Departments

Needville ETJ

ETJ & How It Affects You

Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ), as it refers to cities, is the legal capability of a municipality (Needville) to exercise authority beyond the boundaries of its incorporated area. The State of Texas is one of the states that by law allow cities to claim ETJ to the contiguous land (sharing a common border, touching) beyond their city limits affording cities the power to regulate outside their corporate boundaries codified under Local Government Code Chapter 42. Under that framework, cities are able to manage growth outside the city limits so that it is compatible if the city annexes it in the future.

Learn more about ETJ in the dropdowns below.

How far does the ETJ extend outside the city limits?

For the City of Needville, the ETJ automatically extends one-half mile outside the city limits. This default range is based on city population. The ETJ has also been further extended in various areas by voluntary landowner participation.
What does a city regulate in the ETJ?

For the City of Needville, regulation is currently limited to subdivision of property for development, or creation of what we typically think of as “subdivisions” with homes. City authority includes regulation of minimum lot widths, street widths, pavement thicknesses, and provides inspection and testing during construction to ensure the quality of public infrastructure.

The city also has influence over the creation of special districts such as Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) and Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZs) that have independent taxing authority within their boundaries. Finally, the city may negotiate agreements with areas of development within the ETJ to provide for increased standards such as architectural requirements and provide for future annexation of those areas.
Will I pay city taxes?

No, only areas within the city limits pay city taxes. Areas within the ETJ pay the same taxes as those areas not within the ETJ.
Will I receive city services?

No. Areas within the ETJ are serviced by Fort Bend County just like areas not within the ETJ.
Will I be annexed into the city later?

Not without your consent. In the last two legislative sessions, the State of Texas eliminated forced annexation without a public vote.
Why would I want to be in the ETJ?
The City of Needville seeks to expand its ETJ and leverage its limited regulatory authority to:
1. Protect individual landowners adjacent to developing areas
2. Preserve the character of our community as much as possible in the face of change
3. Prevent further encroachment by Rosenberg and Alvin or other municipality, who do not represent our interests
4. Assure new development has a path for future annexation so the city is able to provide – and pay for – the higher level of public services that denser developments demand
Development is coming – the wolf is at the door – and we can manage it in a direction that is compatible with our community or resist it and be overrun by it. Also, cities such as Rosenberg and Alvin are aggressively expanding their ETJs through annexation and population growth and will not represent the needs of the Needville community. Most people who are in Needville ISD identify as being from Needville, although they do not live in the city. This voluntary expansion will ensure that our community remains Needville and does not become Rosenberg or Alvin.
What is the point of expanding the ETJ?

Identifying where economic development will be occurring in our region and, as a community, have a good grasp of where, how and why Needville should grow within the region. Expanding our ETJ preserves our ability to (implement our vision and deal with whatever happens) in the future. When (the economy and population) starts changing, we want to be prepared to serve our residents’ best interests, so we can be positioned to capitalize as well as reduce the chance of unregulated development occurring and adversely affecting our community.

We care about our inhabitants and are committed to making this effort.

Right now, there’s a lot of attention being paid to our area, which indicates that development will start happening very soon. By volunteering into the ETJ, you’re declaring (which municipality’s vision) you want to align with, giving you more control over your future. Ensuring that decision and thus, all the decisions that follow, are not made for you by somebody else.
What can people expect if they join the ETJ?

They will be identifying with a community trying to be mindful about the potential negative impacts of our region’s inevitable growth. They will officially become part of a community that respects farmland and watersheds, and values open space preservation. We view those things as assets, and very much recognize that whatever happens today will affect future generations.

Another thing distinguishing us is we’ve actually been fortunate in that, unlike other places, we haven’t experienced quick, mindless over-development, and so we haven’t been saddled with all the bad things that are associated with that.

Right now, we essentially have a blank slate to work on, and we can maximize what those who identify themselves as part of the Needville community think is best.
How do I get into the ETJ?

A city’s ETJ can only expand through annexation, landowner request, or an increase in the city’s number of inhabitants. Under the landowner request scenario, the contiguous property is added by city ordinance with the owner’s permission.