Leland sues Belville over two disputed annexations

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — The Town of Leland has filed a lawsuit against the Town of Belville, asking a Brunswick County judge to invalidate two recent annexations that Leland says violate North Carolina law.

The lawsuit, filed June 26 in Brunswick County Superior Court, challenges Belville’s 2024 annexation of two satellite parcels and its 2026 annexation of property at 9990 Chappell Loop Road. Court records show Leland is seeking declaratory and injunctive relief.

According to the complaint, Leland argues both annexed areas are closer to Leland’s primary corporate limits than Belville’s. The town contends state law prohibits Belville from annexing the properties because the municipalities did not have an annexation agreement in place.

The lawsuit also alleges Belville improperly annexed the Chappell Loop Road property as contiguous territory when it should have been treated as a noncontiguous, or satellite, annexation subject to different legal requirements.

Leland is asking the court to declare both annexation ordinances void and prohibit Belville from exercising municipal authority over the affected properties while the case is pending.

The case remains pending in Brunswick County Superior Court.