Benefit districts in the City of Manhattan can be used to make improvements to an area while assessing costs on the properties benefiting from the improvements. In order for city administration to consider a benefit district petition, the area in question needs to have a final plat approved by the Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board and have the easements and rights of way accepted by the Manhattan City Commission. In order to plat a property in the city, it must be annexed and zoned properly. Some exceptions do apply.
In January 2016, the Manhattan City Commission adopted an ordinance requiring all property taxes and special assessments to be paid current by the applicant before a benefit district petition (and other applications) will be considered. The form below
must be completed and submitted with the petitions.