In response to long-standing citizen interest, the City of Bothell since early 2010 has been engaged in an in-depth effort to explore annexation of the community’s designated potential annexation areas. 

One of these, the 12-acre Bloomberg Hill Island Annexation in unincorporated Snohomish County, was approved by the Bothell City Council in October, 2011, and went into effect December 31, 2012.

This leaves 10 remaining potential annexation areas – one in unincorporated Snohomish County, and nine in unincorporated King County.  The Snohomish County potential annexation area is 3,608 acres and wraps around the current Bothell city limits on the west, north and east.  The nine King County potential annexation areas are much smaller, ranging in size individually from 2 to 660 acres, and are scattered around and within the current city limits:  altogether, the King County potential annexation areas total 1,003 acres.

Following a thorough process which has included extensive public outreach, fiscal analysis and establishment of land use plans and regulations, the City is currently processing annexation of all nine King County potential annexation areas under a method established in state law by which the transition of urban services from King County and affected fire districts to the City is spelled out via an interlocal annexation agreement. 

This method, which does not involve an election, is intended to be utilized for potential annexation areas that have long been designated and which could not logically be provided municipal services by any other city.  Bothell’s potential annexation areas in unincorporated King County have been designated in city and county comprehensive plans since the mid-1990’s, and are recognized by the surrounding cities of Woodinville, Kirkland and Kenmore as appropriately being served by Bothell. 

The Bothell City Council is expected to adopt an ordinance annexing the nine King County potential annexation areas by the end of 2013:  currently, it is anticipated that those areas would officially become part of the City on February 28, 2014.

The Snohomish County potential annexation area was the subject of unsuccessful elections in November, 2011, and again in April, 2012.  No further pursuit of this entire potential annexation area is currently planned, although the City might consider annexation requests by individual neighborhoods or groups of neighborhoods within this area. 

Please click on the various topics above and to the left for more information on annexation to the City of Bothell.