Montana Code 7-2-4734. Standards to be met before annexation can occur
7-2-4734. Standards to be met before annexation can occur. A municipal governing body may extend the municipal corporate limits to include any area that meets the following standards:
Terms Used In Montana Code 7-2-4734
- Contiguous: means any area that, at the time annexation procedures are initiated, either abuts directly on the municipal boundary or is separated from the municipal boundary by a street or street right-of-way, a creek or river, the right-of-way of a railroad or other public service corporation, lands owned by the city or some other political subdivision, or lands owned by the state. See Montana Code 7-2-4704
- Municipality: means any incorporated city or town. See Montana Code 7-2-4704
(1)The area must be contiguous to the municipality‘s boundaries at the time the annexation proceeding is begun.
(2)No part of the area may be included within the boundary of another incorporated municipality.
(3)The area must be included within and the proposed annexation must conform to a growth policy adopted pursuant to Title 76, chapter 1.
(4)(a) If fire protection services in the area to be annexed have been provided by a fire district organized under Title 7, chapter 33, part 21, the plan must:
(i)include provisions for coordinating the transfer of fire protection services to the municipality and compensating the district, if necessary, for equipment and district expenses; or
(ii)describe the municipality’s plans to annex to the rural fire district pursuant to 7-33-4115.
(b)Upon transfer of fire protection services to a municipality under subsection (4)(a)(i), the existing boundaries of a rural fire district may be altered or the fire district may be dissolved as provided in 7-33-2401.