What the Law of Ukraine “On Local Self-Government in Ukraine” Regulates

The Law of Ukraine “On Local Self-Government in Ukraine” No. 280/97-VR was adopted on May 21, 1997. It defines how territorial communities manage local affairs, which bodies are created for this purpose, who is responsible for what, and within what limits local councils, heads, and executive bodies may act. The law came into force on June 12, 1997.

Simply put, this is one of the main laws that explains who makes decisions in your city, town, or village. It regulates a significant portion of issues related to the work of the local council, city or town head, executive committee, elder, municipal property, and the local budget.

Its legal basis is directly enshrined in the Constitution of Ukraine. Article 140 of the Constitution establishes the right of the territorial community to independently resolve local issues within the limits of the Constitution and laws of Ukraine.

What Local Self-Government Is in Simple Terms

Local self-government is the ability of residents of a particular community to independently solve local issues either directly or through bodies elected by them.

In the Law itself, local self-government is defined as a state-guaranteed right and the real capacity of a territorial community to resolve local matters within the Constitution and laws of Ukraine.

In other words, the state is not supposed to decide everything on behalf of the community. A significant portion of everyday issues is transferred to the local level.

In practice, this concerns, in particular:

• local budgets and the use of community funds;
• municipal property;
• local development programs;
• housing and utilities;
• territory improvement;
• local roads and transport infrastructure within the powers defined by law;
• activities of communal enterprises and institutions;
• land issues within the competence of local self-government bodies;
• social, educational, cultural, and other local programs.

However, the local council cannot make any decision just because the deputies want it. Every action must have a legal basis and fall within the competence of the respective body.

Who Is the Main Subject of Local Self-Government

The main subject is neither the city mayor nor the council. The primary subject is the territorial community.

The law defines the territorial community as residents united by permanent residence within the respective territory. The community is the bearer of local self-government.

Through Whom Does the Community Exercise Its Powers

The Law of Ukraine on Local Self-Government provides for an entire system of bodies and officials.

They include:

• the territorial community;
• village, settlement, or city council;
• village, settlement, or city head;
• executive bodies of the respective council;
• district and regional councils that represent common interests of territorial communities;
• elders;
• self-organization bodies of the population in cases provided by law.

The Constitution separately establishes that local self-government can be carried out by the community directly and through village, settlement, city councils and their executive bodies. District and regional councils represent the common interests of territorial communities.

What the Local Council Does

The local council is an elected representative body. It consists of deputies and represents the interests of the territorial community.

The council adopts a significant portion of the key decisions of the community. The law clearly distinguishes the issues decided by the council itself and the powers of its executive bodies.

Simply explained, the council operates as follows:

1. Deputies consider the issue assigned by law to the council’s competence.
2. The draft decision is submitted for consideration according to an established procedure.
3. The council holds a meeting and votes.
4. After the decision is adopted, it acquires legal force according to the law.
5. The respective bodies and officials ensure the implementation of the decision.

Within their lawful powers, local self-government bodies make decisions that are mandatory for execution in the respective territory. This is explicitly provided for in Article 144 of the Constitution of Ukraine.

What Powers Does a City, Town, or Village Head Have

The head occupies a distinct place in the system of local self-government. They should not be equated with the entire local government.

They cannot unilaterally replace the council and decide issues that by law belong exclusively to the competence of deputies. At the same time, the head organizes much of the council’s and its executive structures’ work and performs other functions provided by law.

Therefore, the answer to the question “Who is more authoritative – the city head or city council” depends on the particular issue. The law distributes competence among different bodies and does not provide unlimited powers to a single official.

What the Executive Committee of the Local Council Is

Executive bodies are necessary for the practical implementation of local decisions and daily management.

For example, the council may approve a program or budget decision, but the direct execution of much of the tasks is ensured by the executive bodies, structural units, and officials.

It is important to distinguish:

• the council – a representative body formed from deputies;
• the head – an elected official;
• the executive committee and other executive bodies – structures performing powers assigned by law and by the council.

This division has practical significance. If a citizen wants to challenge a decision or address a specific issue, they first need to establish which body had the competence to resolve it.

How the Law Regulates the Local Budget and Municipal Property

Local self-government is impossible without its own material and financial basis.

Article 142 of the Constitution of Ukraine attributes to such a basis movable and immovable property, local budget revenues, other funds, land and natural resources that belong to territorial communities, as well as objects of communal ownership of communities.

The Law on Local Self-Government also regulates the right of communal ownership. This relates not only to city council buildings. A much broader range of property can be communal – real estate, housing stock, communal enterprises, educational, cultural, sports institutions, land, and other resources if they belong to the respective territorial community.

Therefore, the property of a communal enterprise, the community budget, or a communal land plot is not “the mayor’s property.” The legal owner, in cases prescribed by law, is the territorial community, and the corresponding bodies manage such property within their granted powers.

What Rights Does an Ordinary Resident of the Community Have

The Law of Ukraine “On Local Self-Government in Ukraine” concerns not only officials and deputies. It defines mechanisms for residents’ participation in local life.

Depending on the specific procedure, citizens can participate in solving local issues through forms of direct democracy and legally provided participation tools.

Practically, this may mean:

• participation in public hearings;
• submitting local initiatives in the prescribed manner;
• participation in general assemblies of citizens where provided by law;
• appeals to the local council and its officials;
• obtaining public information according to separate legislation;
• participation in self-organization bodies of the population;
• challenging illegal decisions of local bodies.

The Constitution additionally guarantees citizens the right to participate in state governance and to elect and be elected to local self-government bodies.

What Are Self-Organization Bodies of the Population

This is another tool for local participation.

At residents’ initiative, house, street, neighborhood, and other self-organization bodies of the population may be created. By law, the council may transfer to them part of its competence, finances, and property in the prescribed manner.

This mechanism allows residents to solve issues not only at the city or community level but also at the level of a particular house, block, or other part of the settlement.

Can the Local Council Make Decisions Contrary to the Law

No. Local self-government is autonomous only within the limits of the Constitution and laws of Ukraine.

This is a fundamental boundary. The council, executive committee, or head cannot create powers for themselves that the law does not grant.

If an act of a local self-government body or official contradicts the Constitution or laws, its legality may be reviewed in the prescribed legal manner, including by a court. The Constitution expressly guarantees judicial protection of local self-government rights, and the Constitutional Court’s case law confirms the possibility of judicial control over the legality of decisions of local self-government bodies.

How the Law on Local Self-Government Differs from the Constitution of Ukraine

The Constitution establishes the fundamental principles. Law No. 280/97-VR describes them in much greater detail.

In Chapter XI of the Constitution of Ukraine, articles 140–146 are dedicated to local self-government. They define the main principles, bodies, material basis, key powers, and guarantees.

The Law of Ukraine on Local Self-Government specifies:

• the system of local self-government;
• the competence of councils;
• the powers of heads;
• the work of executive bodies;
• the status of elders;
• management of communal property;
• local finances;
• forms of population participation;
• guarantees of local self-government;
• responsibility of bodies and officials.

Therefore, when resolving a specific issue, it is usually insufficient to read only one article of the Constitution. It is necessary to check the current version of the specialized law and, depending on the situation, other normative acts.

Why It Is Important to Look at the Current Version of the Law

Queries like “Law of Ukraine on Local Self-Government 2021,” “Law of Ukraine on Local Self-Government 2022,” or “Law of Ukraine on Local Self-Government latest version” may lead to outdated materials.

As of September 18, 2026, Law No. 280/97-VR remains in effect. The official database of the Verkhovna Rada shows the current edition as of August 5, 2026.

For legal matters, it is advisable to proceed as follows:

1. Open the official “Legislation of Ukraine” database.
2. Check the status of the document – “in force”.
3. Review the date of the current edition.
4. Find the article regulating the specific power.
5. Check related laws if the article refers to another normative act.

This is especially important in disputes regarding land, municipal property, local budgets, council decisions, or officials’ powers.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Law of Ukraine “On Local Self-Government in Ukraine”