Overview

In Austria the term "district" is used for a specific layer of public administration immediately below the federal states. These units carry out many day-to-day tasks of the state on a regional basis and provide an intermediate level of government between the state (Land) and the municipalities. For administrative and legal purposes the country's first-level subdivisions are the States of Austria, while districts form the second level.

Types and numbers

There are two principal kinds of districts. The most common are the political districts ("politische Bezirke"), each administered by a district commission (Bezirkshauptmannschaft) and headed by a district governor (Bezirkshauptmann). The other kind consists of statutory cities ("Statutarstädte"), municipalities that have been granted the responsibilities of a district and therefore perform both municipal and district functions.

As of 2017 there were 94 such entities: 79 political districts and 15 statutory cities. A political district typically groups several municipalities — frequently between ten and thirty — to pool administrative services and represent state authority at a local level.

Typical functions

District authorities act as the main point of contact for many administrative procedures that require an authority beyond the municipal level. Common responsibilities include:

  • Issuing and processing certain permits and licenses (for example some vehicle-related, hunting or assembly permissions)
  • Supervising public health matters and coordinating with health officers
  • Administrative supervision of municipalities and certain municipal tasks
  • Handling civil administration tasks delegated by the state government

History and development

The district system in Austria developed during the 19th century as part of broader administrative reforms that sought to create a uniform layer of state administration between provinces and local towns. Over time the shape and responsibilities of districts have been adjusted to reflect changes in population, municipal structures and legal reforms. The designation "statutory city" evolved to give large municipalities the authority to perform district duties themselves.

Distinctions and noteworthy facts

"District" in Austria can be a source of confusion because the word "Bezirk" appears in different contexts. In addition to political districts and statutory cities, cities often have internal municipal districts (for example Vienna's municipal Bezirke) which are distinct from the state-level district concept. Judicial districts and electoral districts also use similar terminology but serve different legal and administrative functions. When consulting official sources it is therefore important to note whether the reference is to the administrative (political) district layer or to other forms of Bezirke.

Practical examples

Residents typically encounter district authorities when dealing with matters that exceed the scope of town halls, such as certain license applications or contacts with state-appointed officers. In a statutory city these services are provided by the city administration itself; in a political district they are offered by the district commission serving multiple municipalities. For additional official information consult the relevant state or municipal pages or the national overview provided by government portals.