Annexation Process for Federal Lands for Code Cities in Spokane County

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RCW 35A.14.310 is the state law which describes the process for the annexation of federal lands to code cities. This process is outlined below including the SEPA (RCW 43.21C) and Boundary Review Board (RCW 36.93) steps.

  1. The code city and federal government agree to terms of annexation to the city. The City prepares an environmental checklist on proposed comprehensive plan amendments and zoning and issues a Threshold Determination, if required.
  2. The City Council notifies the Board of County Commissioners in writing of its intention to annex federal lands.
  3. If within twenty-five days of receipt of the notice, the county legislative authority adopts a resolution opposing the annexation, finding that the proposed annexation will have an adverse fiscal impact on the county or road district, the city shall not proceed with the annexation.
  4. If the County does not adopt a resolution opposing the annexation, a Notice of Intention is filed with the Boundary Review Board. An affected party* has 45 days to request a public hearing before the Boundary Review Board. If there is a hearing, the Boundary Review Board may approve, modify, divide assets and functions, or deny the proposal. If there is no hearing before the Boundary Review Board, the Notice of Intention is approved after the 45-day period elapses.
  5. The Boundary Review Board then sends to the City, either its written Hearing Decision or a Certification of the Expiration of the 45-Day Period.
  6. The City then adopts the annexation ordinance officially annexing the area (including any modifications that the Boundary Review Board has made).
  7. This Final Ordinance and the recording fee are sent to the Boundary Review Board Office.
  8. The Boundary Review Board Director will verify that the legal description is the same as approved by the Boundary Review Board and will record one copy with the Spokane County Auditor and file two copies with the Spokane County Assessor and one with the Spokane County Board of Commissioners and notifies the various county departments and affected agencies of the changed boundaries.

* Affected parties include any incorporated city or town, metropolitan municipal corporation, or any water-sewer district, fire protection district, drainage improvement district, drainage and diking improvement district, flood control zone district, irrigation district, metropolitan park district, rainage district, or public utility district engaged in water distribution or a petition of five percent of the registered voters residing within the proposed annexation area or a property owner or owners of five percent of the assessed valuation.