Currently, all annexations require individual notice, publication notice and two public hearings before an annexation ordinance can be passed. There are three general types of annexations: 

1.    Annexation by petition of landowner - when a landowner petitions the City to become incorporated into its City limits;
2.    Annexation of fewer than 100 tracts with residential dwellings - when annexation is unilateral without consent of the landowner(s) and the manner in which the vast majority of City annexations occur. (this is the method the City will use for the current proposed annexations of areas A, C, I, L and P)
3.    Annexation of greater than 100 tracts with residential dwellings - when annexation of an area that must be placed on the City's Annexation Plan for 3 years before it can be annexed.

New Law Effective Dec.1 – Senate Bill 6

Senate Bill 6 was passed by the 2017 Texas Legislature, and dramatically changes the landscape of our procedures for expanding our boundaries. This new law was signed by Governor Greg Abbott on Aug. 15, and goes into effect Dec.1. It is in the overall interest of the Pearland community to annex additional areas that are available but had not been planned for future under the current law, before SB 6 goes into effect.  Incorporating land provides for additional, more diverse tax base, planned utilities and mobility improvements, and future development to follow City requirements. See below for more info.

Senate Bill 6

Annexation authority depends on new classifications for counties and cities. Senate Bill 6 established two “tiers” of 
classifications at both the County and City levels. For Counties, the tiers are defined as follows: 

·      Tier 1 County – generally a county with less than 500,000 population (Brazoria County)
·      Tier 2 County- generally not a tier 1 county (Harris and Fort Bend Counties)
For cities, the tiers are as follows:

·      Tier 1 Municipality- a municipality wholly located in one or more Tier 1 counties that proposes to annex an area 
located in one or more Tier 1 counties (most cities in Brazoria County except Pearland); and 
·      Tier 2 Municipality- wholly or partly located in a Tier 2 county (Pearland because we are partly located in Harris and Fort Bend Counties); or wholly located in one or more Tier 1 counties that proposes to annex an area wholly or partly located in a Tier 2 county.
Pearland is a “Tier 2 Municipality.” There are still three types of annexations the City may conduct:

1.    Annexation by Petition: Generally the same process as the existing law except there must be a written agreement with the landowner regarding provision of municipal services.
2.    Annexation of area with less than 200 population: This type of annexation requires written consent by petition of 50 percent of the registered voters or 50 percent of the landowners of the area. In addition, the City must 
hold a city election, if a protest petition is signed by the number of registered voters equal to 50 percent of the number of voters in the most recent municipal election. 
3.    Annexation of area with 200 or more population: This type of annexation requires an election of the qualified voters in the area to be annexed; and, if the registered voters of the area do not own more than 50 percent of the 
land the city it would also require a consent petition by 50 percent of the landowners. In this case, a city-wide 
election is not required unless a protest petition is signed by a number of registered voters equal to 50 percent of the number of voters in the most recent municipal election.