- February 24, 2026
The Bunnell City Commission approved the first reading of an ordinance annexing approximately 240 acres into the city limits, incorporating three agricultural parcels along County Road 45 that were previously located in unincorporated Flagler County.
Community Development Director Joseph Parsons presented the request during the Feb. 23 commission meeting, explaining that the annexation was initiated by the property owner and follows Florida’s voluntary annexation process.
Using a map displayed during the meeting, Parsons showed how the three parcels sit directly adjacent to existing city boundaries and are surrounded by municipal limits on multiple sides. He explained that the properties create what is known as an enclave, meaning land that is outside the city but bordered by it.
“So we received voluntary applications to bring these parcels, which create an enclave, into the city,” Parsons told commissioners.
The three parcels, located at 261 County Road 45, total approximately 240 acres. Parsons emphasized that while the annexation would bring the property into Bunnell’s jurisdictional boundaries, it would not change how the land is currently classified or used.
“These parcels totaling 240 acres as presented are currently zoned agriculture and timberland in Flagler County,” Parsons said. “We currently have a land use designation of agriculture with a zoning designation of agriculture. So the applicant is requesting no change in designation or zoning.”
That clarification was central to the presentation. Parsons stressed that no rezoning request accompanies the annexation. The land will remain agricultural under the city’s comprehensive plan and zoning regulations. There are no proposals tied to the ordinance to convert the acreage to residential, commercial or industrial use.
Parsons explained that annexing the property allows the city to establish a more consistent boundary line and ensures the parcels are governed under municipal regulations rather than remaining under county jurisdiction while surrounded by city limits.
City Attorney Paul Waters read the ordinance title into the record and noted that the annexation is being processed in accordance with Section 171.044 of the Florida Statutes, which governs voluntary annexations. Under state law, property owners may petition to join a municipality if the property meets statutory requirements and shares a boundary with the city.
The ordinance directs the city clerk to record the annexation with the clerk of the circuit court, the chief administrative officer of Flagler County, and the Florida Department of State upon final adoption.
Commissioners did not raise questions following Parsons’ explanation, and no members of the public spoke on the item during the hearing.
The commission voted unanimously to approve the ordinance on first reading. The measure will return at a future meeting for a second reading and final adoption.
If approved on second reading, the annexation will officially expand Bunnell’s municipal limits by 240 acres while preserving the land’s agricultural classification.
Parsons’ presentation made clear that the action is administrative in nature. It adjusts city boundaries to incorporate property that already sits alongside Bunnell and does not signal any immediate development or land use change.
