SB266 Alabama 2017 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Linda Coleman-MadisonSenator
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2017
Title: Municipalities, annexation of property enclosed within corporate limits, special procedure
Summary: SB266 lets any Alabama municipality use a special annexation method to add enclosed unincorporated land that has been inside the city limits for at least one year and is 15 acres or smaller, expanding a rule that previously applied only to Class 4 municipalities.
What This Bill Does
Provides that any incorporated municipality may annex enclosed unincorporated territory inside its limits for at least one year, up to 15 acres, using the same procedures previously available to Class 4 municipalities. Requires at least 90 days’ notice to landowners by certified or registered mail before council action, and allows owners to consent in writing or at a hearing. If owners do not consent, the annexation is terminated; if owners do not indicate withholding consent after notice and a hearing, the annexation may proceed. If consent is withheld, the same property cannot be proposed for annexation again for at least three years. If approved, the annexation becomes effective after publication and filing of the ordinance and a map with the judge of probate; the proposal cannot include any part of an industrial park established under Chapter 23, Title 11.

Who It Affects
Property owners of unincorporated territory enclosed within a municipality's limits: they must be notified and can decide whether to consent; if they withhold consent, annexation cannot proceed for at least three years.
Municipalities in Alabama: gain a new, streamlined annexation option for small, enclosed parcels inside their own borders, but must follow notice, consent, and filing requirements and are restricted from annexing parts of certain industrial parks.

Key Provisions
Any incorporated municipality may annex enclosed unincorporated territory inside its limits if the territory has been enclosed for at least one year and is 15 acres or smaller, using the procedures in this section (previously limited to Class 4 municipalities).
Municipality must adopt a proposal describing the enclosed status and declaring the annexation is in the public welfare, and proceed under this section’s procedures.
Notice to landowners must be sent at least 90 days before the Council meeting by certified or registered mail to the owner’s address on file with the county tax assessor or revenue commissioner.
Landowners may consent in writing or appear at a hearing to consent or object; if they do not consent, the annexation is terminated; if they do not indicate withholding consent after notice and a hearing, the annexation may proceed.
If consent is withheld, the same property may not be proposed for annexation again for at least three years.
If annexation is approved, it takes effect after publication and the ordinance is filed with the judge of probate along with a map of the annexed area; the municipality may not annex parts of an industrial park established under Chapter 23 of Title 11.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Municipalities