks and parks operated by a county on public land under a management agreement. This also covers a park the county operates on public land under a management agreement. A park left out may later be annexed with the supervisors' permission. Public land for this rule does not include land owned by a flood control district.