The ETJ is an area outside of the Town of Princeville’s corporate limits that is part of the larger municipal planning and services area. Areas designated as ETJ become subject to the Town’s zoning and building regulations instead of Edgecombe County’s. This enables the Town to ensure that development patterns and associated infrastructure will allow the efficient provision of urban services as the Town grows. According to the rules set by the State of North Carolina, any town may exercise the powers granted to them under Chapter 160D within a defined area extending not more than one mile beyond its contiguous corporate limits.

No. The ETJ expansion does not annex your property. The State of North Carolina does not allow involuntary annexation, per Session Law 2011-396. Annexation is an entirely different process and only initiated by the property owner.

No. No one in Princeville’s ETJ pays Town property taxes. Your property taxes will be levied as they always have.

Yes. The Town of Princeville is hosting a public hearing on February 21, 2023, at 6:00 PM at 201 S. Main Street, Princeville, NC 27886. Anyone interested may attend. Additional opportunities to comment on the ETJ request will be provided by Edgecombe County since the County must approve Princeville’s request to extend ETJ. The Edgecombe County Planning Board will review the request and make a recommendation to the County Commissioners. The commissioners must then conduct a public hearing before they make any decision to approve the ETJ expansion for Princeville. All County meetings and hearings will be open to the public. Before the public hearing, legal advertisements will be placed in newspapers, signs will be posted, and mailed notice will be sent to every property owner in the affected area. If a determination is made by Edgecombe County to extend Princeville’s ETJ, the Town will also hold a public hearing to establish the zoning of properties within the newly extended ETJ.

Any property added to the Town’s ETJ will be placed into the Town zoning district that is the most compatible with its current Edgecombe County zoning district. The Town will hold a public hearing to establish zoning of properties at a public meeting in the near future; notification will be sent prior to the hearing.

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No, the ETJ expansion does not modify addresses. The US Post Office assigns mailing addresses and ZIP codes.

Residents in the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) may apply to serve as an ETJ representative on the Town’s Planning Board or Board of Adjustment but cannot participate in Town elections.