An important benefit of annexation is the ability to receive City services. Olathe citizen satisfaction levels remain at or near the top regionally and nationally according to the annual DirectionFinder® citizen survey. Satisfaction with overall quality of City services has averaged a rated 93 percent approval rating over the past five years, a 34% increase over the Kansas City Metro average over the same time period.

Additional benefits of annexation include:

• City trash and recycling service
• Snow removal service
• City street maintenance
• Police and Fire protection in close proximity to your residence

Another benefit of annexing into the City of Olathe is having a voice in local government. Annexation gives you representation under the Olathe Mayor and Olathe City Council. Growth and development impacts the City and your neighborhood, and your voice can help shape the vision and goals for the City. You will also have the opportunity to serve on City boards and committees that work directly on projects, plans and initiatives in your community. 

The City has agreements in place with other jurisdictions and utility service providers such as WaterOne and Johnson County Wastewater. Annexation does not necessarily mean that your utility provider will change; this depends on where each property is in relation to each utility’s service areas.

If a property currently uses a septic tank, annexation does not mean that the septic tank must be abandoned, and that the property must connect to sewer.  It only impacts future development, which if less than three acres in size, will require connecting to sewer.

Changes to your property taxes depend on many variables.

Please contact PlanningContact@olatheks.org with your address and we can look your specific information up for you.

Annexed areas pay the city mill levy (the tax rate applied to the assessed value). One mill is equal to $1.00 of property taxes per $1,000 of taxable value.

Contact the County Appraiser’s office as they appraise properties in Johnson County at (913) 715-9000.

Following annexation of the property, property owners will be eligible for annual tax rebates for five (5) years equal to the amount of City real property taxes paid in the first year following the annexation. All real property taxes must be paid before the rebate will be issued. The tax rebate will be made by the city within thirty (30) days after the County distributes property tax collections to the City. If property tax is paid in semiannual payments, the rebate is made after payment of the second and final installment.

Property owners may choose to voluntarily annex their property. Voluntary annexation of unincorporated Johnson County property into the City of Olathe requires approval by the City Council. Additional approval by the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners may be required in specific situations, notably where properties are not adjacent to the existing City limits.

The City of Olathe has a defined “growth area,” as a part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan known as PlanOlathe. All of the unincorporated properties identified within this annexation project are located within the growth area, which can be viewed on the City Open Data Portal.

The voluntary annexation process

The voluntary annexation process typically takes 30-45 days to complete and requires two meetings before the City Council. The first meeting will be a report to the City Council on the proposed annexation by City staff, and the second meeting will be consideration of the ordinance to formally annex the property into the City.  

• The property owner must submit a written petition to request the Olathe City Council annex property. There is no fee or cost to you for this request.
• The petition must include:
  • A completed application for annexation
  • A legal description of the property
  • A map to illustrate the property location
• Staff will prepare a report for the City Council, and unless directed otherwise, will prepare an ordinance for adoption at the following City Council meeting.

You are not required to attend any meetings; however, you are always able to attend any meeting held by City Council or view them online at OlatheKS.org/OGN.

Please contact the Planning Division at 913-971-8750 or PlanningContact@olatheks.org if you are interested in annexation.

In accordance with Kansas law, the City can begin the process to involuntary annex property as outlined in K.S.A. 12-520 et seq. Annexation can only occur if one or more of the following conditions are met:

• The land is platted, and some part of the land adjoins the city
• The land is owned by or held in trust for the city or any agency thereof
• The land adjoins the city and is owned by or held in trust for any governmental unit other than another city except that no city may annex land owned by a county without the express permission of the board of county commissioners of the county
• The land lies within or mainly within the city and has a common perimeter with the city boundary line of more than 50%
• The land if annexed will make the city boundary line straight or harmonious and some part thereof adjoins the city, except no land in excess of 21 acres shall be annexed for this purpose
• The tract is so situated that 2/3 of any boundary line adjoins the city, except no tract in excess of 21 acres shall be annexed under this condition
• The land adjoins the city and a written petition for or consent to annexation is filed with the city by the owner

Involuntary annexation requires the City to place a property on a City Council agenda for adoption of a resolution. The resolution will establish the date of a public hearing at which the annexation will be formally considered. Should the resolution be adopted, a letter will be mailed within 10 days, by certified mail, notifying the property owner of the public hearing, which will be held within 60-70 days of adoption of the resolution.

If involuntary annexation is pursued on your property, there is no fee or charge assessed to you. We will also keep you informed of all meeting and hearing dates. You are welcome to attend the public meetings and will be provided an opportunity to address the City Council and share your input with us.

Opposing annexation

• You may submit any correspondence that you wish to be part of the public record to any planning staff prior to the public hearing or contact a member of the Planning Division at any time. This correspondence will be distributed to City Council members in advance of the meeting.
• If you hire an attorney, please direct any correspondence from your attorney to our legal department.
  

Business or agriculture operations

Existing uses can continue. Further development, redevelopment, or expansion of a structure or use of the land may require permits and/or approval from the City. Accordingly, property owners should check with the City prior to commencing improvements, expansion of existing uses, and/or changes in use beyond the existing use.

Permits

While the City does not issue business licenses, home occupations do have regulations that must be followed to start or continue a business from your home. These regulations can be found in the City’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Section 18.50.070.

Trash and Recycling

Upon annexation, residential properties will be required to receive and pay for City of Olathe solid waste and recycling services. Commercial properties have an option to use the City’s solid waste services or private waste services.

Pets

All residents who own, keep, or harbor any dog or cat greater than six months old must license the animal with the City of Olathe. Visit the Animal Control page for more information.

Farm animals

• If you currently have farm animals, nothing will change when annexed.
• If you do not currently have farm animals, the City has allowances and provisions for the keeping of animals. Learn more in section 18.50.030 of the Unified Development Ordinance.

New building projects

After annexation, building permits must be obtained from the City and not the County. Visit the Building Codes page for more information.

Existing projects

• If a permit has already been issued by the County, the City will work with the County to complete the permit.
• If the permit has not been issued by the County or is still under review at the time of annexation, the permit would be processed through the City.

Building code changes

The City of Olathe has adopted specific amendments to the 2018 International Building Code, which may differ from the County. View chapter 15.02 of the Olathe Municipal Code for more information.