What is the ETJ and How Does it Effect You?

Tracy Cook

Community First Realty – Broker

What is the ETJ and how will it affect you?

ETJ stands for Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction.  Most cities have these areas, they are very common.

The town of Fuquay Varina requested from the County and approved for 22,000 acres of an expansion of its ETJ area.  This will go into effect on December 20, 2019.  Why is the town doing this?  The result is for them to responsibly manage the growth and standards for which the building is done.

An ETJ and an Annexation of land are two very different things.   These two sometimes are mentioned together and can be confusing for some folks.

Under an ETJ you will not pay any additional taxes.   Your address will not be affected; addresses are determined by the United States Postal Service, not the town.  Likewise, your schools will not be affected.  Although you are not able to vote in local you can attend town meetings and serve on local town committees.  The Sheriff’s Department would provide your police protection however, the Fire Department would still fall under the Town of Fuquay Varina.

How does being inside the ETJ benefit you the homeowner?  Great question!  Right now if you’re outside the ETJ and a piece of land is sold to a developer for a subdivision to be created that developer will follow the County guidelines which do not require many things, one of which is traffic impact study or widening of or additions to the infrastructure.  Under Fuquay Varina guidelines developers are required to do an impact study and make all required improvements before a home is allowed to be built in the subdivision.  Want to build a fence or make a home renovation?  You will no longer have to go through the County office for permits, those will be handled right here in Downtown Fuquay at Town Hall.

If you have specific questions regarding how this will affect you and your land give the Planning Department a call/email at (919) 552-1429 or planning@nullfuquay-varina.org