Annexation by Municipal Corporations

Problems caused by the growth of urban fringe areas have increased, particularly since World War II. As the population of these areas increases, so does the need for public services and the attendant need for effective local government. County government in Washington has remained generally unchanged since its inception one hundred years ago. Conceived in contemplation of a rural, lightly populated area requiring only a minimum of services, county government was not designed to deal with urban problems. As a result, the task of providing governmental services has been assumed by existing municipalities, which, in order to gain the requisite jurisdiction over fringe areas, must annex them. Annexation often brings higher taxes, zoning restrictions, and other municipal control, causing dissention among the inhabitants of the area proposed to be annexed. The purpose of this Comment is to discuss certain problems and considerations raised by annexation, with particular emphasis upon the applicable Washington law. The comment is divided into a discussion of five general areas: 1) The procedure for accomplishing annexation; 2) Land which may properly be annexed; 3) Remedies available for attacking annexation; 4) Circumstances in which annexation may be collaterally attacked; and 5) The doctrine of de facto corporation