Q: I live in unincorporated Pinellas County. What does that mean?
A: It means you are in good company. Roughly 280,000 people reside in unincorporated Pinellas County, which represents the 36 percent of the County not located within one of the 24 municipalities. The unincorporated areas include communities from the Pasco County line to Tierra Verde. As an unincorporated resident, the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners serves as your local government. A portion of the County budget (Municipal Services Taxing Unit) is paid by residents of the unincorporated area and is devoted to providing municipal services to the unincorporated area that are over and above the services provided to the county as a whole.

Q: What is annexation?
A: Annexation is the process of adding unincorporated property to the boundaries of an incorporated municipality (a city or town). It is the process by which municipalities expand their boundaries.

There are two main ways in which unincorporated property can be annexed into a municipality. They are typically referred to as "voluntary" annexation and "referendum" annexation.

Voluntary annexation occurs when a property owner or owners submits a petition to annex into a municipality. That petition results in a municipal ordinance that annexes the property. Voluntary annexation is governed by a County Ordinance (Ordinance No. 00-63), which includes a map depicting annexation planning areas for thirteen cities. Voluntary annexation is limited to property located within a municipality's annexation planning area. Several unincorporated areas are not located within a municipal annexation planning area; therefore, property within these unincorporated areas is not eligible to be annexed through the voluntary annexation process. County Ordinance No. 00-63 has no control over annexation by referendum.

Annexation by referendum is governed by state law (Chapter 171 of the Florida Statutes). A referendum is held for registered voters in the area proposed to be annexed. A majority of those casting votes determines the outcome and, if approved, the area is annexed. If the referendum fails to gain a majority of votes, the area remains unincorporated. The annexing municipality sets up the referendum by adopting an ordinance of annexation after holding at least two public hearings. The referendum shall not be held sooner than 30 days following the final adoption of the ordinance.

Q: Who decides the outcome of an annexation referendum?
A: Only registered voters of the area proposed to be annexed are allowed to vote on the referendum. If a person owns property within the proposed annexation area, but is not a registered voter in the annexation area, he or she is not eligible to vote on the referendum. In other words, voter registration, not property ownership, determines who gets to decide on annexation.

Q: What if I vote no, but my neighbors vote yes?
A: If a majority of those casting ballots vote for annexation, the entire area proposed for annexation becomes part of the municipality. This includes the property of those who voted against annexation. That's why every vote is important.

Q: Why doesn't the County stop these annexations from taking place?
A: Under the annexation procedures established in state law, the referendum annexation process is initiated by the annexing municipality, and the registered voters in the proposed annexation area decide whether or not to become part of the city. Florida Statutes provide a very limited role for the County in the referendum annexation process. This is unlike the local voluntary annexation process, where the County has a more active role through its County Charter authority and County Ordinance No. 00-63.

Pinellas County government, however, has taken several initiatives to ensure you (residents of the proposed annexation areas) have all the facts available to make a decision that is best for you.

Q: What services stand to change if I'm annexed into the City?
A: Not as many as you might think. Pinellas County would continue to provide its many countywide services such as 9-1-1 emergency communications, Sunstar ambulance, Parks and Preserves and Mosquito Control. And, cities contract for some municipal services through the County, such as law enforcement and utilities.
For more information, read about County services or check out this listing of County services.

Q: Who can I call with my specific questions about annexation?
A: Pinellas County staff can help with a variety of questions you may have pertaining to annexation and your individual situation. You can contact your local County Connection Center representative for more information.