LOCAL AND REGIONAL STRUCTURES IN CROATIA
Croatia is a unitary state composed of municipalities, towns, cities (grad) and counties (županija).
Local level: 429 municipalities, 106 towns and 21 cities (grad)
Local authorities
Local authorities in Croatia are divided into municipalities, towns, and cities.
Municipalities
The municipality (grad) is a local self-government unit with less than 10 000 inhabitants.
The municipal council is the municipality's representative body. Members of the municipal council are elected by direct universal suffrage for a period of four years.
The mayor (gradonacelnik) is the municipality's executive body. He/she notably directs the activities of the administrative bodies and ensures that existing legislation is enforced.
Towns
The town (grad) is a local self-government unit with more than 10 000 and less than 35 000 inhabitants.
The town council is the town's representative body. Members of the town council are elected by direct universal suffrage for a period of four years.
The mayor (gradonacelnik) is the town's executive body. He/she notably directs the activities of the administrative bodies and ensures that existing legislation is enforced.
Competences of municipalities and towns
. Localities and housing
. Regional and town planning
. Child care
. Social welfare
. Primary health care
. Education
. Culture
. Sports
. Consumer protection
. Environment
. Fire prevention
. Civil protection
. Regional traffic
Cities
The city (grad) is a local self-government unit with more than 35 000 inhabitants. Due to the size of their population, cities can take over a part of the county's jurisdiction.
The city assembly is the city's representative body. Members of the city assembly are elected by direct universal suffrage for a period of four years.
The mayor (gradonacelnik) is the city's executive body. He/she notably directs the activities of the administrative bodies and ensures that existing legislation and laws are enforced.
Competences of cities (on top of those also held by municipalities and towns)
. Maintenance of public roads
. Building and renting permits
The City of Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, has the status of a city and of a county, which means its competencies are those of both local and regional authorities.
Regional level: 21 counties (županija)
Regional authorities
There are a total of 21 counties, including the City of Zagreb, which doubles as a county and as a city, although there are only 20 county seats in the County Assembly.
The county (županija) is the primary territorial subdivision of Croatia. This regional self-government unit has a large degree of autonomy. Croatia is currently undergoing a process of decentralisation of power from the national level to the regional level. Thus, many administrative tasks are gradually being transmitted to the counties.
The county assembly is the county's representative body. The assembly is composed of representatives elected by direct universal suffrage for a four-year term. The county assembly elects the county's executive leadership and decides on the yearly budget.
The county prefect (župan) is the county's executive body. The prefect represents the county in external affairs and presides over its executive government.
Regional competences
. Education
. Health services
. Regional and town planning
. Economic development
. Traffic and traffic infrastructure
. Maintenance of public roads
. Issuing of building and renting permits
