In 2025, the City annexed 3,422 acres of land including the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant and the City-owned Dells property into the City’s jurisdictional boundaries.

The City wanted to include the annexation land within City limits as it considers building a transit Maintenance and Operations Facility near the Wastewater Treatment Plant and eventually, the development of the Dells. City staff believed that the Wastewater Treatment Plant and transit facility should be within City limits. If anything commercial is ever developed, the City would collect the taxes; if anything residential is built, those residents would have the right to vote in City elections. Additionally, annexation within City limits prevents other municipalities from annexing the land.

The other acreage in the annexation area cannot be developed in the future due to ownership of the land by the U.S. Forest Service.

Annexation Map

Please click the map below to view a map of the annexation boundaries.

History

On Mar. 25, 2025, City Council adopted Ordinance 2025-0303 annexing the land into the city's jurisdictional boundaries. The effective date of the Ordinance was April 24, 2025.

On Jan. 14, 2025, City Council directed city staff to move forward with necessary paperwork and signatures to approve the annexation, with final approval to be adopted within one year. 

On Dec. 10, 2024, City Council directed city staff to file a blank annexation petition and sworn affidavit with Yavapai County per statutory timelines, publish the notice, and schedule a public hearing on the proposed annexation on January 14, 2025. City Council can stop the proposed annexation at any step during the annexation process.

Background

The City of Sedona’s jurisdictional boundaries have not changed since the City was incorporated in 1988.

The annexation process is controlled by state law A.R.S. 9-471. The proposed annexation area must meet contiguity, size, and shape requirements which prevents the City from annexing a narrow stretch of land directly to the City’s wastewater treatment plant. The annexation process is as follows:

1. Prepare a map and legal description of the proposed annexation area.
2. Request from the Yavapai County Assessor’s Office and the Arizona Department of Revenue (DOR) the name and address of each owner and the assessed value of all property within the boundaries of the proposed annexation.
3. File a blank annexation petition with Yavapai County and a sworn affidavit verifying that territory is not subject to an earlier filing for annexation commencing a 30-day waiting period.
4. City receives value data from the county assessor and Department of Revenue. Post notice of the public hearing.
5. Publish in the local paper and Post Notice in at least three conspicuous public places in the territory proposed to be annexed the proposed territory to be annexed.
6. Provide notice by mail to chairperson of county board of supervisors and to each owner of real and personal property within territory proposed to be annexed at least 6 days prior to the public hearing.
7. January 14, 2025 Public Hearing on the proposed annexation.
8. Prepare a plan, policy, or procedure to demonstrate how services and infrastructure are to be provided to anticipated development within the annexed area in the next ten years.
9. Within one year of the public hearing, obtain signatures on annexation petition representing:
   1. One-half or more of the persons owning real and personal property that would be subject to taxation by the city in the event of annexation. (assessed valuation).
   2. More than one-half of the persons owning real and personal property that would be subject to taxation by the city in the event of annexation. (ownership).
10. Once annexation petition is complete, present signed petition with a copy filed with city clerk and the original filed in the office of the county recorder.
11. Post notice of public hearing regarding annexation ordinance.
12. Public hearing and adoption of annexation ordinance by City Council.