Wis. Stat. § 66.0217 — WI Code / Chapter 66 / Section 66.0217
Annexation initiated by electors and property owners.
Status: in_force

(1) Definitions. In this section, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) “Assessed value” means the value for general tax purposes as shown on the tax roll for the year next preceding the filing of any petition for annexation.

(b) “Department” means the department of administration.

(c) “Legal description” means a complete description of land to be annexed without internal references to any other document, and shall be described in one of the following ways:

1. By metes and bounds commencing at a monument at the section or quarter section corner or at the end of a boundary line of a recorded private claim or federal reservation in which the annexed land is located and in one of the following ways:

a. By government lot.

b. By recorded private claim.

c. By quarter section, section, township and range.

2. If the land is located in a recorded and filed subdivision or in an area subject to a certified survey map, by reference as described in s. 236.28 or s. 236.34 (3) .

(d) “Owner” means the holder of record of an estate in possession in fee simple, or for life, in land or real property, or a vendee of record under a land contract for the sale of an estate in possession in fee simple or for life but does not include the vendor under a land contract. A tenant in common or joint tenant is an owner to the extent of his or her interest.

(e) “Petition” includes the original petition and any counterpart of the original petition.

(f) “Real property” means land and the improvements to the land.

(g) “Scale map” means a map that accurately reflects the legal description of the property to be annexed and the boundary of the annexing city or village, and that includes a graphic scale on the face of the map.

(2) Direct annexation by unanimous approval. Except as provided in this subsection and sub. (14) , and subject to ss. 66.0301 (6) (d) and 66.0307 (7) , if a petition for direct annexation signed by all of the electors residing in the territory and the owners of all of the real property in the territory is filed with the city or village clerk, and with the town clerk of the town or towns in which the territory is located, together with a scale map and a legal description of the property to be annexed, an annexation ordinance for the annexation of the territory may be enacted by a two-thirds vote of the elected members of the governing body of the city or village without compliance with the notice requirements of sub. (4) . In an annexation under this subsection, subject to sub. (6) , the person filing the petition with the city or village clerk and the town clerk shall, within 5 days of the filing, mail a copy of the scale map and a legal description of the territory to be annexed to the department and the governing body shall review the advice of the department, if any, before enacting the annexation ordinance. No territory may be annexed by a city or village under this subsection unless the territory to be annexed is contiguous to the annexing city or village.

(3) Other methods of annexation. Subject to ss. 66.0301 (6) (d) and 66.0307 (7) , and except as provided in sub. (14) , territory contiguous to a city or village may be annexed to the city or village in the following ways:

(a) Direct annexation by one-half approval. A petition for direct annexation may be filed with the city or village clerk if it has been signed by either of the following:

1. A number of qualified electors residing in the territory subject to the proposed annexation equal to at least the majority of votes cast for governor in the territory at the last gubernatorial election, and either of the following:

a. The owners of one-half of the land in area within the territory.

b. The owners of one-half of the real property in assessed value within the territory.

2. If no electors reside in the territory subject to the proposed annexation, by either of the following:

a. The owners of one-half of the land in area within the territory.

b. The owners of one-half of the real property in assessed value within the territory.

(b) Annexation by referendum. A petition for a referendum on the question of annexation may be filed with the city or village clerk signed by a number of qualified electors residing in the territory equal to at least 20 percent of the votes cast for governor in the territory at the last gubernatorial election, and the owners of at least 50 percent of the real property either in area or assessed value. The petition shall conform to the requirements of s. 8.40 .

(4) Notice of proposed annexation.

(a) An annexation under sub. (3) shall be initiated by publishing in the territory proposed for annexation a class 1 notice, under ch. 985 , of intention to circulate an annexation petition. The notice shall contain:

1. A statement of intention to circulate an annexation petition.

2. A legal description of the territory proposed to be annexed and a copy of a scale map.

3. The name of the city or village to which the annexation is proposed.

4. The name of the town or towns from which the territory is proposed to be detached.

5. The name and post-office address of the person causing the notice to be published who shall be an elector or owner in the area proposed to be annexed.

6. A statement that a copy of the scale map may be inspected at the office of the town clerk for the territory proposed to be annexed and the office of the city or village clerk for the city or village to which the territory is proposed to be annexed.

(b) The person who has the notice published shall serve a copy of the notice, within 5 days after its publication, upon the clerk of each municipality affected, upon the clerk of each school district affected and upon each owner of land in a town if that land will be in a city or village after the annexation. Service may be either by personal service or by certified mail with return receipt requested. If required under sub. (6) (a) , a copy of the notice shall be mailed to the department as provided in that paragraph.

(5) Annexation petition.

(a) An annexation petition under this section shall state the purpose of the petition, contain a legal description of the territory proposed to be annexed and have attached a scale map. The petition shall also specify the population of the territory. In this paragraph, “population” means the population of the territory as shown by the last federal census, by any subsequent population estimate certified as acceptable by the department or by an actual count certified as acceptable by the department.

(b) No person who has signed a petition may withdraw his or her name from the petition. No additional signatures may be added after a petition is filed.

(c) The circulation of the petition shall commence not less than 10 days nor more than 20 days after the date of publication of the notice of intention to circulate. The annexation petition is void unless filed within 6 months of the date of publication of the notice.

(6) Department review of annexations.

(a) Annexations within populous counties. No annexation proceeding within a county having a population of 50,000 or more is valid unless the person publishing a notice of annexation under sub. (4) mails a copy of the notice to the clerk of each municipality affected and the department, together with any fee imposed under s. 16.53 (14) , within 5 days of the publication. The department shall within 20 days after receipt of the notice mail to the clerk of the town within which the territory lies and to the clerk of the proposed annexing village or city a notice that states whether in its opinion the annexation is in the public interest or is against the public interest and that advises the clerks of the reasons the annexation is in or against the public interest as defined in par. (c) . The annexing municipality shall review the advice before final action is taken.

(b) Alternative dispute resolution. The department shall make available on its public website a list of persons who identify themselves to the department as professionals qualified to facilitate alternative dispute resolution of annexation, boundary, and land use disputes. Persons identifying themselves to the department as qualified professionals shall submit to the department a brief description of their qualifications, including membership in relevant professional associations and certifications in areas such as planning and alternative dispute resolution. The department may edit the descriptions for inclusion on the list using any criteria that, in the department’s determination, is appropriate. The department may include with the list a disclaimer that the department is not responsible for the accuracy of the descriptions, and that inclusion of a person on the list does not represent endorsement by the department. The department may include links from the list to other websites, such as those of relevant professional associations and county dispute resolution centers.

(c) Definition of public interest. For purposes of this subsection “public interest” is determined by the department after consideration of the following:

1. Whether the governmental services, including zoning, to be supplied to the territory could clearly be better supplied by the town or by some other village or city whose boundaries are contiguous to the territory proposed for annexation which files with the circuit court a certified copy of a resolution adopted by a two-thirds vote of the elected members of the governing body indicating a willingness to annex the territory upon receiving an otherwise valid petition for the annexation of the territory.

2. The shape of the proposed annexation and the homogeneity of the territory with the annexing village or city and any other contiguous village or city.

(d) Direct annexation by unanimous approval.

1. Upon the request of the town affected by the annexation, the department shall review an annexation under sub. (2) to determine whether the annexation violates any of the following, provided that the town submits its request to the department within 30 days of the enactment of the annexation ordinance:

a. The requirement under sub. (2) regarding the contiguity of the territory to be annexed with the annexing city or village.

b. The requirement under sub. (14) (b) .

2. Following its review, and within 20 days of receiving the town’s request, the department shall send a copy of its findings to any affected landowner, the town affected by the annexation, and the annexing city or village. If the department does not complete its review and send a copy of its findings within 20 days of receiving the town’s request, the effect on the town and the annexing city or village shall be the same as if the department found no violation of the requirements specified in subd. 1. If the department finds that an annexation violates any requirement specified in subd. 1. , the town from which territory is annexed may, within 45 days of its receipt of the department’s findings, challenge the annexation in circuit court.

3. If the town commences an action to challenge the annexation and the circuit court rules against the town, the town shall pay the court costs and the city’s or village’s reasonable attorney fees incurred in defending the annexation. If the town commences an action to challenge the annexation and the circuit court rules in the town’s favor and upholds the town’s challenge, the city or village shall pay the court costs and the town’s reasonable attorney fees incurred in challenging the annexation.

(7) Referendum.

(a) Notice.

1. Within 60 days after the filing of the petition under sub. (3) , the common council or village board may accept or reject the petition and if rejected no further action may be taken on the petition. Acceptance may consist of adoption of an annexation ordinance. Failure to reject the petition obligates the city or village to pay the cost of any referendum favorable to annexation.

2. If the petition is not rejected the clerk of the city or village with whom the annexation petition is filed shall give written notice of the petition by personal service or registered mail with return receipt requested to the clerk of any town from which territory is proposed to be detached and shall give like notice to any person who files a written request with the clerk. The notice shall indicate whether the petition is for direct annexation or whether it requests a referendum on the question of annexation.

3. If the notice indicates that the petition is for a referendum on the question of annexation, the clerk of the city or village shall file the notice as provided in s. 8.37 . If the notice indicates that the petition is for a referendum on the question of annexation, the town clerk shall give notice as provided in par. (c) of a referendum of the electors residing in the area proposed for annexation to be held not less than 70 days nor more than 100 days after the date of personal service or mailing of the notice required under this paragraph. If the notice indicates that the petition is for direct annexation, no referendum shall be held unless within 30 days after the date of personal service or mailing of the notice required under this paragraph, a petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40 requesting a referendum is filed with the town clerk as provided in s. 8.37 , signed by at least 20 percent of the electors residing in the area proposed to be annexed. If a petition requesting a referendum is filed, the clerk shall give notice as provided in par. (c) of a referendum of the electors residing in the area proposed for annexation to be held not less than 70 days nor more than 100 days after the receipt of the petition and shall mail a copy of the notice to the clerk of the city or village to which the annexation is proposed. The referendum shall be held at a convenient place within the town to be specified in the notice.

(b) Clerk to act. If more than one town is involved, the city or village clerk shall determine as nearly as is practicable which town contains the most electors in the area proposed to be annexed and shall indicate in the notice required under par. (a) that determination. The clerk of the town so designated shall perform the duties required under this subsection and the election shall be conducted in the town as are other elections.

(c) Publication of notice. The notice shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the area proposed to be annexed on the publication day next preceding the referendum election and one week prior to that publication.

(d) How conducted. The referendum shall be conducted by the town election officials but the town board may reduce the number of election officials for that election. The ballots shall contain the words “For annexation” and “Against annexation” and shall otherwise conform to the provisions of s. 5.64 (2) . The election shall be conducted as are other town elections in accordance with chs. 6 and 7 to the extent applicable.

(e) Canvass; statement to be filed. The election inspectors shall make a statement of the holding of the election showing the whole number of votes cast, and the number cast for and against annexation, attach their affidavit to the statement and immediately file it in the office of the town clerk. They shall file a certified statement of the results in the office of the clerk of each other municipality affected.

(f) Costs. If the referendum is against annexation, the costs of the election shall be borne by the towns involved in the proportion that the number of electors of each town within the territory proposed to be annexed, voting in the referendum, bears to the total number of electors in that territory, voting in the referendum.

(g) Effect. If the result of the referendum is against annexation, all previous proceedings are nullified. If the result of the referendum is for annexation, failure of any town official to perform literally any duty required by this section does not invalidate the annexation.