The Saeima¹ has adopted and
the President has proclaimed the following Law:

On Local Governments

Chapter I
General Provisions

Section 1. The Law sets out the general provisions and economic basis for the activities of the local governments of Latvia, the competence of local governments, the rights and responsibilities of councils and their authorities, and also of the council chairpersons, the relations of local governments with the Cabinet and ministries, and also the general provisions for relations among local governments.

[17 July 2008]

Section 2.

[17 July 2008]

Section 3. A local government is a local administration which, through bodies of representatives elected by citizens - council - and authorities and institutions established by them, ensures the performance of the functions prescribed by law, and also the performance of tasks assigned by Cabinet according to the procedures laid down in law, and local government voluntary initiatives, observing the interests of the State and of the residents of the relevant administrative territory.

[17 July 2008]

The working language of a local government council [hereinafter - the council] and the authorities and institutions established by it shall be the Latvian language.

[13 November 1997; 14 October 1998; 6 June 2002; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 4. In implementing local administration, local governments, within the scope specified in the Law, are bodies governed by public law but in the field of private law the local governments have the rights of a legal person.

[14 October 1998; 17 July 2008]

Section 5. Local governments, within the scope of their competence and the law, shall act independently.

A local government shall be responsible for the activity of the authorities created thereby unless specified otherwise in laws.

In implementing delegated State administration functions and administration tasks, a local government represents the Republic of Latvia and is subordinate to the Cabinet.

The Republic of Latvia is liable for the lawful and efficient implementation of the relevant delegated State administration function and administration task. The type and content of the subordination of local governments shall be determined by laws and regulations.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development shall monitor the activities of local governments within the scope of this Law. State administration institutions and officials who, in cases provided for and in accordance with procedures laid down in law, monitor the lawfulness of the activities of local governments and determine that a local government council, its chairperson, vice-chairperson as well as other local government authorities fail to fulfil or violate the Constitution, laws and Cabinet regulations, or also fail to enforce court judgments, have a duty to inform the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development thereof.

Remuneration of the chairperson of the local government council, his or her vice-chairperson, councillors, local government administration employees, heads of local government institutions and other local government officials and employees shall be determined in compliance with the Law on Remuneration of Officials and Employees of State and Local Government Authorities.

[17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 1 December 2009; 16 December 2010]

Chapter II
Competence of Local Governments

Section 6. In the field of public law, the competence of local governments shall be:

1) the autonomous functions prescribed by this Law (Section 7);

2) the autonomous functions prescribed by other laws (Section 8);

3) delegated State administration functions the performance of which is transferred to the relevant local government in accordance with the procedures laid down in this Law (Section 9);

4) functions that are within the competence of other local governments the performance of which has been transferred to the relevant local government in accordance with the procedures laid down in this Law (Section 10);

5) administration tasks the performance of which in accordance with the procedures laid down in this Law has been assigned by State administration institutions to local governments (Section 11);

6) autonomous functions which are performed as voluntary initiatives (Section 12).

[17 February 2005]

Section 7. The autonomous functions of local governments specified in Section 15 of this Law shall be performed in accordance with procedures laid down in relevant laws and Cabinet regulations.

The performance of the autonomous functions provided for in Section 15 of this Law shall be organised by local governments that shall be liable for such. The performance of such functions shall be financed from the budget of the relevant local government if the law does not specify it otherwise.

In transferring new autonomous functions provided for in Section 15 of this Law that involve increased expenditures to local governments, the law which determines the procedures for the performance of such functions shall concurrently determine the new sources of revenue for the local governments.

[17 February 2005]

Section 8. By means of a law, local governments may be assigned the performance of autonomous functions that are not provided for in this Law, concurrently determining in the relevant law supplementary sources of financing if the performance of the functions involves increased expenditures.

The performance of functions mentioned in this Section shall be organised by local governments that shall be liable for such.

[17 February 2005]

Section 9. State administration institutions may authorise local governments to perform separate functions of State administration institutions, if such is provided for in laws or Cabinet regulations, specifying the procedures for the performance of such functions and supervising their performance.

In transferring the performance of the functions of State administration institutions to local governments, the resources that are provided for in the budget of the relevant State administration institutions for the performance of such functions shall be concurrently transferred to local governments.

The performance of functions of State administration institutions transferred to local governments shall be organised by the relevant local government but the State administration institution that transferred these functions to the local government shall be liable for the performance thereof.

Section 10. Local governments on the basis of mutual agreement may transfer among themselves the performance of separate functions within their competence. The council of the relevant local government shall take a decision on the transfer of the performance of functions. Based on such decision, a written contract shall be entered into which shall specify the sources of financing for the performance of the functions.

The council which has been assigned the performance of these functions by law shall be liable for the performance of the functions mentioned in Paragraph one of this Section and shall monitor their performance.

Functions that are within the exclusive competence of the relevant council and are specified in Section 21 of this Law, and also the functions transferred to local governments in accordance with the procedures laid down in Section 9 of this Law may not be delegated to other local governments.

[17 July 2008]

[8 June 1995; 13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 11. The Cabinet may, in cases provided for by law and in accordance with the procedures laid down in the State Administration Structure Law, delegate the performance of specific administration tasks to a local government.

In delegating administration tasks, the Cabinet shall ensure the local government with the resources necessary for the performance of such tasks.

If the local government agrees, it may perform the tasks with its own resources.

[17 February 2005]

Section 12. Local governments may, in the interests of residents of the relevant administrative territory, voluntarily carry out their initiatives with respect to any matter if it is not within the competence of the Saeima, the Cabinet, ministries, other State administration institutions, the courts or other local governments, or also if such activity is not prohibited by law.

Section 13. State administration institutions do not have the right to assign to local governments the performance of such functions and tasks for which financing is not provided.

If in adopting laws or Cabinet decisions the provisions of Sections 8 and 11 of this Law regarding the financing of temporary functions of local governments and of one-time tasks assigned to them are not observed, local governments may, in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Law, initiate the revocation of the relevant law or Cabinet decision and request reimbursement of expenditures incurred by local governments in performing the relevant functions or tasks.

Section 14. In carrying out their functions, local governments have the right, in accordance with procedures laid down in law, to:

1) establish local government institutions, found associations or foundations and capital companies, and also invest their own resources in capital companies;

2) acquire and alienate movable and immovable property, privatise facilities owned by local governments, conclude transactions, and also perform other activities of a private law nature;

3) introduce local fees and determine their magnitude, decide on tax rates and relief from paying taxes;

4) bring actions in court and complaints in administrative institutions;

5) receive information from State institutions.

In order to perform their functions, local governments, in accordance with procedures laid down in law, have the obligation to:

1) prepare a development programme for the territory of the relevant local government, ensure the implementation of the territorial development plan and the administrative supervision of territorial planning;

2) prepare and approve the local government budget;

3) manage the local government movable and immovable property rationally and efficiently;

4) collect taxes and fees;

5) in conformity with expected obligations, carry out projects included in the State investment programme;

6) in conformity with the approved local government budget, use the local government financial resources rationally and efficiently;

7) provide information to the Cabinet and ministers on issues related to activities of the relevant local government;

8) accumulate, use and preserve, until transfer to the State archives, documents created in the course of local government activities.

To ensure the performance of their functions, local governments in cases specified in law shall issue binding regulations.

[8 June 1995; 5 February 1997; 13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005]

Section 14.¹ A local government is entitled to issue an informative publication - a periodic printed publication where it informs the local residents of the performance of the functions specified in Section 6 of this Law and also publishes the information specified in this Law and other laws and regulations. The provisions of this Section shall also apply to the republishing of the informative publication in electronic format.

Only the information referred to in this Section shall be published on the informative publication, and it shall be available free of charge.

The informative publication shall be issued not more than once a month. This restriction shall not apply to informative publications where only the legal acts adopted by local governments and their authorities and their explanations are published.

[8 October 2020]

Section 15. The autonomous functions of local governments are as follows:

1) to organise for residents the provision of utilities (water supply and sewerage; supply of heat; management of municipal waste; collection, conducting and purification of waste water) irrespective of the ownership of the residential property;

2) to look after the public services and facilities, and the sanitary cleanliness of their administrative territory (building, reconstruction and maintenance of streets, roads and public squares; lighting of streets, public squares and other areas designated for public use; development and maintenance of parks, public squares and green zones; control of collection and removal of waste; flood control measures; establishment and maintenance of cemeteries and places for burial of dead animals);

3) to determine procedures for the use of public-use forests and waters if it is not specified otherwise in law;

4) to provide for the education of residents (ensuring the specified rights of residents to acquire basic education and general secondary education; ensuring children of pre-school and school age with places in training and educational institutions; organisational and financial assistance to extracurricular training and educational institutions and education support institutions, and others);

5) to maintain culture and facilitate the preservation of traditional cultural values and the development of creative folk activity (organisational and financial assistance to cultural institutions and events, support for the preservation of cultural monuments, and others);

6) to ensure access to health care, as well as to promote a healthy lifestyle of residents and sport;

7) to ensure social assistance (social care) to residents (social assistance for low-income families and socially vulnerable persons, ensuring places for old people in old people's homes, ensuring places for orphans and children left without parental care in training and educational institutions, provision of overnight shelters for the homeless, and others);

8) to take care of guardianship, trusteeship, adoption and the protection of the personal and property rights and interests of a child;

9) to provide assistance to residents in resolving issues regarding housing;

10) to facilitate economic activity within the relevant administrative territory, and to be concerned with reducing unemployment;

11) to issue permits and licences for commercial activity, if such is provided for by law;

12) to participate in ensuring public order and to combat drunkenness and immorality;

13) in accordance with the territorial planning of the relevant local government, to determine land utilisation and procedures for its development;

14) to ensure in their relevant administrative territory the lawfulness of the construction process;

15) to perform civil status document registrations;

16) to collect and provide information necessary for State statistics;

17) to perform the necessary measures for council elections;

18) to participate in ensuring civil defence measures;

19) to organise public transport services;

20) [17 July 2008];

21) to organise further education for teaching staff and pedagogical methodology work;

22) to conduct, in the relevant administrative territory, the registration of children residing therein;

23) to implement the protection of the rights of the child in the relevant administrative territory.

[17 July 2008]

In the cases and by the procedures provided for in international agreements, laws or Cabinet regulations, the State shall participate in the implementation and financing of specific autonomous functions.

The local government may delegate the tasks arising from each autonomous function of the administration to a private individual or another public person. Procedures for, types and restrictions of the delegation of the administration tasks shall be determined by State Administration Structure Law.

[13 November 1997; 5 February 1998; 9 December 1999; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 16 June 2009]

Section 16.

[13 November 1997]

Section 17.

[13 November 1997]

Section 17.¹ In accordance with the procedures laid down in the State Administration Structure Law, the Cabinet may enter into a contract governed by public law with specific local governments for the performance of specific tasks of State administration functions.

[17 February 2005]

Section 17.² The capital city Rīga in addition to the functions specified in Section 15 of this Law shall permanently perform the following State and local government shared responsibility capital city functions:

1) provision of support to central State authorities, foreign diplomatic missions and consular institutions, and also ensuring the necessary conditions for the activities of international organisations;

2) ensuring the conditions for the reception of foreign delegations and the maintenance of national representation objects belonging to local government associated therewith;

3) participation in the maintenance and development of historical objects of State and international importance, cultural and historical objects of national importance, and also of the cultural infrastructure;

4) participation in the maintenance and development of communications systems and transport infrastructure of State importance.

[17 February 2005]

Chapter III
Council

[21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 18. Councils shall be composed of elected councillors.

The number of councillors to be elected in the council shall be determined by the Law on the Election of Local Government Councils.

The rights and obligations of councillors of the council shall be determined by this Law and Law on the Status of the Deputy of the Republic City Council and Municipality Council.

Councillors of councils shall receive remuneration for participation in meetings of councils and committees, and for the performance of other duties of councillors.

[21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 17 July 2008; 16 June 2021]

Section 19. The first meeting of the newly elected council shall be convened by the chairperson of the local government electoral commission within the time period specified in the Law on the Election of Local Government Councils. The term of office of the previous council shall terminate with the first meeting of the newly elected council.

Until election of the council chairperson, the chairperson of the electoral commission shall chair the meeting and sign the decision of the council regarding election of the council chairperson.

The council chairperson shall be elected from among the councillors of the relevant council. Any councillor of a council has the right to nominate a candidate for the position of a council chairperson.

The council chairperson shall be elected if the candidate has received more than half of the votes of the elected councillors of the council.

If none of the candidates receives the necessary majority of votes in the first round, a repeat vote shall be held for those two candidates who receive the most votes. The candidate, who receives the necessary number of votes for election, is elected. If also in the second round neither of the candidates receives the majority of votes necessary for election, a vote shall be held for the candidate who receives more votes in the second round.

If no candidate in the third round receives the necessary number of votes for election, new elections shall be held for a council chairperson.

[8 June 1995; 13 November 1997; 21 September 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 31 January 2013; 16 June 2021]

Section 20. After election of the council chairperson, a vice-chairperson and standing committees shall be elected from among the councillors of the council. A council chairperson may have several deputies.

The vice-chairperson of a council shall be elected by a majority vote of the council councillors present, in conformity with the provisions of Section 19, Paragraphs five and six of this Law.

[8 June 1995]

[8 June 1995; 13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 21. Councils may examine any issue that is under the supervision of the relevant local government; in addition, only councils may:

1) approve local government by-laws;

2) approve the local government budget, budget amendments and reports of implementation of the budget, and also economic and annual public reports;

3) approve the local government territorial development programme and territorial planning;

4) decide on the liquidation of the relevant administrative territory, modification of its boundaries or change of name;

5) approve the local government economic and social development and the environmental protection long term programmes;

6) approve the local government territorial divisions and its administration structure;

7) determine the symbols of the local government and the units of its territorial division, coordinating it with the State Heraldry Commission of Latvia;

8) establish, reorganise, and liquidate local government institutions, local government capital companies, societies and foundations and approve the by-laws of local government institutions;

9) appoint to office and remove from office the heads of local government institutions and other officials in cases provided for by law and local government by-laws;

10) elect and discharge from office (remove from duties) the council chairperson, the vice-chairperson, members of standing committees, and members of the audit commission;

11) appoint to office and remove from office the executive director;

12) determine the remuneration for performing the duties of a councillor, and the procedures for payment of such remuneration and for reimbursement of work-related expenditures;

13) determine the remuneration for the council chairperson his or her vice-chairperson, local government administration employees, heads of local government institutions and other local government officials and employees;

14) determine, if such is not prohibited or laid down in laws or Cabinet regulations, the charges for:

a) use of (lease) of local government land and other immovable or movable property,

b) rent (lease) for local government residential and non-residential property,

c) use of local government water supply and sewerage,

d) heating provided by the local government,

e) collection of municipal waste,

f) issuance of licences (permits),

g) other services;

15) adopt binding regulations with respect to implementation of local government fees and, in cases specified in law, determine tax rates;

16) approve binding regulations and determine administrative liability for the violation of such;

17) take decisions with respect to the alienation, pledging or privatisation of local government immovable property, and also local government ownership acquisition of immovable property;

18) [17 June 2010];

19) determine procedures for transactions with local government movable property, and also procedures for accepting and managing gifts and bequests, and the taking on of loans, borrowings, and other economic obligations in the name of the local government;

20) grant names to streets, parks, and public squares as well as rename them;

21) suspend and revoke decisions of heads of local government institutions;

22) revoke orders of the council chairperson;

23) take decisions with respect to procedures for the performance of functions mentioned in Section 15 of this Law, for determining the officials responsible for such, and also for submission of reports on the performance of such functions;

24) elect local government representatives and members to local government or State committees, commissions, boards, and working groups;

25) take decisions with respect to organising elections and referendums, in accordance with procedures stipulated by the Central Election Commission;

26) elect and release (remove) chief judges and members of Orphan's and Custody Courts;

27) take decisions in other cases provided for in law.

The activities and decisions of councils shall be maximally efficient.

The Rīga City Council may delegate to a local government authority established by the Rīga City Council the examination of issues referred to in Paragraph one, Clauses 9, 18, 21, 24, and 27 of this Section.

The establishment, administration, reorganisation, and liquidation of a local government capital company shall be governed by the Law on Governance of Capital Shares of a Public Person and Capital Companies and the Commercial Law. The establishment, administration, reorganisation, and liquidation of a local government association and foundation shall be governed by the Associations and Foundations Law.

[8 June 1995; 5 February 1997; 13 November 1997; 5 February 1998; 14 October 1998; 9 December 1999; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 16 June 2009; 1 December 2009; 17 June 2010; 8 October 2015; 16 June 2021]

Chapter IV
Organisation of the Work of Councils

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 22. The work of councils shall be conducted at meetings and in standing committees.

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 23. The organisation of the work of councils shall be determined by by-laws of the relevant local government that are prepared in accordance with this Law.

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 24. The by-law of a local government is a binding regulation which determines the administrative organisation of the local government, the procedures for the taking of decisions, the rights and obligations of residents in the territorial administration, and also other organisational issues of the activities of the local government.

By-laws of local governments shall determine:

1) the territorial division of the local government;

2) the administrative structure of the local government;

3) the council committees, their numerical composition, competence and organisation of activities;

4) the organisational and technical servicing of the council and the committees thereof;

5) the procedures for the preparation of draft local government decisions and the entering into of contract procedure;

6) the procedures by which private individuals may become acquainted with the decisions taken by local governments, contracts entered into and the minutes of council meetings;

7) the procedures for the dispute of administrative acts issued by the local government administration;

8) the procedures by which local government authorities receive visitors and examine submissions;

9) the procedures by which an official of the local government acts with the property and financial resources of the local government;

10) the procedures by which, in the case of a change of the council chairperson, records and documents shall be organised for transfer to the new council chairperson;

11) the procedures for organising public discussion;

12) other issues which relate to the activities of the council or administration and in accordance with this Law shall be determined in the local government by-law.

The by-law of a local government shall come into force on the day after it is signed if there is not specified another time of coming into force therein. After adoption of the local government by-law it shall be freely accessible in the local government council building and rural territory or town administrations, and also shall be published on the website of the local government. The local government by-law, within three days after its signing, shall be sent in writing and electronically to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development for information.

[17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 17 June 2010; 16 December 2010]

Section 25. The work of a council shall be managed by its chairperson. The vice-chairperson of the council shall act for the council chairperson during his or her absence, and also perform duties assigned by the council chairperson or which are specified in relevant local government by-laws.

If the council chairperson has been discharged from office or has resigned from performing the duties of office, the vice-chairperson of the council shall perform the duties of the council chairperson until the election of a new council chairperson.

The implementation of council decisions shall be ensured by officials elected or appointed by the council, and by local government institutions and the employees thereof, and also capital companies. Organisational and technical services for the council shall be provided by local government administration employees.

In case of a change of a council, the employment relations of local government administration employees shall not be discontinued.

[8 June 1995; 13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 26. Council decisions shall be taken at meetings.

Council meetings shall be open, except for the cases when the issue needs to be examined in a closed council meeting or in part thereof to protect the official secret, secrecy of adoption, trade secret, private life of persons, interests of children or other information the disclosure of which is prohibited in accordance with the law.

Council decisions and the minutes of council meetings shall be publicly accessible. Council decisions shall be published on the website of the local government not later than on the third working day following the signing thereof. The accessibility to council decisions and the minutes of council meetings shall be ensured taking into account the restrictions for the accessibility to the information determined in the laws and regulations.

[17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 17 June 2010; 8 October 2020]

Section 27. The chairperson shall convene regular council meetings not less than once a month, specifying the time and location of meetings and announcing the agenda.

Councillors of a council shall be notified of the time, location and agenda of regular meetings in accordance with the procedures specified in the local government by-laws.

Notification regarding the time, location and agenda of regular meetings of a council shall be posted in a visible location in or at the council building and published on the website of the local government not later than three days prior to a regular meeting.

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 17 June 2010]

Section 28. Extraordinary council meetings shall be convened by the chairperson upon his or her own initiative. The council chairperson has the duty to convene an extraordinary meeting if such is requested by:

1) at least one third of the councillors;

2) [21 December 2000];

3) Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development;

4) the Cabinet.

The submission regarding the convening of an extraordinary meeting shall indicate the agenda of the meeting, and it shall have appended the draft decision of the council.

In convening an extraordinary council meeting, the chairperson shall determine the time and location of the meeting and shall announce the agenda.

Extraordinary council meetings shall be convened not later than within three days from the day of receipt of a request, except for the cases provided for in Sections 49 and 65 of this Law.

If the convening of an extraordinary meeting has been requested by the Cabinet or the Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development, the meeting agenda indicated in the submission for the extraordinary meeting shall not be amended. If the chairperson of the local government council has not convened an extraordinary meeting after the request of the Cabinet or the Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development, the Cabinet or the Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development may again request the convening of an extraordinary meeting, determining the agenda, location and time of such meeting.

[8 June 1995; 30 October 1997; 13 November 1997; 9 December 1999; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 16 December 2010]

Section 28.¹ If a council chairperson or the vice-chairperson are hindered in fulfilling their duties and it is necessary to ensure the continuity of the work of the local government, at least one third of the councillors of the council may propose the convening of an extraordinary meeting. Such extraordinary meeting shall be convened by the councillor who first signed the submission regarding the convening of an extraordinary meeting, and he or she shall also chair the meeting. The provisions of Section 28, Paragraphs two, three, and four of this Law shall also apply to the submission regarding the convening of an extraordinary meeting and the procedures for the convening of the extraordinary meeting.

The chairperson of the meeting has an obligation to inform the Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the place and time of the meeting.

The extraordinary meeting shall be held in accordance with the procedures laid down in this Law. The decisions taken at this meeting shall be signed by the chairperson of the meeting.

[21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 16 December 2010]

Section 29. Council meetings shall be chaired by the chairperson or the vice-chairperson of the council.

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 30. Draft decisions of a council, opinions on them and information materials shall be available to all councillors of the council not later than three working days prior to regular meetings and not later than three hours prior to extraordinary meetings.

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 17 June 2010]

Section 31. Councils may discuss only such matters as are included in the announced agenda of the meeting. Exceptions may be made only if not less than two thirds of the council councillors present consent to them.

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 32. The issues to be discussed shall be examined by the council in the sequence indicated in the announced agenda. Such sequence may be altered by a council decision.

The agenda of an extraordinary meeting may not be amended by the council.

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 33. Council meetings shall examine draft decisions submitted by:

1) the council chairperson;

2) committees of a council;

3) councillors of a council;

4) the initiator of an extraordinary meeting;

5) the manager of the administration referred to in Section 69.¹, Paragraph one of this Law.

Draft decisions shall be submitted to the council chairperson.

The submission of draft decisions shall be regulated by local government by-laws which shall provide for the procedures in accordance with which draft decisions shall be examined by standing committees of a council and harmonised with local government institutions or their employees.

The council chairperson upon receiving a draft decision, shall determine in which committee it shall be examined.

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 34. Council meetings may take place if more than half of the councillors of the council participate. The council chairperson may determine that video conferencing (a real-time image and sound transmission) is used during the council meeting if such possibility is provided for in the local government by-laws and if:

1) a councillor of a council is located elsewhere during the meeting and is unable to arrive at the location of the council meeting due to a health condition or official travel;

2) an emergency situation has been declared in the relevant territory or gathering restrictions have been imposed by the State.

A councillor of a council shall be considered present at the council meeting and is entitled to participate in the voting without being present at the location of the meeting if he or she has registered for participation in the council meeting in accordance with the procedures laid down in the local government by-laws, a technical possibility to participate in the meeting via video conferencing and electronic voting online has been ensured to him or her. A councillor of a council may not participate in the voting provided for in Section 40, Paragraph four of this Law without being present at the location of the meeting.

A decision shall be considered taken if more than half of the council councillors present vote for it, and if the law does not provide otherwise.

If the necessary number of votes in favour of a draft decision is not received, the draft decision shall be considered rejected. In such case the draft decision may be submitted to the council for re-examination, in conformity with the provisions of Section 33 of this Law.

[8 October 2015; 8 October 2020]

Section 35. If the number of councillors of a council referred to in Section 34 of this Law are absent from a regular meeting of the council, the council chairperson shall, not earlier than after seven days and not later than after fourteen days, convene a repeat meeting to examine the issues planned for this meeting and, if necessary, add to the agenda of the meeting.

If the number of councillors of a council referred to in Section 34 of this Law are absent from the council repeat meeting, the council chairperson shall inform the Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development thereof within three days after the day on which the repeat meeting was to be held and also shall announce the date of the next council meeting.

[8 June 1995; 13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 16 December 2010]

Section 36. If more than half of all the councillors of a council are absent from an extraordinary council meeting, the council chairperson shall, for examination of the issues that were to be addressed at such meeting, convene a repeat extraordinary meeting not later than the next day without changing the agenda for the meeting.

If the number of councillors of a council referred to in Section 34 of this Law are absent from the repeat extraordinary council meeting, the council chairperson shall inform the Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development thereof within the time period specified in Section 35, Paragraph two of this Law.

[8 June 1995; 30 October 1997; 13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 16 December 2010]

Section 37. The progress of the council meeting shall be recorded in minutes. Council meetings shall be recorded in audio format which shall be posted on the website of the local government council not later than within three working days after the regular council meeting.

The minutes shall include:

1) where, the year, month, day and hour the meeting was convened, noting specifically if it was an extraordinary meeting;

2) when the meeting was opened and closed;

3) the agenda of the meeting;

4) the given name and surname of the chairperson of the meeting and of the local government administration employee - minute taker of the meeting;

5) the given names and surnames of the councillors present and absent;

6) the reasons for the non-attendance of the councillors absent;

7) the given names and surnames of persons who were allowed to address the meeting;

8) the proposals and requests submitted, and also the orders of the chairperson of the meeting;

9) the decisions taken, indicating with how many votes a decision was taken;

10) which councillors voted for, which against the relevant decision and which abstained from voting;

11) the given names and surnames of those councillors who, in compliance with the restrictions regarding the taking of decisions as provided for in the law On Prevention of Conflict of Interest in Activities of Public Officials, did not participate in the taking of relevant decision;

12) [31 January 2013].

If any of the council councillors does not agree to the record in the minutes, he or she has the right to request in the next regular council meeting that the record be adjusted.

Minutes shall be signed by the chairperson of the meeting and the local government administration employee - minute taker of the meeting. Minutes shall be signed not later than on the fifth working day after the meeting indicating the date of signing.

Decisions taken by the council shall be signed by the chairperson of the meeting.

If an administrative act is adopted during the council meeting, the decision and the voting thereof shall be indicated in the minutes and the administrative act shall be appended to the minutes which shall be prepared in conformity with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Law.

[17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 17 June 2010; 31 January 2013; 8 October 2020]

Section 38. The procedures for carrying out commercial activity, acquiring income, combination of offices and restrictions thereof of the chairperson of a local government council, his or her vice-chairperson, councillor, executive director and his or her deputy, and also the head of a rural territory or town administration and his or her deputy, performance of duties as well as other restrictions and duties related thereto are laid down in the law On Prevention of Conflict of Interest in Activities of Public Officials.

In addition to the restrictions related to the combination of offices laid down in the law On Prevention of Conflict of Interest in Activities of Public Officials, a councillor of the local government council may not:

1) hold the position of the executive director and deputy executive director, the head of a rural territory or town administration and his or her deputy;

2) hold a position in the administration of the relevant local government with the following duties:

a) preparation of draft decisions of the council;

b) verification of lawfulness and expediency of the decisions taken by the council;

c) control and supervision of the execution of decisions taken by the council;

d) provision of advice and consultations to local government officials;

3) directly or indirectly provide services to the local government in matters referred to in Clause 2 of this Paragraph;

4) hold the position of the head of the relevant local government institution or his or her deputy, except for the institution carrying out the autonomous functions of a local government specified in Section 15, Paragraph one, Clauses 4, 5, and 6 of this Law;

5) hold the position of the member of the board in a capital company of the relevant local government, in a capital company where local government share in equity capital individually or together with other local governments exceeds 50 per cent, and in a capital company where share in equity capital of one or several local government capital companies individually or together exceeds 50 per cent, except for a capital company which carries out an administration task arising from the autonomous function of a local government specified in Section 15, Paragraph one, Clause 6 of this Law.

In addition to the duties of the head of the authority laid down in the law On Prevention of Conflict of Interest in Activities of Public Officials, the chairperson of a local government council shall ensure compliance with the provisions of Paragraph two of this Section.

[31 January 2013 / The new wording of Section shall come into force on 1 July 2013. See Paragraph 33 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 39.

[23 May 1996]

Section 40. Voting at council meetings shall be open and viva voce.

[31 January 2013]

[31 January 2013]

Voting for candidates proposed to the office of a chairperson of the local government council, vice-chairperson, executive director, deputy executive director, head of a rural territory or town administration or deputy head of a rural territory or town administration shall be carried out by ballot papers concurrently for the candidates proposed for each office.

[17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 31 January 2013]

Section 41. A local government council shall adopt:

1) external legal acts (binding regulations);

2) internal legal acts (regulations, by-laws, instructions);

3) individual acts (administrative acts and other administrative decisions);

4) other decisions.

Decisions of local governments shall comply with the Constitution, this Law and other laws, and also with Cabinet regulations.

[17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 42. Council decisions the implementation of which involves expenditures shall be ensured with local government material and financial resources.

Losses resulting from an unlawful decision of a council shall be compensated from the local government budget.

Council chairperson shall be responsible as a member of collegial authority for the efficiency and the lawfulness of the decisions of the council.

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008 / Paragraph three shall come into force on 1 September 2008. See the norm governing the time of coming into force of the Law of 17 July 2008]

Section 43. Councils are entitled to issue binding regulations that provide administrative liability for violating them, if such is not provided for in law, with respect to the following issues:

1) regarding building in the territory of a local government;

2) regarding the protection and maintenance of public-use forests and waters, and also of especially protected natural and cultural objects of the local government;

3) regarding trading in public places, and also restrictions on the time and place of retailing alcoholic beverages;

4) regarding public order;

5) regarding the maintenance of buildings and their territory and structures;

6) regarding maintaining sanitary cleanliness and the maintenance of territories for public use adjoining properties (footpaths, except for public transport stops, ditches, culverts or grassed territory to the edge of the road);

7) regarding the placing of advertising materials, sign boards, advertisements and other informational material in public places;

8) regarding the use of public transport;

9) regarding improvements of the territories of the local government, maintenance and protection of plantings;

10) regarding the keeping of domestic animals;

11) regarding the protection of engineering and communication systems and transport infrastructure of the local government;

12) regarding the conversion of residential buildings (flats) into non-residential buildings (non-residential premises), in conformity with the local government territorial development plan;

13) other matters provided for in the law and Cabinet regulations.

Municipality councils are entitled to issue binding regulations also regarding the suppression of weeds, and the use and storage of chemicals and artificial fertilisers, and to provide for administrative liability for violation of such.

Councils may adopt binding regulations also in order to ensure the implementation of local government autonomous functions and voluntary initiatives.

In performing delegated State administration functions and administration tasks, a council may adopt binding regulations only if it is provided for in the law or Cabinet regulations.

[8 June 1995; 5 February 1998; 9 December 1999; 15 June 2000; 21 December 2000; 5 June 2003; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 17 June 2010; 16 June 2021]

Section 43.¹ In drawing up draft binding regulations, an explanatory memorandum shall be appended thereto in which a short outline of draft content, justification for the necessity of the draft, the information on the planned effect of the draft on the local government budget, entrepreneurship environment in the local government territory, administrative procedures and consultations with private individuals are provided.

In drawing up draft binding regulations regarding local government fees, the information on the planned effect of the draft on the local government budget shall not be included in an explanatory memorandum.

An explanatory memorandum shall not be appended to draft binding regulations regarding approval of the local government budget, and also to draft binding regulations by which territorial planning of a local government is approved.

Draft binding regulations and an explanatory memorandum appended thereto shall, in accordance with the procedures determined in the by-laws of the local government but not later than within the time periods determined in Section 30 of this Law, except for the case provided for in Section 31 of this Law, be published on the website of the local government, and also the availability thereof shall be ensured in the local government council building and rural territory or town administrations.

[17 June 2010]

Section 44. The local government council of a State city is entitled to issue binding regulations and to provide for administrative liability for violating them, if such is not provided for in laws, with respect to the following issues:

1) measures to be carried out in order to avert the spread of an epidemic or epizootic;

2) public order in case of natural disasters or other emergencies, and measures to rectify the consequences of such;

3) the protection of natural objects requiring special protection, and the protection of cultural monuments;

4) other matters provided for in the law and Cabinet regulations.

[8 June 1995; 13 November 1997; 5 February 1998; 16 June 2021]

Section 45. Binding regulations in force are binding on any natural person and legal person in the relevant administrative territory.

The council shall send the binding regulations and explanatory memorandum thereof in writing and in electronic form within three working days after signing thereof for the provision of an opinion to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, which shall evaluate the lawfulness of the adopted binding regulations not later than within one month from the receipt of the binding regulations and shall send a corresponding opinion to the local government.

If objections against the lawfulness of the adopted binding regulations have not been expressed in the opinion of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development or the opinion has not been sent to the local government within the specified time period, the local government shall publish the adopted binding regulations.

If an opinion of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, in which unlawfulness of binding regulations or any part thereof is substantiated, has been received, the local government council shall update the binding regulations in conformity with what has been indicated in the opinion and shall publish the updated binding regulations. If the local government council does not entirely agree with the opinion or any part thereof, the council shall provide an appropriate substantiation, as well as shall publish the binding regulations. Within three working days after signing of the binding regulations, they shall be sent in writing and electronic format to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development.

The binding regulations of the local government council of a State city and also of a municipal council and the explanatory memorandum thereof shall be published in the official gazette Latvijas Vēstnesis.

The binding regulations shall come into force on the following day after the publication thereof in accordance with the procedures laid down in Paragraph five of this Section unless another time period for coming into force has been specified therein.

The local government binding regulations shall be published on the website of the local government following the coming into force thereof. The municipality councils shall ensure the availability of the binding regulations also in the municipality council building and rural territory or town administrations.

[31 January 2013]

[17 July 2008; 17 June 2010; 16 December 2010; 31 January 2013; 8 October 2015; 16 June 2021 / Amendments to Paragraph five regarding the supplementation of the first sentence with the words "and also of a municipal" and regarding the deletion of the second, third, fourth, and fifth sentence shall come into force on 1 January 2022. See Paragraph 36 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 45.¹ The provisions of Section 45, Paragraphs two, three, four, five, six, seven, and eight of this Law are not applicable to local government binding regulations in relation to spatial planning issue, which shall come into effect in accordance with the provisions of the Spatial Planning Law.

[17 February 2005; 17 July 2008 / Amendments in relation to the supplementation of this Section with the words "six, seven, and eight" shall come into force on 1 September 2008. See the norm governing the time of coming into force of the Law of 17 July 2008]

Section 46. A local government shall independently develop and implement the local government budget. Binding regulations regarding the approval of local government budgets and amendments to the budget shall come into force on the following day after signing of such if another time of coming into force is not specified therein, and they shall be freely accessible in the local government council building and rural territory or town administrations, and they shall be published on the website of the local government.

Binding regulations regarding the approval of local government budgets and amendments to the budget shall be sent for information in writing and electronically to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development within three days.

The provisions of Section 45, Paragraphs two, three, four, five, six, seven, and eight of this Law shall not apply to binding regulations regarding the approval of local government budgets and amendments to the budget.

[17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 17 June 2010; 16 December 2010]

Section 47. Local government administrative acts may be adopted by the council if the law does not provide for other procedures.

Administrative acts issued by councils may be appealed in the administrative court.

Administrative acts issued by the local government administration may be disputed within the framework of the local government.

In the cases specified in law, administrative acts shall be disputed in that institution of direct administration to which the local government is subordinate in implementing the delegated State administration function or administration task.

[17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 48. Council decisions shall be signed by the chairperson within five working days from the day of their adoption.

If the council chairperson refuses to sign decisions within this time period, the chairperson has the obligation to convene an extraordinary council meeting at which the relevant decision shall be reviewed.

Only the council chairperson is entitled to refuse to sign council decisions and to convene an extraordinary council meeting regarding review of the issue. The council chairperson may not exercise such rights with respect to a council decision by means of which an order of the council chairperson is revoked, or also by means of which the council chairperson is removed from office in accordance with the procedures laid down in Section 65 of this Law.

Council chairperson shall not be held liable for the use of the rights specified in Paragraph three of this Section.

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 17 June 2010]

Section 49. The operation of an unlawful binding regulation or other laws and regulations or specific paragraphs of such issued by a council, except for the operation of decisions taken in accordance with the procedures of Section 47 of this Law, may be suspended by a substantiated order of the Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development. The order shall indicate the paragraphs of the specific binding regulations or other law or regulation that are to be revoked as unlawful, or shall indicate that the binding regulations or other law or regulation are to be revoked in their entirety. The order shall be published in the official gazette Latvijas Vēstnesis within three days from its issue and shall be sent to the chairperson of the relevant council who shall be responsible for its implementation.

The council chairperson shall convene, within two weeks after receipt of an order from the Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development, an extraordinary council meeting for the examination of the issue regarding revocation of the relevant binding regulations or other law or regulation or specific paragraphs of such. The Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development shall be timely notified of the time and place of the extraordinary council meeting.

If the council fails to take a decision to revoke the relevant binding regulations or other law or regulation or specific paragraphs thereof, it shall submit an application to the Constitutional Court regarding the revocation of the order of the Minister within three months. In such case the order of the Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development regarding the suspension of the operation of the council binding regulations or other law or regulation or specific paragraphs thereof shall remain in force until the proclamation of the judgment of the Constitutional Court.

The council has no right to submit an application to the Constitutional Court regarding the revocation of the order of the Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development, if, within two months following the day of receipt of the opinion of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, it has not fulfilled the obligation to take a decision specified in Section 45, Paragraph four of this Law in which a substantiation is provided why the council does not agree with that specified in the opinion of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development.

If the council or its chairperson fails to implement the provisions of Paragraph two or three of this Section, the unlawful binding regulations or another law or regulation or specific paragraph thereof shall be considered to be repealed. The Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development shall issue a notice regarding such in the official gazette Latvijas Vēstnesis.

[30 October 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 17 June 2010; 16 December 2010; 31 January 2013]

Chapter V
Standing Committees

Section 50. Councils shall elect, from among the councillors of the council, standing committees that shall:

1) prepare issues for examination at council meetings;

2) provide opinions on questions within the competence of the committee;

3) monitor the work of the local government institutions in accordance with the procedures laid down by the local government by-laws;

4) examine draft budgets of local government institutions, and submit them to the finance committee;

5) approve and monitor expenditure estimates of local government institutions;

6) perform other duties in conformity with the local government by-laws.

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 51. The local government shall form a finance committee and a social, education and culture issues committee. Municipality local government may establish a territorial committee.

[17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 52. If not less than one quarter of the residents registered in the relevant local government administrative territory are foreigners or stateless persons, the local government council may establish a foreigner and stateless person affairs committee.

Other standing committees shall be established by local government councils in accordance with the local government by-laws.

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 July 2008]

Section 53. On the proposal of the foreigner and stateless person affairs committee, the local government council shall determine the issues for the examination of which foreigners and stateless persons are invited to committee meetings.

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 July 2008]

Section 54. The number of representatives in the list of candidates for a member of a local government council in the committee shall be determined, to the extent possible, in proportion to the number of members elected from the list of candidates for a member of a local government council.

The number of committee members shall not be less than three.

[8 June 1995; 13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 8 October 2020; 16 June 2021]

Section 55. Each councillor shall be a member of at least one council committee.

[8 October 2020]

If during his or her term of office a councillor is relieved from working in a committee, members of the relevant list of candidates for a member of a local government council may nominate a new committee member.

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 8 October 2020; 16 June 2021]

Section 56. Committee meetings shall be open, except for the cases when the issue needs to be examined in a closed committee meeting or in part thereof to protect the information referred to in Section 26, Paragraph two of this Law.

A committee meeting may take place if more than half of the members of the committee participate. The committee chairperson may determine that video conferencing (a real-time image and sound transmission) is used during the committee meeting if such possibility is provided for in local government by-laws and if:

1) a committee member is located elsewhere during the meeting and is unable to arrive at the location of the committee meeting due to a health condition or official travel;

2) an emergency situation has been declared in the relevant territory or gathering restrictions have been imposed by the State.

A committee member shall be considered present at the committee meeting and is entitled to participate in the voting without being present at the location of the meeting if he or she has registered for participation in the committee meeting in accordance with the procedures laid down in local government by-laws, a technical possibility to participate in the meeting via video conferencing and electronic voting online has been ensured to him or her.

Decisions shall be taken by a majority vote of the committee members present. In the event of a tied vote, the vote of the committee chairperson shall be decisive.

All councillors of the relevant council shall be notified of the time, place, and agenda of committee meetings in accordance with the procedures laid down in the local government by-laws.

Minutes shall be taken of committee meetings. The minutes shall be signed by the committee chairperson and all committee members present.

Organisational and technical services for committees shall be provided by local government administration employees.

[8 October 2015; 8 October 2020]

Section 57. Extraordinary committee meetings shall be convened at the request of the chairperson of the committee or of the council or of one third of the committee members.

Extraordinary meetings shall be convened within 24 hours after receipt of a request.

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 58. The chairperson of a committee, except for the chairperson of the finance committee, shall be elected from among the committee members, and also relieved from the performance of duties, by the relevant committee. The chairperson of a committee and his or her vice-chairperson shall not be the head of an institution or capital company of the local government or a division thereof the work of which, in accordance with the local government by-laws, is supervised by the relevant committee.

The chairperson of a committee shall prepare, convene, and chair committee meetings and shall ensure that decisions of the committee are recorded in the minutes, and also monitor the implementation of the decisions of the committee.

Members of a committee have the right to submit to the committee chairperson issues to be examined at committee meetings, and the duty of the chairperson is to inform committee members thereof.

[17 February 2005; 31 January 2013 / Amendments to the second sentence of Paragraph one shall come into force on 1 July 2013. See Paragraph 33 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 59.

[31 January 2013]

Section 60. A finance committee shall be chaired by the council chairperson.

Finance committees shall:

1) provide opinions on draft budgets;

2) provide opinions on amendments to the budget, and also on priorities in the division of resources if the revenue part of the budget is not realised;

3) provide opinions on projects that involve the expenditure of budget resources, and also on draft decisions of the council, if the execution of such decisions involves unforeseen budget expenditures or amendments to the revenue part of the budget;

4) provide proposals regarding the management of local government property;

5) provide proposals and opinions on alienation of local government immovable property;

6) [13 November 1997];

7) perform other duties specified in Section 50 of this Law and in local government by-laws.

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 60.¹ A municipality local government council may establish a territorial committee for the co-ordination of activities of the rural territory or town administration.

The territorial committee shall prepare draft decisions for the review at the council meeting regarding:

1) issues related to the administration of separate territorial units of the municipality;

2) operational issues of rural territory or town administrations, including financial and personnel policy as well as material and technical issues;

3) the improvement of the local government service quality provided in the territorial units of the municipality;

4) the establishment of new local government structural units or workplaces in rural territory or town administrations;

5) the development of an annual operational plan of rural territory or town administrations;

6) other issues related to the activities of administrations of rural territories or cities.

[17 July 2008]

Section 61. For the performance of specific functions of a local government or for the administration of the administrative territory of a local government, a council may form boards, commissions or working groups from among the councillors of the council and residents of the relevant local government. In order to promote a sustainable and balanced development of the entire territory of the local government, the municipality local government council may establish a board of administration of the municipality which is managed by the chairperson of the municipality council and includes vice-chairpersons of the municipality council and chairpersons of all permanent council committees. The board of administration shall, in conformity with the by-laws of the local government, co-ordinate the opinions of the committees and shall prepare proposals for the taking of the decisions of the municipality council.

The need to form such boards, commissions, and working groups shall be determined by specific laws or council decisions, and the specialists may be invited to work in such for whom remuneration for work shall be paid from local government revenue.

Boards, commissions, and working groups shall act in accordance with the by-laws approved by the council.

A local government council shall approve the administrative commission of a local government in the composition of at least five persons to conduct administrative offence proceedings and also to perform the tasks specified in the Law on Application of Compulsory Measures of a Correctional Nature to Children. A local government council may set up sub-commissions of the administrative commission of a local government. The administrative commission and the sub-commission of a local government shall have a quorum if not less than half of its composition is present. The decision of the administrative commission of a local government may be appealed to a district (city) court.

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 5 December 2019 / Paragraph four shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 35 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 61.¹ For the purposes of consultation, on the basis of an initiative of an inhabitant of the local government, the council or the chairperson thereof, and based upon a council decision, there may be organised public discussions regarding local government autonomous competence issues.

Public discussions must be organised for:

1) amendments to the administrative territorial boundaries of the local government;

2) the local government development programme and spatial planning.

Public discussions shall not be organised for the local government budget, local government paid services, rates of taxes and fees, and also for the appointment local government officials to positions and the removal therefrom.

[17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 61.² The length of public discussions shall not be less than three weeks.

Local government residents and representatives of the mass media during the course of the public discussion shall be guaranteed access to not only the document under discussion, but also all the local government decisions associated with such document.

Everyone has the right to express his or her views orally and in writing in respect of the issue under public discussion.

The local government has a duty to compile the views expressed and to publish on the website of the local government council and in the local newspaper or free publication an informative notice (summary) regarding the results of the discussion.

The local government has a duty to publish on the website of the local government council and in the local newspaper or free publication the decision taken by the council in which the results of the public discussion have been utilised.

[17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 17 June 2010]

Section 61.³ Local governments are entitled to organise a local government referendum in accordance with the procedures laid down in the law.

[17 July 2008 / Section shall come into force concurrently with the law on local government referendums. See Paragraph 23 of Transitional Provisions]

Chapter VI
Council Chairperson

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 62. The mandate of the chairperson and vice-chairperson of a council shall be in effect from the moment of election. The council chairperson shall:

1) manage the work of the council, coordinate the examination of issues in committees;

2) represent the local government in relations with the State and other local governments;

3) represent the council in court without special authorisation;

4) in the name of the council issue powers of attorney, sign contracts and other legal documents;

5) manage the work of the finance committee;

6) issue binding instructions to local government administration employees;

7) propose the examination of issues in the council and committees;

8) prepare submissions from officials of State institutions for examination at council meetings;

9) be responsible for the execution of court judgments in which one of the parties is the council;

10) may propose the dismissal from the position held by the local heads of State administration institutions or officials from such institutions within the relevant administrative territory;

11) perform other duties provided for in laws, Cabinet decisions, by-laws of the relevant local government, and

council decisions.

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 63. The office of a council chairperson shall be remunerated.

A council may take decisions on the determination of other remunerated positions of the council.

The monthly salary and amount of supplement for the council chairperson shall be determined by the council.

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 17 June 2010]

Section 64.

[16 June 1998]

Section 65. The chairperson of a local government council may be removed from office, if it is requested by at least one third of the councillors of the council.

If the council chairperson fails to fulfil the duties specified in law or in by-laws of the relevant local government, to execute council decisions and court decisions, fails to observe the law or Cabinet regulations, the Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development has the right to request removal of the council chairperson from office.

The chairperson shall be considered removed from office if more than half of the total number of elected councillors of the council voted for removal.

In cases when a proposal has been received regarding the removal from office of the council chairperson, the chairperson shall convene an extraordinary council meeting not later than within two weeks from the day the proposal was received, unless a regular council meeting is to take place within this time period. If the council chairperson has not convened a meeting within the specified time, the vice-chairperson shall do so.

Examination of the issue at the meeting shall be chaired by the vice-chairperson of the council.

[8 June 1995; 30 October 1997; 13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 16 December 2010; 31 January 2013]

Section 66. The chairperson or vice-chairperson of a council may resign from office by notifying the council in writing. In such case the chairperson or vice-chairperson of the council shall continue to fulfil his or her duties until the next council meeting at which time his or her term of office shall terminate regardless of whether a new council chairperson or vice-chairperson is elected at the meeting.

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 67.

[31 January 2013 / See Paragraph 33 of Transitional Provisions]

Chapter VII
Local Government Administration

[17 February 2005]

Section 68. Upon the proposal of the council chairperson, the council shall appoint an executive director who, in accordance with the procedures laid down in the local government by-laws, shall be responsible for the work of the local government institutions and the local government capital companies.

The executive director shall ensure continuity in the work of the local government institutions and the local government capital companies in the case of a change of council.

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 31 January 2013 / Amendments to Paragraph one regarding deletion of the second sentence shall come into force on 1 July 2013. See Paragraph 33 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 69. The local government executive director shall:

1) organise the implementation of binding regulations and other laws and regulations issued by the council;

2) issue orders to the heads of local government institutions;

3) prepare proposals to the council regarding the revocation of unlawful or ineffective decisions of the relevant local government institutions;

4) propose to the council the appointment to office or removal from office of the heads of local government institutions, and, in accordance with the procedures specified in the by-laws of the council, hire and dismiss local government administration employees;

5) submit proposals to the council regarding the formation, reorganisation, and liquidation of the local government institutions and the local government capital companies;

6) in accordance with the procedures and within the scope stipulated by the council, act with local government property and financial resources, and conclude economic transactions with legal persons and natural persons;

7) organise the formulation of the draft territorial development plan, the territorial planning draft and the draft budget, and also the preparation of the economic and annual public reports;

8) perform other duties provided for in the by-laws of the relevant local government and the council decisions.

[31 January 2013 / See Paragraph 33 of Transitional Provisions]

[8 June 1995; 13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 31 January 2013]

Section 69.¹ In order to ensure the accessibility of the services provided by a local government in municipality rural territories and municipal towns, the local government council shall establish a rural territory or town administration.

A rural territory administration need not be established if the administrative territory of the municipality includes only one rural territory or there are less than 500 permanent inhabitants in the rural territory, in such case establishing a joint administration with the neighbouring territorial unit.

A rural territory or town administration need not be established in such territorial unit of the municipality in which the administrative centre of the municipality is located, if the accessibility of the services provided by the local government therein is ensured by other administrative entities of the local government which are located in the administrative centre of the municipality.

The rural territory or town administration shall ensure at least the following services:

1) issue statements according to the competence of the local government and provide information on the issues within the competence of the local government;

2) accept payments for the taxes and fees specified by the State the collection of which has been assigned to the local government and also the payments for fees specified by the council and payments for the services provided by the local government;

3) disburse social benefits of the local government;

4) accept submissions of the natural persons residing in the relevant territory and of the legal persons registered therein and organise the provision of replies to the relevant persons;

5) ensure that information on the decisions taken by the council is available.

The local government council may establish the administration of the association of units of the territorial division (rural territory or rural territory and town), if the territorial division of the municipality specified in the by-laws of the local government includes an association of units of the territorial divisions, ensuring the services referred to in Paragraph four of this Section in each unit of the territorial division forming the association. The conditions included in this Law for the rural territory or town administration, its head and his or her deputy shall be applicable to the administration of the association of units of the territorial division, its head and his or her deputy.

[16 June 2021]

Section 69.² Rural territory or town administration shall be managed by the manager of the rural territory or town administration (hereinafter - the administration manager). Subordination of the administration manager shall be determined by the by-laws of the local government.

The administration manager:

1) shall be responsible for the organisation of work of local government authorities that are included in the administration and for the approval of the by-laws of local government structural units in the municipality local government council, and also if it has been provided for in the by-laws of the local government, shall appoint to and remove from the office the employees of administration;

2) shall be responsible for the accessibility and quality of the local government services and information to be submitted in the administration;

3) shall submit the annual request of financial resources necessary for the functioning of the administration to the executive director for further development;

4) within the framework of the competence specified, shall operate with the financial resources granted and shall be responsible for the use thereof;

5) shall carry out other duties provided for in the by-laws of the relevant local government and council decisions.

[31 January 2013 / See Paragraph 33 of Transitional Provisions]

[17 July 2008; 31 January 2013]

Chapter VIII
Control of Local Government Financial and Economic Activity

[21 December 2000; 17 February 2005]

Section 70. [18 October 2020]

Section 71. For the performance of financial audits, the council shall conclude an audit services contract with a sworn auditor or a commercial company of sworn auditors the remuneration of which shall be paid for from the funds provided for in the budget of the relevant local government.

According to the instructions of the State Audit Office, the financial audit shall also include other issues related to the use of funds and actions of a local government if the State Audit Office has informed the Latvian Association of Sworn Auditors thereof until 30 March of the reporting year.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development is entitled to involve specialists for the performance of an extraordinary financial audit of a local government.

[21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 16 December 2010; 8 October 2020]

Section 72. Councils shall ensure the preparation of an annual public report and a notice regarding its publication.

The local government annual public report shall include information regarding:

1) the implementation of the budgets of two previous years and the accepted budget of the current year, including regarding the amount of obligations and guarantees;

2) the valuation of local government immovable property for the last two years;

3) the value of local government capital and expected changes in it;

4) the measures performed in the previous two years, and also those planned for the current year in implementing the territorial development plan, including regarding:

a) public investments in the infrastructure of the administrative territory of the local government,

b) private investment in the administrative territory of the local government,

c) the participation of residents and legal persons in discussion and improvement of the local government territorial development programme and territorial planning;

5) the sworn auditor's report on the annual financial statement;

6) the council decision on the annual economic report of the previous year;

7) the audit opinions of the State Audit Office and the measures taken by the council to rectify discovered deficiencies;

8) the participation of the local government in co-operation projects;

9) the measures taken to improve the management of local government;

10) the measures taken in order to promote the awareness of residents regarding the activities of the local government and the possibilities for their participation in the discussion of decisions;

11) the granting of financial resources to associations and foundations by indicating the amount and objective of the financial allocation for each association and foundation.

Local governments may also add other information to the annual public report.

[21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 8 October 2020]

Section 73. A council may establish an audit commission which shall operate in accordance with the by-laws approved by the council.

[21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 74. The State Audit Office shall, within the scope of its competence, supervise the actions of local governments with financial means and property.

[21 December 2000; 17 February 2005]

Section 75.

[21 December 2000]

Chapter IX
Economic Basis

Section 76. The economic basis of local governments is property, including financial resources, which is composed of:

1) tax payments of legal and natural persons into the local government budget;

2) State budget grants and earmarked grants;

3) credits;

4) local fees and other payments into the local government budget;

5) fines that are transferred into the local government budget;

6) revenue from the management of local government property and from the economic activity of local government undertakings;

7) voluntary payments of legal persons and natural persons for the achievement of specific goals;

8) other revenue.

[21 December 2000; 17 February 2005]

Section 77. Local government property shall be segregated from State property and the property of other holders of rights. A local government uses its property and shall act with it in accordance with the procedures laid down in law.

Local government property shall be used to satisfy the needs of residents of the relevant administrative territory either by giving it for public use (roads, streets, public squares, parks), or by establishing institutions and local government capital companies that ensure the rights of residents and provide them with necessary services (administration institutions, social and health care, educational, cultural, sport and other institutions).

[17 February 2005]

The local government may utilise that part of the property, that is not necessary for the abovementioned purposes, to obtain revenue by economic means for satisfying the needs of residents, or also, in accordance with the procedures laid down in law, to privatise or alienate such.

Property disputes between the State, other legal persons, natural persons and local governments shall be decided in court.

If a local government official has caused losses to the local government in the performance of the duties of his or her position with intent or by gross negligence, he or she has an obligation to compensate such losses.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development may also bring a claim for compensation to a court. In such case, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development is released from the payment of State fees, but the acquired funds shall be included in the budget of the relevant local government.

[17 February 2005; 16 December 2010]

Section 78. Local governments have the right of first refusal, if immovable property in the local government administrative territory is being alienated and such is necessary to perform the local government functions specified in law, by taking into account the use of the territory permitted (planned) in the territorial planning, laws and regulations, development planning documents and other documents that substantiate the necessity of the relevant immovable property for the implementation of the local government functions.

The right of first refusal shall not apply to:

1) immovable property acquired by the State;

2) immovable property acquired by foreign states for the needs of their diplomatic or consular institutions;

3) property to be privatised by the State and local governments;

4) production facilities with all their equipment;

5) immovable property that is transferred from one person to another without remuneration or by way of exchange;

6) immovable property from which a part has been alienated and which property remains under joint ownership of the seller and purchaser;

7) immovable property that is being sold by voluntary or mandatory auction;

8) immovable property in relation to which third persons have the right of first refusal or pre-emption based on law, contract, or will;

9) residential property, including a flat, the ownership of which has been acquired up to the privatisation of the residential building.

A local government that has acquired the immovable property on the basis of first refusal may, within five years, sell it only by open auction.

The procedures and time periods for exercising the right of first refusal shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[5 February 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 June 2010]

Section 79. Local governments have the right to make a proposal to Cabinet regarding the compulsory alienation of immovable property in favour of the relevant local government, in accordance with the procedures laid down in law, if such property is necessary for public use, that is, roads, streets, public squares, footpaths, trestles, and also for the construction of harbour berths. The procedures for the alienation of property shall be determined by a separate law.

Section 80. The preparation of local government budgets and management of finances, and also the rights of local governments to make their own revenue, shall be determined by separate laws.

[17 February 2005]

Chapter X
District Council

[17 July 2008]

Chapter XI
Local Governments and the Cabinet

Section 86. The Cabinet shall coordinate with local governments all issues that affect the interests of all local governments:

1) draft laws and draft Cabinet regulations that pertain to local governments;

2) the amounts of grants and earmarked grants to be provided to local governments for the current financial year;

3) the procedures for the equalisation of local government financial resources, unless specified in law;

4) [5 February 1998];

5) sources of financing for the functions specified in Section 8 of this Law;

6) other issues on local government activities regarding which the Cabinet has agreed to with local governments each year prior to the start of the financial year.

Local governments shall be represented in the coordination process by a local government association that has been established in accordance with the requirements of Section 96 of this Law.

The Minister of the relevant sector shall represent the Cabinet in the coordination process or a person authorised by the Minister.

The procedures by which the Cabinet shall coordinate with local governments the issues referred to in Paragraph one of this Section shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[8 June 1995; 5 February 1998; 5 June 2003; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008 / Amendments to Paragraph two in respect of the words "a local government association" shall come into force on 1 September 2009. See the norm governing the time of coming into force of the Law of 17 July 2008]

Section 87. Issues that affect the interests of particular local governments and are not to be examined in accordance with the procedures laid down in Section 86 of this Law shall be examined by the Cabinet in accordance with Cabinet Rules of Order.

On such issues, the relevant local government shall be represented by the council chairperson or a person authorised by the chairperson.

[8 June 1995; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 88. The results of discussions regarding the issues referred to in Section 86 of this Law shall be formulated in the form of minutes.

The Cabinet, in sending to the Saeima draft laws that relate to local governments, shall attach to it a copy of the minutes of the Cabinet committee meeting in which the issues coordinated with local governments and differences of opinion have been recorded.

The discussion minutes on differences of opinion regarding issues that are within the competence of the Cabinet or ministries shall be examined by Cabinet.

[8 June 1995]

Section 89. If Cabinet regulations or other laws and regulations that regulate the activities of local governments are contrary to the Constitution, this Law or other laws, local governments may propose revocation of such in accordance with the procedures laid down in law.

Section 90. Proposals to amend laws shall be submitted to Cabinet by the local government associations or by individual local governments.

[17 July 2008 / Amendments to Paragraph two in respect of the words "a local government association" shall come into force on 1 September 2009. See the norm governing the time of coming into force of the Law of 17 July 2008]

Chapter XII
Dismissal of a Council and its Chairperson

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 91. The Saeima may dismiss a council if it:

1) repeatedly fails to observe or violates the Constitution, laws, and Cabinet regulations, or fails to execute court judgments;

2) repeatedly takes decisions and performs activities on issues that are within the competence of the Saeima, the Cabinet, ministries, other State administration institutions, or the courts;

3) has not elected a chairperson, vice-chairperson, or standing committees of the council within two months after the first meeting or after resignation of the relevant officials or authorities;

4) is unable to take decisions because at three successive meetings more than half of the total number of councillors of the relevant council have not participated.

[21 December 2000]

[8 June 1995; 13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 92. A council shall be dismissed by means of a law, the draft of which the Cabinet shall submit to the Saeima.

A draft law regarding dismissal of a council shall be submitted by the Cabinet upon its own initiative or upon proposal of the Prosecutor General.

The Saeima, in adopting a law regarding dismissal of a council, shall appoint, upon proposal of the Cabinet, a temporary administration in the relevant administrative territory and shall determine the time period within which elections for a new council shall be held. The term of office of a temporary administration and a newly elected council shall be determined by the Law on the Election of Local Government Councils.

A temporary administration shall perform the functions of the council provided for in laws and shall act until the day of the first meeting of the newly elected council.

[21 December 2000]

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 19 December 2019; 16 June 2021]

Section 93. If the council chairperson fails to fulfil the duties specified by the laws, the Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development, after the receipt of an explanation of the chairperson of the relevant council, may with a substantiated order relieve the chairperson from performing the duties of office. The order shall be published in the official gazette Latvijas Vēstnesis within three days after it is taken. The council chairperson shall be considered relieved from performance of the duties of office from the day when the order of the Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development regarding the removal from office of the council chairperson is published in the official gazette Latvijas Vēstnesis.

The council chairperson has the obligation to submit, within seven days from receipt of a request from the Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development, a written explanation regarding the reasons for the violations of the Constitution, laws and Cabinet regulations that have been permitted to occur, or for the failure to execute a court judgment. Failure to submit an explanation within the specified term shall be considered as refusal to submit an explanation.

The council chairperson has the right, within 30 days after publication of the order of the Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development, to file a submission in court regarding revocation of the order of the Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development. If the council chairperson has not exercised these rights, the chairperson, after expiry of the term of 30 days, shall be considered dismissed. If the court rejects the submission of the council chairperson, the council chairperson shall be considered dismissed from the day when the court judgment comes into effect.

If the order of the Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development is revoked by a court judgment, the council chairperson shall receive the monthly salary of a council chairperson for the time period that the chairperson was relieved from the performance of the duties of office.

[8 June 1995; 30 October 1997; 13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 17 June 2010; 16 December 2010; 31 January 2013]

Section 94. The council chairperson removed from office in accordance with the procedures of Section 93 of this Law may not be re-elected as a chairperson during the current term of the council.

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000; 17 February 2005; 17 July 2008]

Section 94.¹ If a local government council or other local government authorities do not fulfil or violate the Constitution, laws, Cabinet regulations or also do not fulfil court judgments, the Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development may request an explanation from the council chairperson.

The chairperson of the local government council has a duty, within 20 days after having received the request from the Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development, to provide a written explanation regarding the violations of the Constitution, laws and Cabinet regulations allowed by the council or other local government authorities or also the reasons for not fulfilling the court judgment.

[17 February 2005; 17 July 2008; 16 December 2010]

Chapter XIII
Co-operation among Local Governments

Section 95. In order to perform tasks in which all or several local governments have an interest, local governments have the right to cooperate as well as to establish local government associations or to join such associations.

Local government co-operation agreements shall be entered into within the limitations of local government budget, if a relevant decision has been taken by the council, or also if the procedures for entering into such are specified in the local government by-laws.

Local governments may establish associations whose regulations for founding, registration, activities and liquidation are determined by this Law and the Associations and Foundations Law.

A decision on the founding of a local government association or joining such and also terminating membership in a local government association shall be taken by the relevant local government council.

Local governments, in associations founded by them, shall be represented by the chairperson of the relevant council or by a person authorised by the chairperson.

[17 July 2008 / Amendments to Paragraphs one, three, four and five in respect of local government associations shall come into force on 1 September 2008. See the norm governing the time of coming into force of the Law of 17 July 2008]

Section 96. A local government association in which, in accordance with procedures laid down in law and its articles of association, more than half of all State city local governments and also more than half of all municipality local governments have joined as members, is entitled to represent local governments in their discussions with the Cabinet.

[17 July 2008; 16 June 2021]

Section 97. Local governments and associations established by them may cooperate with the local governments of other states and associations thereof, if such cooperation is not contrary to legislative enactments of the cooperating states and conforms to mutual agreements concluded among such states.

[17 July 2008 / Amendments in respect of the word "associations" shall come into force on 1 September 2008. See the norm governing the time of coming into force of the Law of 17 July 2008]

Section 98. Local governments, under the supervision of which are not the necessary infrastructure objects, have an obligation to enter into agreements with other local governments in order to ensure the performance of functions specified in law. The procedures for settling mutual accounts shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[13 November 1997; 9 December 1999]

Section 99. In order to resolve common tasks, local governments may, upon mutual agreement, establish joint institutions. Such institutions shall operate on the basis of by-laws approved by the relevant councils. The by-laws shall specify the competence of the local government joint institution (hereinafter - the joint institution), the procedures for the financing, supervision, liquidation thereof, and also the procedures by which withdrawal from the joint institution takes place, and other issues regarding activities of the local government joint institution.

[17 July 2008]

Section 99.¹ The local governments that established this institution shall implement the supervision of the joint institution through the supervisory council. If local governments establish several joint institutions, one supervisory council may be established for the supervision.

The supervisory council shall consist of at least three members, but not less than the number of local governments forming the joint institution. Each local government shall delegate the vice-chairperson of the council for the work in the supervisory council, and also other officials at its discretion.

The work of the supervisory council of the joint institution shall be managed by the chairperson of the supervisory council. Duties of the chairperson of the supervisory council shall be fulfilled by the vice-chairperson of the largest local government council according to the number of inhabitants, if local governments do not agree otherwise.

The supervisory council shall act in accordance with the by-laws approved by the relevant local government councils in which the competence and the procedures for activities of the supervisory council as well as the procedures for the selection of the chairperson of the council, the rights and obligations of the members of the council and the procedures for the replacement shall be regulated.

[17 July 2008]

Section 99.² The supervisory council shall:

1) determine the action plan and the annual budget of the joint institution;

2) determine the monthly salary of the manager of the joint institution;

3) appoint to and remove from office, and also apply disciplinary measures to the manager of the joint institution;

4) evaluate the results of activities of the joint institution;

5) fulfil other duties laid down in laws and regulations.

The supervisory council is entitled to request and receive information on the activity of the joint institution.

[17 July 2008]

Section 99.³ The joint institution shall act in the field of public and private rights in the name of the relevant legal persons governed by public law.

Movable property may be in the ownership, possession, or use of the joint institution. Immovable property may be in the possession or use of the joint institution.

The joint institution shall have an independent budget.

[17 July 2008]

Section 99.⁴ If the by-laws of the local government or another external legal act does not specify the obligation to contest the administrative act or the actual action of the joint institution, the administrative acts and actual action of the joint institution may be appealed to a court.

Local governments that established the joint institution shall, in proportion to the number thereof, be responsible for the losses caused by the joint institution in the field of public or private rights, if local governments do not agree otherwise.

[17 July 2008]

Section 100. A cooperative association is an institution that is established by local governments by entering into a cooperation agreement. In order to enter into a cooperation agreement, each local government council shall take a decision on the entering into of a cooperation agreement.

A cooperation agreement shall indicate:

1) the purpose of cooperation;

2) the form of cooperation;

3) the financial and property participation of each local government in the achievement of the common purpose;

4) the procedures for the establishment of a cooperation council and its competence, if the relevant local government councils consider the establishment of such council is necessary;

5) the procedures for the termination of the cooperation agreement;

6) other issues which the relevant local government councils consider as necessary.

A cooperation council shall not take decisions which are within the exclusive competence of a local government council.

[21 December 2000; 17 July 2008]

Transitional Provisions

1. Rural territory and city local governments shall register the permanent residence of residents until this function is taken over by the Ministry of the Interior.

2. [5 February 1998]

3. All officials appointed by the previous local government and all employees of local government institutions and undertakings have the right to continue employment regardless of a change of city council (rural territory council). A name change of a local government decision-making body shall not be a basis for dismissing a local government employee.

4. [5 February 1998]

5. [5 February 1998]

6. [5 February 1998]

7. [5 February 1998]

8. [5 February 1998]

9. [5 February 1998]

10. On the day this Law comes into force the following laws are repealed:

1) On City Local Governments (Latvijas Republikas Augstākās Padomes un Valdības Ziņotājs, 1991, Nos. 25/26, 39, 42; 1992, No. 1; 1993, No. 7; Latvijas Republikas Saeimas un Ministru Kabineta Ziņotājs, 1993, No. 33; 1994, No. 3);

2) On Parish Local Governments (Latvijas Republikas Augstākās Padomes un Valdības Ziņotājs, 1991, Nos. 25/26, 39, 42; 1992, No. 1; 1993, No. 7; Latvijas Republikas Saeimas un Ministru Kabineta Ziņotājs, 1993, No. 33; 1994, No. 3);

3) On District Local Governments (Latvijas Republikas Augstākās Padomes un Valdības Ziņotājs, 1992, No. 8/9; 1993, No. 7; Latvijas Republikas Saeimas un Ministru Kabineta Ziņotājs, 1993, No. 33; 1994, No. 3);

4) On the Capital City Rīga Local Government (Latvijas Republikas Augstākās Padomes un Valdības Ziņotājs, 1992, No. 26; 1993, No. 7; Latvijas Republikas Saeimas un Ministru Kabineta Ziņotājs, 1993, No. 33; 1994, No. 3);

5) Chapters two, four and five of the Law on Additions and Amendments in Some Laws of the Republic of Latvia to Ensure Preservation of Personnel Documents (Latvijas Republikas Augstākās Padomes un Valdības Ziņotājs, 1993, No. 22/21).

11. On the day this Law comes into force, the decision of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia On By-laws Regarding Audit Commissions of People's Deputy Councils of Districts, Cities, City Districts and Parishes (Latvijas Republikas Augstākās Padomes un Valdības Ziņotājs, 1992, No. 6/7) is repealed.

12. On the day this Law comes into force, the following decisions of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia are repealed:

1) On the Application of Section 30, Paragraph five of the Law of the Republic of Latvia of 24 April 1991 On City Local Governments and, Section 30, Paragraph five of the Law of the Republic of Latvia of 24 April 1991 On Parish Local Governments (Latvijas Republikas Augstākās Padomes un Valdības Ziņotājs, 1991, No. 29/30);

2) On the Application of Specific Sections of the Laws of the Republic of Latvia On Parish Local Governments, On City Local Governments, On District Local Governments (Latvijas Republikas Augstākās Padomes un Valdības Ziņotājs, 1992, No. 17);

3) On the Application of the Law of the Republic of Latvia of 10 June 1992 On the Capital City Rīga Local Government (Latvijas Republikas Augstākās Padomes un Valdības Ziņotājs, 1992, No. 29/31);

4) On the Application of Specific Sections of the Laws of the Republic of Latvia On Parish Local Governments, On City Local Governments, On District Local Governments and On the Capital City Rīga Local Government (Latvijas Republikas Augstākās Padomes un Valdības Ziņotājs, 1993, No. 18/19).

13. [21 December 2000]

14. The newly established district council shall:

1) [21 December 2000];

2) continue to maintain institutions supervised by the district local government, and supervise district local government undertakings until they are transferred to rural territory or city local governments or to other holders of rights, or until they are reorganised. The discontinuance of the activities of medical treatment, educational, cultural, children's and social institutions shall be allowed only if the relevant services to residents are ensured by another institution or by other means;

3) ensure the operation of the civil defence system until such function is taken over by the State;

4) perform other functions specified for district local governments in other laws until amendments are made in relevant laws, if in accordance with Section 15 of this Law the relevant function is not to be handed over to a rural territory or city local government.

[13 November 1997; 21 December 2000]

15. [21 December 2000]

16. [21 December 2000]

17. [21 December 2000]

18. [16 June 1998]

19. Amendments to Section 5 and Section 20, Paragraph one (regarding the election of an audit commission); Section 21, Paragraph two, Clause 2 (regarding an annual public report); Section 26, Paragraph five (regarding the public accessibility of decisions of an audit commission); Section 28, Paragraph one, Clause 2 and Section 33, Paragraph one, Clause 2 (regarding the submission of draft decisions of an audit commission); Section 35, Paragraph two (regarding the chairperson of an audit commission); Section 36, Paragraph two (regarding the chairperson of an audit commission); Section 38, Paragraph one (regarding members of an audit commission); Section 65, Paragraph one, Clause 3 and Section 69, Paragraph one, Clause 7 (regarding an annual public report); the title and text of Chapter VIII and Section 82, Paragraph two (regarding an annual public report); Section 82.¹, Paragraph one, Clause 2 (regarding an annual public report); Section 85.¹ and the title of Chapter XII (regarding the dismissal of an audit commission); Section 91, Paragraphs one and two (regarding an audit commission) and Section 92, Paragraphs one, two, and five (regarding an audit commission) of the Law shall come into force on 11 March 2001.

[21 December 2000]

20. Up to the day of the coming into force of new Cabinet regulations, but not later than by 1 January 2004, Cabinet Regulation No. 460 of 24 December 1996, Procedures by which the Cabinet shall Co-ordinate with Local Governments Issues, which Involve Local Government Interests, shall be applied insofar as it is not in conflict with this Law.

[5 June 2003]

21. City councils (rural territory councils) shall, by 1 September 2005, adopt a local government by-law in conformity with the provisions of Section 24 of this Law.

[17 February 2005]

22. The Cabinet shall, by 1 November 2008, draw up and submit to the Saeima draft laws regarding amendments necessary to other laws for the coordination thereof with this Law. The Cabinet shall, by 1 May 2012, draw up and submit to the Saeima a draft law regarding local government referendums.

[17 July 2008; 17 June 2010; 15 December 2011]

23. Section 61.³ of this Law shall come into force concurrently with the law on local government referendums.

[17 July 2008]

24. If during the administrative territorial reform one municipality is created in the territory of a district local government, the relevant municipality shall ensure the fulfilment of competence of the district council, observing the organisation of the work of local government specified by this Law.

[17 July 2008 / Clause shall come into force on 1 September 2008. See the norm governing the time of coming into force of the Law of 17 July 2008]

25. If during the administrative territorial reform two municipalities are created in the territory of district local government, the district council shall, by 1 July 2009, continue to work in the composition which was prior to the creation of municipalities.

[17 July 2008 / Clause shall come into force on 1 September 2008. See the norm governing the time of coming into force of the Law of 17 July 2008]

26. Within a year after the first meeting of the newly created municipality council, the municipality council shall evaluate the adopted biding regulations of the former local governments forming the municipality and shall adopt new binding regulations of the municipality. Binding regulations of the former local governments forming the municipality shall be in force until the date of the coming into force of the binding regulations of the municipality, except for the binding regulations in spatial planning matters and amendments to the budget.

[17 July 2008]

26.¹ If a municipality council has not revoked or recognised as repealed the binding regulations adopted by former local governments (of rural territories, cities) forming the municipality, except for binding regulations in respect of territorial planning matters, such binding regulations shall be repealed as of 1 October 2010.

[17 June 2010]

27. Binding regulations of district local governments, except for binding regulations in spatial planning matters and binding regulations regarding the approval of the budget of local governments and amendments to the budget, shall cease to have effect on 1 July 2009.

[17 July 2008]

28. Local governments, where joint institutions have been created before 1 July 2009 and that operate, shall ensure the conformity of operation of these institutions with the provisions specified in Sections 99, 99.¹, 99.², 99.³, and 99.⁴ of this Law until 1 November 2009.

[17 July 2008]

29. Local government councils elected in the local government elections of 2009 shall come together for the first meeting on 1 July 2009. The first meeting of the newly elected council shall be convened by the chairperson of the municipality electoral commission.

[17 July 2008 / Clause shall come into force on 1 September 2008. See the norm governing the time of coming into force of the Law of 17 July 2008]

30. In 2009 the remuneration (salary etc.) specified in accordance with this Law shall be determined pursuant with the Law on Remuneration of Officials and Employees of the State and Local Government Authorities in 2009.

[12 December 2008]

31. The local government binding regulations issued in accordance with the wording of Section 43, Paragraph one, Clause 11 and that were in force until 1 October 2010, shall remain in force also after 1 October 2010, unless it is decided otherwise in accordance with the procedures laid down in the law.

[17 June 2010]

32. The local government shall ensure recording of the council meetings in audio format and posting on the website of the council stipulated in Section 37, Paragraph one of this Law not later than until 1 July 2015.

[31 January 2013; 19 June 2014]

33. Amendments to this Law regarding the rewording of Section 38, the supplementation of the second sentence of Section 58, Paragraph one after the words "chairperson of a committee" with the words "and his or her vice-chairperson", and also amendments to this Law regarding the deletion of Section 67, the second sentence of Section 68, Paragraph one, of Section 69, Paragraph two and Section 69.², Paragraph three shall come into force on 1 July 2013.

[31 January 2013]

34. The municipality council shall fulfil the requirement referred to in Section 45, Paragraph five of this Law regarding determining of the place for the publication of binding regulations by 30 June 2016.

[8 October 2015]

35. Amendment regarding the supplementation of Section 61 of this Law with Paragraph four shall come into force concurrently with the Law on Administrative Liability.

[5 December 2019]

36. Amendments to Section 45, Paragraph five of this Law regarding the supplementation of the first sentence with the words "and also municipal" and regarding the deletion of the second, third, fourth, and fifth sentence shall come into force on 1 January 2022.

[16 June 2021]

The Law shall come into force on 9 June 1994.

The Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 19 May 1994.

Acting for the President,
Chairperson of the Saeima A. Gorbunovs

Rīga, 24 May 1994

¹ The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia

Translation © 2021 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)