Sec. 5. (a) This subsection applies only to a petition requesting annexation that is filed before July 1, 2015. If the owners of land located outside of but contiguous to a municipality want to have territory containing that land annexed to the municipality, they may file with the legislative body of the municipality a petition:

(1) signed by at least:

(A) fifty-one percent (51%) of the owners of land in the territory sought to be annexed; or

(B) the owners of seventy-five percent (75%) of the total assessed value of the land for property tax purposes; and

(2) requesting an ordinance annexing the area described in the petition.

(b) This subsection applies only to a petition requesting annexation that is filed after June 30, 2015. If the owners of land located outside of but contiguous to a municipality want to have territory containing that land annexed to the municipality, they may file with the legislative body of the municipality a petition that meets the following requirements:

(1) The petition is signed by at least one (1) of the following:

(A) Fifty-one percent (51%) of the owners of land in the territory sought to be annexed. An owner of land may not:

(i) be counted in calculating the total number of owners of land in the annexation territory; or

(ii) have the owner's signature counted;

with regard to any single property that the owner has an interest in that was exempt from property taxes under IC 6-1.1-10 or any other state law for the immediately preceding year.

(B) The owners of seventy-five percent (75%) of the total assessed value of the land for property tax purposes. Land that was exempt from property taxes under IC 6-1.1-10 or any other state law for the immediately preceding year may not be included in calculating the total assessed valuation of the land in the annexation territory. The court may not count an owner's signature on a petition with regard to any single property that the owner has an interest in that was exempt from property taxes under IC 6-1.1-10 or any other state law for the immediately preceding year.

(2) The petition requests an ordinance annexing the area described in the petition.

(c) The petition circulated by the landowners must include on each page where signatures are affixed a heading that is substantially similar to the following:

"PETITION FOR ANNEXATION INTO THE (insert whether city or town) OF (insert name of city or town).".

(d) If the legislative body fails to pass the ordinance within one hundred fifty (150) days after the date of filing of a petition under subsection (a) or (b), the petitioners may file a duplicate copy of the petition in the circuit or superior court of a county in which the territory is located, and shall include a written statement of why the annexation should take place. Notice of the proceedings, in the form of a summons, shall be served on the municipality named in the petition. The municipality is the defendant in the cause and shall appear and answer.

(e) The court shall hear and determine the petition without a jury, and shall order the proposed annexation to take place only if the evidence introduced by the parties establishes that:

(1) essential municipal services and facilities are not available to the residents of the territory sought to be annexed;

(2) the municipality is physically and financially able to provide municipal services to the territory sought to be annexed;

(3) the population density of the territory sought to be annexed is at least three (3) persons per acre; and

(4) the territory sought to be annexed is contiguous to the municipality.

If the evidence does not establish all four (4) of the preceding factors, the court shall deny the petition and dismiss the proceeding.

(f) This subsection does not apply to a town that has abolished town legislative body districts under IC 36-5-2-4.1. An ordinance adopted under this section must assign the territory annexed by the ordinance to at least one (1) municipal legislative body district.

[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citation: 18-5-10-23.]

As added by Acts 1980, P.L.212, SEC.3. Amended by Acts 1981, P.L.308, SEC.3; P.L.5-1989, SEC.93; P.L.3-1993, SEC.264; P.L.255-1997(ss), SEC.11; P.L.224-2001, SEC.5; P.L.173-2003, SEC.22; P.L.228-2015, SEC.9; P.L.149-2016, SEC.96.