One Community Around the Lake

Annexation is the process by which the city adds unincorporated areas of Snohomish County to the city’s boundaries. Following annexation, properties receive public services such as police services, road maintenance, planning and permitting from the city, as opposed to Snohomish County. Because Lake Stevens is not a full-service city, other services such as fire protection, sewer, and water are unaffected by annexation, as are school district boundaries.

Upon incorporation in 1960, the city had a population of nearly 900 residents centered around the historic downtown in the lake's northeast corner. By 2022, Lake Stevens had seen modest residential growth and a series of minor annexations of its urban growth area (UGA), which increased the population to just under 7,000 people across 1,500 acres. At this time, the city aimed to create "One Community Around the Lake" via annexation.

With the completion of the 2021 Southeast Interlocal Annexation, the city boundaries included all sides of the lake and the lake itself. As of 2024, the city covered approximately 7,550 acres (11.8 square miles), including the lake, with approximately 500 acres remaining within its unincorporated UGA.

Over the years, as seen in this annexation history map, the city has grown to nearly 6,000 acres and an estimated 41,540 residents through a series of annexations around the lake. The city has approximately 500 acres remaining in its Urban Growth Area (UGA) to the northeast of the lake that is eligible to be annexed.

Learn more about the city's annexation history by referring to the city's 2024-2044 Comprehensive Plan or contacting Principal Planner David Levitan at (425) 622-9425 or dlevitan@lakestevenswa.gov.