Annexation and detachment; detachment of municipal territory; providing certain exceptions; allowing for certain written consent. Effective date.

Oklahoma limits land leaving city boundaries

Beginning November 1, 2025, Oklahoma law limits when land can be removed from a city or town. It bars removal of territory containing an intervening strip less than four rods wide. It also bars territory separated from municipal limits only by a railway right-of-way, and adjoining highway rights-of-way. Removal cannot split a parcel so that part stays inside municipal limits and part falls outside. A state, county, or other government entity taking responsibility for the territory can give written consent to bypass these limits. Removal requires a municipal ordinance or a petition signed by at least three-fourths of registered voters and owners representing three-fourths of property value. Petitions can cover only land within municipal limits or land previously annexed. Petition organizers must file a complete unsigned copy with the municipal clerk before gathering signatures. Signed copies must be filed within 90 days, with notice following the rules for annexation petitions. Failure to follow these procedures makes the petition insufficient and requires no action by municipal officials. After timely filing, the clerk must assess sufficiency and publish notice of that finding in a local general-circulation newspaper. The governing body must hold a public hearing within 10 days after publication and can approve, deny, or postpone action. District court appeals follow the same process as appeals involving annexation petitions.