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Resources regarding changes to city boundaries and special districts located within the City’s jurisdiction.

Jump to: Annexation | Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) Boundaries | Special Districts

City Policy Regarding Annexation

Annexation is the process by which cities extend their municipal services, regulations, voting privileges & taxing authority to new territory. By expanding the territory subject to city ordinances, regulations and codes, annexation improves the city’s economic base and enables Austin to manage growth & development.

In accordance with the City’s annexation policies described in the Imagine Austin comprehensive plan, the City should annex areas in order to:

  • Apply zoning and development standards, including environmental protection
  • Create efficiencies in service delivery, particularly for public safety services
  • Maximize the return on the City’s investment in infrastructure and business incentives
  • Protect and expand the tax base
  • Provide municipal services beyond those available in rural areas

Municipal annexations must follow the procedures outlined by the Texas Local Government Code. Annexation laws and procedures were changed significantly effective December 1, 2017. Please call staff for more information.

View Austin recent and proposed anexations since 2018 (Web)

Annexation Hearings

On August 29, 2024, Austin City Council will hear case C7d-2024-0001, which proposes the H.B. 3053 initiated vote for disannexation of approximately 738 acres within District 8 in Austin. The subject property is located west of the intersection of Lost Creek Boulevard and Capitol of Texas Highway. After disannexation, the area will be located in the City of Austin’s ETJ. For more information, click here.

On August 29, 2024, Austin City Council will hear case C7d-2024-0002, which proposes the H.B. 3053 initiated vote for disannexation of approximately 28 acres within District 1 in Austin. The subject property is located east of Blue Goose Road and approximately 975 feet northwest of the intersection of U.S. Highway 290 East and Blue Goose Road. After disannexation, the area will be located in the City of Austin’s ETJ. For more information, click here.

On August 29, 2024, Austin City Council will hear case C7d-2024-0003, which proposes the H.B. 3053 initiated vote for disannexation of approximately 212 acres within District 10 in Austin. The subject property is located adjacent to the River Place Limited District. After disannexation, the area will be located in the City of Austin’s ETJ. For more information, click here.

On June 8, 2023, Austin City Council approved: case C7a-2022-0012, 10701 Dessau Road annexation area (approximately 11.9 acres), located in Travis County near the intersection of Dessau Road and Wandering Way. Full purpose annexation into Austin’s city limits has been requested for this property by its owner. The area is currently in Austin limited purpose jurisdiction within City Council District 1 and is privately owned. The proposed annexation is associated with zoning case C14-2022-0133. The current use of the area is low density single family residential. Annexation of this parcel is not expected to affect the boundaries of Austin’s Extraterritorial Jurisdiction.

On November 3, 2022, Austin City Council approved: case C7a-2022-0007, Balcones Canyonlands Preserve - North annexation area (approximately 498 acres), located in Travis County northwest of the intersection of Yaupon Drive and Spicewood Springs Road. The area is currently in Austin limited purpose jurisdiction as well as extraterritorial jurisdiction adjacent to Council Districts 6 and 10. All land in the area is owned by the City of Austin.  The current use of the area is conservation land with some recreational uses.

On November 3, 2022, Austin City Council approved: case C7a-2022-0008, Balcones Canyonlands Preserve - South annexation area (approximately 877 acres), located in Travis County west of the intersection of Ranch to Market Road 2222 and City Park Road. The area is currently in Austin limited purpose jurisdiction as well as extraterritorial jurisdiction adjacent to Council District 10. All land in the area is owned by the City of Austin.  The current use of the area is conservation land.

On November 3, 2022, Austin City Council approved: case C7a-2022-0009, Water Quality Protection Lands - North annexation area (approximately 658 acres), located in Travis County south of Slaughter Lane, west of Escarpment Boulevard, and north of La Crosse Avenue. The area is currently in Austin extraterritorial jurisdiction adjacent to Council District 8. All land in the area is owned by the City of Austin.  The current use of the area is conservation land.

On November 3, 2022, Austin City Council approved: case C7a-2022-0010, Water Quality Protection Lands - South annexation area (approximately 3,067 acres), located in Hays County and Travis County southwest of State Highway 45 and near the intersection of Spanish Oak Trail and Live Oak Drive. The area is currently in Austin limited purpose jurisdiction and extraterritorial jurisdiction adjacent to Council District 8. All land in the area is owned by the City of Austin.  The current use of the area is conservation land.

On September 1, 2022, Austin City Council approved: C7L-2022-0001 Pilot Knob Limited Purpose Annexation Area (approximately 50.9-acres) located in southeastern Travis County and south of East Slaughter Lane and just west of Thaxton Road. This area was within the City of Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction and will now be part of City Council District 2. The three subject tracts will all be added to  Pilot Knob MUD No. 4. This limited purpose annexation was in conjunction with an amendment to the Pilot Knob Planned Unit Development (C814-2012-0152.04). This limited purpose annexation does not have an impact on taxation or on the boundaries of Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.

On July 28, 2022 Austin City Council approved: C7a-2022-0005, Apple Campus Expansion Full Purpose annexation area (approximately 52.6 acres) located in both Travis County and Williamson County near 6204 W Parmer Lane. The property is currently in Austin’s limited purpose jurisdiction and subject to the Robinson Ranch PUD as codified in Ordinance Number 040617-Z-12. The area is adjacent to the existing Apple campus on Parmer Lane. The current use of the area is pastureland/agriculture.

On July 28, 2022 Austin City Council approved: C7a-2022-0002, Blue Goose Road Full Purpose annexation area (approximately 194.5 acres), located in Travis County near 6100 Blue Goose Road. The property is currently in Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction adjacent to Council District 1. The property is considered for annexation in connection with zoning case C14-2021-0194. In addition to a zoning case, the annexation area is subject to two adjacent Annexation and Development Agreements, Wendland/Remmert and Lee, both approved in 2014. The Agreements restrict the use of the properties to agricultural and similar uses until they are either voluntarily annexed at the discretion of City Council or the agreements expire in 15 years. As part of the annexation, the Agreements will be terminated so the properties may be developed. The current use of the area is pastureland/agriculture.

On July 28, 2022 Austin City Council approved: C7a-2022-0006, Slaughter and Thaxton Full Purpose annexation area (approximately 87.9 acres), located in Travis County just west of the intersection of East Slaughter Lane and Thaxton Road. The property is currently in Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction adjacent to Council District 2 in southeast Austin. The property is also associated with a filed preliminary plan for a small lot subdivision development with case file number C8J-2019-0146. The annexation is requested in conjunction with a request for City Code Section 25-2-2222 to be waived and the property be classified as Interim Single Family Residence Small Lot (I-SF-4A). The current use of the area is pastureland/agriculture.

On April 21, 2022 Austin City Council approved: Case C7a-2022-0003, Texas Children’s annexation area (approximately 24.2 acres), located in Travis County near 13217 Old San Antonio Rd. This property is currently in the City of Austin’s limited purpose jurisdiction and is within Council District 5. The annexation area is currently undeveloped, but the land will be the future site of the Texas Children’s Hospital – South campus. The annexation does not have an impact on the boundaries of Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.

On March 24, 2022 Austin City City Council approved: Case C7a-2022-0001, Canyon Creek (Web) annexation area (approximately 16.4 acres), located in Travis County near 9804 N FM 620 Road. This City-owned property was in the City of Austin's limited purpose jurisdiction adjacent to Austin City Council District 6. The annexation area is currently underdeveloped, but will be used for a shared public safety station for Austin Police, Austin Fire, and Emergency Medical Services. The annexation does not have an impact on the boundaries of Austin's extraterritorial jurisdiction. The meeting convenes at 10 AM at 301 W. 2nd St., Austin, TX, 78701. All speakers must register in advance. Instructions for speaker registration and participation are available at the Austin City Council Meeting Information Center (Web).

On December 9, 2021 Austin City Council approved: Case C7L-2021-0001, a limited purpose annexation of approximately 242-acres in southeastern Travis County, east of the intersection of East Slaughter Lane and Thaxton Road. The annexed area was within the City of Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction adjacent to City Council District 2. The five subject tracts approved for annexation are all contiguous with Pilot Knob MUDs Nos. 1, 4, and 5. The limited purpose annexation was approved in conjunction with an amendment to the Pilot Knob Planned Unit Development (C814-2012-0152.03). The limited purpose annexation will not have an impact on taxation or on the boundaries of Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.

On September 30, 2021, Austin City Council approved: Case C7a-2021-0004, a proposed full purpose annexation of a 25-acre property adjacent to Council District 6 in northwest Austin. The subject property (Travis Property ID #178190) is along FM 620 Road immediately south of a 9.3 acre tract that was full purposed annexed in June, 2020. The anticipated use of the site is high-density multifamily. The current use of the property is agricultural/wildlife. A location map is not yet available.

On September 2, 2021, Austin City Council approved: Case C7a-2021-0003, a proposed full purpose annexation of a 28.3 acre property adjacent to Council District 1 in northeast Austin. The subject property is situated north of the intersection of Cameron Rd and Blue Goose Rd at 11122, 11204, 11208, and 11216 Cameron Rd. The annexation is in conjunction with a zoning request to MF-3 for the Northwind Apartments (zoning case: C14-2021-0016). The current use of the property is agricultural/wildlife.

On June 3, 2021, Austin City Council approved: Case C7a-2021-0002, a proposed full purpose annexation of a 14-acre property adjacent to Council District 2 in southeast Austin. The subject property is situated near McKinney Falls State Park along McKinney Falls Parkway Road. The Travis County Property ID is #788735. The applicant will pursue a zoning change following annexation. The current use of the property is agricultural/wildlife.

On March 25, 2021, Austin City Council approved: Case C7a-2021-0001 McKinney Falls and Thaxton annexation area (approximately 24 acres). The area is located in Travis County near 8201 Thaxton Rd 78744 (Travis Property ID #782925). This area is currently in the City of Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction adjacent to City Council District 2. The proposed annexation area is currently used for agriculture but is proposed for small lot single family zoning (SF-6). The annexation will not have an impact on the boundaries of Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.

On July 30, 2020, Austin City Council approved: Case C7a-2020-0002, authorizing the full purpose annexation of a 56-acre property adjacent to City Council District 2 in southeast Austin. The subject property is situated near McKinney Falls State Park between McKinney Falls and Burleson Road. The Travis County Property ID number is: 788675. The property also was released from the 5200 McKinney Falls Annexation and Development Agreement executed between the property owner and the City of Austin. The current land use is  agricultural. The annexation did not have an impact on the boundaries of Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.

On June 4, 2020, Austin City Council approved: Case C7a-2020-0001 N FM 620 annexation area (approximately 9.4 acres) is located in Travis County at 11405, 11409 and 11411 North FM 620 Road. This area is currently in the City’s limited purpose jurisdiction in Austin City Council District 6 and is adjacent to Austin’s full purpose jurisdiction to the north. The proposed annexation area currently contains single-family homes and is proposed for development as low-density multifamily housing (MF-2). The annexation will not have an impact on the boundaries of Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.

Additional Resources

City Policy Regarding Adjustment of ETJ Boundaries

The extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) is the unincorporated land within 5 miles of Austin’s full purpose city limit not within the city limits or ETJ of another city. Austin’s ETJ currently extends into 4 counties including Williamson, Travis, Hays, and Bastrop.  From time to time, two cities may agree to adjust their ETJ boundaries to achieve more logical boundaries. A City Council making a request for an ETJ adjustment should direct it to the Mayor with copies to the City Manager and appropriate Planning and Zoning Department staff. All adjustments are evaluated according to the City’s ETJ Policy (Web) in order to ensure that they will not negatively impact Austin’s interests.

City Policy Regarding Special Districts

Water Districts

Water districts are created to finance infrastructure for water, sewer, roads, drainage, and water quality as well as to maintain parks. Types of water districts include Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) and Water Control and Improvement Districts (WCIDs). Developers who wish to create new water districts in the City's ETJ must request City consent before creation and meet the criteria described in the City's MUD Policy (Web). Application forms can be found here (Web).

Public Improvement Districts

A Public Improvement District (PID) is a tool that can be used to meet community needs by funding supplemental or enhanced public improvements or services that would not otherwise be constructed or provided in a timely manner. Property owners who wish to create new PIDs in the City's ETJ must request City consent before creation and meet the criteria described in the City's PID Policy (Web).

Please refer to the updated fee schedule (Web) for current fees.