District office; submission of a petition or complaint

According to Art. 115 of the Bavarian Constitution, all residents of Bavaria have the right to submit written requests or complaints to the competent authorities or to the state parliament (right of petition).

The residents of Bavaria can therefore also contact the district administration office with petitions and complaints. The right to petition does not mean that the petitioner or complainant is entitled to a specific decision. However, they are generally entitled to a response. Although this does not need to contain a statement of reasons, it must indicate that the matter has been dealt with and with what result.

Citizens can also suggest that the district administration office should take legal supervisory action with regard to a municipality belonging to the district. The purpose of state supervision is to advise, promote and protect the municipalities in the performance of their tasks in an understanding manner and to strengthen the decision-making power and personal responsibility of the municipal bodies. State supervision therefore only concerns the relationship between the supervisory authority and the municipality; a citizen therefore has no right to legal supervisory intervention.

The review and response to submissions and complaints is free of charge.

• Art. 115 Constitution of the Free State of Bavaria
• Article 17 of the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany (GG)