MUNICIPAL ANNEXATIONS
Legal Requirements
Municipal annexations are governed by 22 Delaware Code §101. Among other requirements, all annexations must be consistent with the most recently adopted municipal comprehensive plan, be depicted as future annexation areas within that plan, and must be rezoned by ordinance to classifications consistent with the adopted comprehensive plan or development strategy.
Cities and towns are also required to prepare a Municipal Annexation Plan of Services for all annexations. The Plan demonstrates how services are to be provided and the operating and financial capabilities necessary to support them. The Plan of Services collects property and land-use data, information about needed utility and public safety services, and helps municipalities examine the impact of development in annexation areas.
Municipal Annexation Plan of Services (WORD)
This Plan of Services form is a WORD document with instructions, automatically expanding fields, and references. Completed Plans with all required attachments can be e-mailed to Laura Simmons, at the Office of State Planning Coordination. Paper copies can be mailed to:
Attention: Laura Simmons
Haslet Building, Third Floor
122 William Penn Street
Dover, DE 19901
The Plan of Services must be received by the OSPC for review and acceptance at least 20 working days prior to the final discretionary action taken by the municipal legislative body. Municipalities are also asked to provide OSPC with final reports or annexation resolutions on the disposition of annexation proposals. We use this information to maintain the statewide geospatial data set of municipal boundaries.
Related GIS Data
The Office of State Planning Coordination maintains several GIS data sets related to municipal annexations.
- Delaware Municipal Boundaries -- The boundaries of Delaware's incorporated towns and cities.
- Future Annexation Areas -- Areas considered for potential annexation by Delaware's incorporated towns and cities as shown in their certified comprehensive plans.
- Delaware Municipal Annexations -- Completed annexations since 2004.
