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Territory of Estonia Administrative Division Act

Content

Territory of Estonia Administrative Division Act - content
Issuer:Riigikogu
Type:act
In force from:01.07.2023
In force until: In force
Translation published:30.06.2023

Territory of Estonia Administrative Division Act

Passed 22.02.1995
RT I 1995, 29, 356
Entry into force 27.03.1995, in part 01.09.1995

Amended by the following legal instruments (show)

PassedPublishedEntry into force
29.05.1996RT I 1996, 42, 80830.06.1996
24.11.1999RT I 1999, 93, 83325.12.1999
28.03.2002RT I 2002, 34, 20720.04.2002
28.06.2004RT I 2004, 56, 39925.07.2004
08.03.2006RT I 2006, 14, 11126.04.2006
16.09.2010RT I 2010, 72, 54301.01.2011
27.02.2013RT I, 19.03.2013, 120.03.2013
19.02.2014RT I, 13.03.2014, 223.03.2014
19.06.2014RT I, 29.06.2014, 10901.07.2014, the titles of ministers substituted on the basis of subsection 4 of § 107³ of the Government of the Republic Act in the wording in force as of 1 July 2014.
18.02.2015RT I, 23.03.2015, 301.07.2015
11.06.2015RT I, 30.06.2015, 401.09.2015, in part 01.07.2015
07.06.2016RT I, 21.06.2016, 101.07.2016, in part 01.01.2017, on the date of announcement of the results of the municipal council elections in 2017 and 01.01.2018
14.06.2017RT I, 04.07.2017, 101.01.2018
14.06.2017RT I, 04.07.2017, 201.01.2018, in part 05.07.2017
15.12.2021RT I, 03.01.2022, 113.01.2022
20.06.2023RT I, 30.06.2023, 101.07.2023; words "Ministry of Finance" replaced with words "Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture" throughout the Act.

Chapter 1 General Provisions  

§ 1.  Scope of Act

 (1) This Act provides the administrative division of the territory of Estonia, the alteration of administrative-territorial organisation, and the bases and procedure for the alteration of boundaries and changes to the names of administrative units.

 (2) Issues pertaining to the land, sea and air borders of Estonia are regulated by the State Borders Act.

§ 2.  Administrative division of territory of Estonia

 (1) The administrative division of the territory of Estonia is the division of the territory of Estonia into counties, rural municipalities and cities.

 (2) State administration in counties is carried out by the minister in charge of the policy sector and government agencies pursuant to law.
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]

 (3) Local government administration in rural municipalities and cities is carried out on the bases provided for in §§ 3 and 4 of the Local Government Organisation Act.

 (4) Rural municipality districts or city districts may be formed in a rural municipality or city, respectively, pursuant to the procedure provided by law.

§ 21.  Administrative-territorial organisation

 (1) Administrative-territorial organisation is the division of the territory of Estonia into administrative units.

 (2) An administrative unit is a unit based on administrative division, the name, type and boundaries of which are determined by law and other legislation, and in the territory of which state or local government administration is carried out.
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]

§ 3.  List of administrative units

 (1) The list of administrative units shall be approved and amended by the Government of the Republic.

 (2) The list of administrative units and alterations thereto are published in the Riigi Teataja.

§ 4.  Mapping of boundaries of administrative units

  The boundaries of administrative units are entered on the state cadastral map.

§ 41.  County borders for purposes of Planning Act

  [Repealed – RT I, 04.07.2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]

§ 5.  Capital

  The capital of the Republic of Estonia is Tallinn.

§ 6.  Settlement units

 (1) Settlement units are settlements and urban regions.

 (2) A rural municipality is divided into settlements which are villages, small towns, towns and cities without municipal status.

 (3) A city which is an administrative unit is also a settlement within the same boundaries.

 (4) A city may be divided into urban regions.

 (5) The types and names of and division lines between settlement units are determined on the basis of applications from rural municipality and city councils, on the bases of and pursuant to the procedure specified by the Government of the Republic.

 (51) The inventory of settlement units by counties and rural municipalities and cities belonging thereto, and changes in settlement distribution are established by a regulation of the minister in charge of the policy sector.
[RT I 2006, 14, 111 – entry into force 26.04.2006]

 (6) State operations, including the management of statistics, the organisation of address systems and the maintenance of registers and cadastres, are based on settlement units.
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 - the wording of subsections 1–5 below enters into force on the date of announcement of the results of the municipal council elections in 2017]

 (1) A rural municipality and city is divided into settlement units.

 (2) Settlement units are settlements which are cities, villages, small towns and towns.

 (3) A city which is an administrative unit is also a settlement within the same boundaries. If the administrative territory of a city as an administrative unit contains a city as a settlement unit, which boundary is not identical with the boundary of the administrative unit, the city as an administrative unit is not considered a settlement.

 (4) [Repealed – RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 - enters into force in 2017 on the date of announcement of the results of the municipal council elections]

 (5) The Government of the Republic shall establish, by a regulation, the types and names of and division lines between settlement units.

Chapter 2 Alteration of Administrative-Territorial Organisation and Boundaries and Changes to Names of Administrative Units  

§ 7.  Bases for alteration of administrative-territorial organisation and boundaries and changes to names of administrative units

 (1) Alteration of administrative-territorial organisation is the formation of a new administrative unit or decreasing the number of existing administrative units.

 (2) For the purposes of this Act, alteration of the boundaries of administrative units shall mean alteration of boundaries in the following cases:
 1) assignment of a territorial area belonging to one administrative unit to another administrative unit;
 2) alteration of the boundaries of the administrative units according to land readjustment, and building and planning needs.

 (3) The Government of the Republic shall initiate the alteration of the administrative-territorial organisation of counties.

 (4) The Government of the Republic or the councils concerned shall initiate the alteration of the administrative-territorial organisation, and changes to the boundaries and names of rural municipalities and cities. The alteration of the administrative-territorial organisation may be initiated if as a result of the alteration the local authority to be formed would comprise administrative territories with common boundaries.
[RT I, 19.03.2013, 1 – entry into force 20.03.2013]

 (41) The alteration of the administrative-territorial organisation may be initiated with regard to local authorities located on the islands also in case as a result of the alteration the local authority to be formed would comprise administrative territories without common boundaries. The alteration of the administrative-territorial organisation of the non-adjacent rural municipalities and cities shall not bring about negative effect on the circumstances provided for in subsection 5 of this section.
[RT I, 19.03.2013, 1 – entry into force 20.03.2013]

 (5) The following circumstances shall be considered upon initiation of the alteration of administrative-territorial organisation:
 1) historical reason;
 2) effect on living conditions;
 3) sense of cohesion of residents;
 4) effect on the quality of provision of public services;
 5) effect on administrative efficiency;
 6) effect on demographic situation;
 7) effect on the organisation of transport and communications;
 8) effect on enterprise environment;
 9) effect on education situation;
 10) organisational functioning of local authority as common service area.
[RT I, 19.03.2013, 1 – entry into force 20.03.2013]

 (6) The costs related to the alteration of administrative-territorial organisation, boundaries or change of names of administrative units initiated by the Government of the Republic shall be covered from the state budget pursuant to the procedure established on the basis of subsection 3 of § 58 of the State Budget Act from the funds prescribed for such purposes to the extent and pursuant to the procedure determined by the Government of the Republic, except upon alteration of administrative-territorial procedure in which case the grant intended to cover for the costs related to the alteration shall be allocated from the state budget based on the Promotion of Local Government Merger Act.
[RT I, 13.03.2014, 2 – entry into force 23.03.2014]

 (7) Upon the alteration of administrative-territorial organisation and boundaries of an administrative unit, the opinion of the residents of the relevant local authority with regard to the alteration of administrative-territorial organisation and boundaries of the administrative unit shall be determined by polling. The opinion shall be asked from residents who have attained at least 16 years of age by the time of the residents' poll, who reside permanently in the territory of the relevant local authority and the address details of whose residence have been entered in the Estonian population register, taking account of the following principles:
 1) in case of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation, the opinion of the residents is obtained in all local authorities concerned;
 2) in case of assignment of a territorial area belonging to one administrative unit to another administrative unit, the opinion of the residents is obtained in the territorial area concerned by settlement unit;
 3) in case of alteration of the boundaries of the administrative unit according to land readjustment, building and planning needs, the opinion of the residents is generally not obtained; if necessary, only the opinion of the residents concerned is obtained;
 4) the opinion of the owners of immovables and owners of dwellings as movables located within the territory of the rural municipality or city who are not residents of such rural municipality or city may also be determined.
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]

 (71) A person shall not participate in the poll organised to determine the residents' opinion specified in subsection 7 of this section if:
 1) he or she is divested of the active legal capacity for the purposes of the right to vote
 2) he or she has been convicted by a court and is serving a sentence in a custodial institution.
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]

 (8) The Government of the Republic shall establish by a regulation the extent and procedure for determining the residents' opinion on the alteration of administrative-territorial organisation and boundaries of an administrative unit.
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]

§ 71.  Decisions on alteration of administrative-territorial organisation and boundaries and changes to names of administrative units, and alteration of placement in counties and type of rural municipalities and cities

  [RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]

 (1) The Riigikogu shall decide on the alteration of the administrative-territorial organisation of counties.
[RT I 1996, 42, 808 – entry into force 30.06.1996]

 (2) Alteration of the administrative-territorial organisation of rural municipalities and cities is decided by the Government of the Republic.
[RT I 1996, 42, 808 – entry into force 30.06.1996]

 (3) Alteration of the boundaries of administrative units is decided by the Government of the Republic. Adjustment of the boundaries of administrative units on the basis of land readjustment, building and planning needs shall be decided by government agencies authorised by the Government of the Republic.
[RT I 1996, 42, 808 – entry into force 30.06.1996]

 (4) Changes to the names of administrative units is decided by the Government of the Republic.
[RT I 1996, 42, 808 – entry into force 30.06.1996]

 (5) Alteration of the placement of rural municipalities and cities in counties is decided by the Government of the Republic.
[RT I 1996, 42, 808 – entry into force 30.06.1996]

 (6) Alteration of the type of administrative units of rural municipalities and cities shall be decided by the Government of the Republic.
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]

§ 8.  Alteration of administrative-territorial organisation and boundaries of administrative units of rural municipalities and cities initiated by Government of the Republic

 (1) The Government of the Republic shall initiate, by an order, the alteration of administrative-territorial organisation or boundaries not later than one year before the municipal council elections by making, through the minister in charge of the policy sector, a corresponding proposal to the council of the rural municipality or city concerned (hereinafter council). The proposal shall set out a term not shorter than three months for submitting opinions on the issue. The proposal is deemed to be accepted if a response is not received by such term.
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]

 (2) The Government of the Republic shall annex to the proposal:
 1) an explanatory memorandum justifying the need for the alteration of administrative-territorial organisation or boundaries;
 2) a map together with a description of the boundaries, in the case of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation;
 3) a map of the territorial area concerned together with a description of the boundaries, in the case of alteration of boundaries.

 (3) Upon receiving the proposal of the Government of the Republic specified in subsection 1 of this section, the council shall:
 1) submit to the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture a reasoned opinion prepared in the form of a resolution concerning the proposal of the Government of the Republic by the date specified in the proposal;
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]
 11) organise the determining of opinion of the residents of the rural municipality or city and submit to the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture the information certified by the council regarding the determining of the opinion of the residents of the rural municipality or city together with the resolution specified in clause 1 of this subsection;
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]
 2) agree, at least four months before the regular council elections, with other councils concerned upon the settlement of any organisational, budgetary or other issues related to proprietary rights and obligations as well as issues concerning the preparation of the statutes of the new local authority and making any other necessary amendments to legislation likely to arise in the context of alteration of the administrative-territorial organisation or boundaries;
 3) conduct, in cooperation with other councils concerned, the election activities provided in the Municipal Council Election Act at least 120 days before the election of the new council.

 (4) Upon receiving the proposal of the Government of the Republic specified in subsection 1 of this section, the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture shall:
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]
 1) submit the proposal of the Government of the Republic on alteration of administrative-territorial organisation or boundaries to the councils concerned immediately after receiving the proposal;
 2) [Repealed – RT I, 04.07.2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]
 3) advise the councils concerned in the entry into agreements and settlement of contested issues related to the alteration of administrative-territorial organisation or boundaries.
[RT I, 19.03.2013, 1 – entry into force 20.03.2013]

 (5) The Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture has the right, in relation to implementation of the order of the Government of the Republic specified in subsection 1 of this section, to request other actions, explanations and materials from the council.
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]

§ 81.  Alteration of boundaries of rural municipality or city on initiative of council

 (1) A council requesting the alteration of boundaries shall submit a proposal to the other councils concerned in the form of a resolution.

 (2) The councils which receive such proposal shall, within two months of receiving the proposal, present a resolution concerning their agreement or refusal to initiate the alteration of boundaries to the council which made the proposal. A resolution to refuse to initiate the alteration of boundaries shall be justified.

 (3) The resolutions specified in subsections 1 and 2 shall be forwarded to the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture within ten days after receipt thereof.
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]

 (31) The Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture shall advise the councils concerned in the entry into agreements and settlement of contested issues related to the alteration of boundaries.
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]

 (4) The Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture has the right to make a proposal to the councils concerned to submit an application for alteration of boundaries to another local authority if, taking account of the circumstances provided in subsection 5 of § 7 of this Act, expedience exists for altering the boundaries thereof.
[RT I, 30.06.2015, 4 – entry into force 01.09.2015]

 (5) If a council concerned does not agree to the alteration of boundaries or considers the settlement of issues to be insufficient, the corresponding procedure is terminated.

 (6) If the rural municipalities or city governments agree to initiate the alteration of boundaries, each rural municipality or city government concerned shall guarantee:
 1) [Repealed – RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]
 2) preparation of amendment of statutes and other legislation arising from alteration of boundaries;
 21) agreement on the validity of the legislation in the territorial area transferred in the course of the alteration of boundaries, until the local authority, in which composition the territorial area has been included, has established new legislation;
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 2 – entry into force 05.07.2017]
 3) settlement of any organisational, budgetary and other issues concerning proprietary obligations and rights resulting from the alteration of boundaries;
 4) transparency and communication to the public of the negotiation process;
 5) obtaining the opinion of the residents of the territorial area concerned by settlement unit.

 (7) The council concerned shall adopt a resolution concerning the application for alteration of boundaries after resolving all the issues specified in subsection 6 of this section.

 (8) Upon alteration of boundaries, the councils concerned shall submit to the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture:
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]
 1) the council resolution on the application for alteration of boundaries;
 2) an explanatory memorandum which shall provide reason for the need to alter the current boundaries, and the size (area) of and number of permanent residents in the territorial area to be transferred from the composition of one local authority to another;
 3) in case of application for alteration of boundaries of a rural municipality or city, a map indicating both the current and proposed boundaries of the administrative unit together with the alterations to the boundaries;
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 2 – entry into force 05.07.2017]
 4) information on determination of the opinion of the residents of the rural municipality or city confirmed by the council which also sets out the time and place of the poll, number of permanent residents who are at least 16 years of age within the administrative unit, number of residents who provided their opinion and results of the poll;
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 2 – entry into force 05.07.2017]
 5) [Repealed – RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]
 6) a resolution of the council on amendment of the statutes and other legislation arising from alteration of boundaries;
 7) a resolution of the council on settlement of any organisational, budgetary and other issues concerning proprietary obligations and rights resulting from the alteration of boundaries;
 8) proposals and objections presented to the council together with a statement which sets out the dates of receipt of such proposals and objections, and the identity of the persons submitting them, and the result of the council's review thereof. If the council forwards the issue for resolution to the rural municipality or city government, agency or official concerned, the outcome of such act shall also be indicated in the certificate.

 (9) [Repealed – RT I 04.07, 2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]

 (10) The resolution of a council concerning an application for the alteration of boundaries shall be made public not later than on the date of submission thereof to the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture. In the event of assignment of the territory of one administrative unit to another administrative unit, the decision of the council and the necessary documentation shall be submitted to the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture not later than six months before the date of regular local government council elections.
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]

 (11) [Repealed – RT I 04.07, 2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]

 (12) [Repealed – RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]

 (13) The Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture has the right to request additional information needed for review or expert assessment of the proposals or objections from the councils concerned.
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]

§ 9.  Alteration of administrative-territorial organisation of rural municipality or city on initiative of council

 (1) A council requesting the alteration of administrative-territorial organisation shall submit a proposal in the form of a resolution for the commencement of negotiations regarding the alteration of administrative-territorial organisation to the other councils concerned.
[RT I, 19.03.2013, 1 – entry into force 20.03.2013]

 (2) The councils which receive such proposal shall, within two months of receiving the proposal, present a resolution concerning their agreement or refusal to commence negotiations regarding the alteration of administrative-territorial organisation to the council which made the proposal. A resolution to refuse to commence negotiations regarding the alteration of administrative-territorial organisation shall be justified.
[RT I, 19.03.2013, 1 – entry into force 20.03.2013]

 (3) The resolutions specified in subsections 1 and 2 shall be forwarded to the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture within ten days after receipt thereof.
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]

 (31) The Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture shall advise the councils concerned in the entry into agreements and settlement of contested issues related to the alteration of administrative-territorial organisation.
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]

 (4) The Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture has the right to make a proposal to the councils concerned to submit an application for alteration of administrative-territorial organisation to another local authority if, taking account of the circumstances provided in subsection 5 of § 7 of this Act, good reason exists for altering the administrative-territorial organisation thereof.
[RT I, 30.06.2015, 4 – entry into force 01.09.2015]

 (5) If a council concerned does not agree to the alteration of administrative-territorial organisation or considers the settlement of issues to be insufficient, the corresponding procedure is terminated with regard to this rural municipality or city.
[RT I, 19.03.2013, 1 – entry into force 20.03.2013]

 (6) If the rural municipalities or city governments agree to initiate the alteration of administrative-territorial organisation, each rural municipality or city government concerned shall guarantee:
 1) [Repealed – RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]
 2) transparency and communication to the public of the negotiation process;
 3) ascertaining the opinion of the residents of the rural municipality or city.

 (7) The council concerned shall adopt a resolution concerning the application for alteration of administrative-territorial organisation after resolving all the issues specified in subsection 6 of this section.

 (8) Identical resolutions reached by consensus on the formation of electoral districts, voting districts, rural municipality or city electoral committees and on the number of council members shall be adopted by the local authority bodies concerned pursuant to the procedure provided for in the Municipal Council Election Act, according to the administrative-territorial organisation applied for. Such decisions are deemed to enter into force on the date of entry into force of the regulation of the Government of the Republic on the alteration of administrative-territorial organisation.
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]

 (9) Upon alteration of the administrative-territorial organisation, the council concerned shall submit to the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture:
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]
 1) the resolution of the council on the application for alteration of the administrative-territorial organisation;
 2) the resolutions specified in subsection 8 of this section;
 3) information on determining the opinion of the residents of the rural municipality or city certified by the council which also sets out the time and place of the residents' poll, number of residents of an administrative unit who are at least 16 years of age, number of residents who participated in the poll and results of the poll;
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]
 4) [Repealed – RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]
 5) the proposals and objections submitted to the council concerned;
 6) a resolution on approval of the merger agreement and annexes thereto, and the merger agreement within ten days after adoption of the resolution.

 (10) If the alteration of administrative-territorial organisation results in the alteration of the boundaries of an administrative unit, documentation concerning the boundaries shall be submitted in adherence to subsection 8 of § 81 and § 91 of this Act.

 (11) [Repealed – RT I 04.07, 2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]

 (12) The resolution of a council concerning an application for the alteration of the administrative-territorial organisation shall be made public not later than on the date of submission thereof to the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture. In the case of alteration of the administrative-territorial organisation, the council decision shall be submitted, together with requisite documentation, to the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture not later than six months before the date of the regular elections of the council.
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]

 (13) [Repealed – RT I 04.07, 2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]

 (14) The Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture has the right to request additional information needed for review or expert assessment of the proposals or objections from the councils concerned.
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]

§ 91.  Merger agreement

 (1) In the case of merger of local authorities, the councils of the merging local authorities shall arrange for the preparation of a merger agreement which shall provide:
 1) the name, type and insignia of a local authority;
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]
 2) the amendment of statutes and other legislation arising from the alteration of administrative-territorial organisation;
 3) the validity of legislation (until the entry into force of new legislation, current legislation shall remain in force in the territory of establishment thereof);
 4) the validity of development plans;
 5) the issues related to the structure and employees of administrative agencies and agencies administered thereby;
 6) the settlement of possible organisational, budgetary and other issues concerning proprietary obligations and rights resulting from the alteration of administrative-territorial organisation;
 61) the formation of a rural municipality or city district;
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]
 62) the number of electoral districts to be formed;
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]
 63) the number of members of a municipal council to be formed;
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]
 7) the term of the merger agreement;
 8) other issues considered necessary.

 (11) The opinion of the Government Office on the insignia to be introduced by a local authority specified in clause 1 of subsection 1 of this section shall be obtained before agreeing on the insignia.
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]

 (2) The following shall be appended to the merger agreement:
 1) an explanatory memorandum which shall set out the need and justification for the alteration of administrative-territorial organisation, the size of the territory (area) and number of permanent residents;
 2) audited annual reports of the rural municipalities or cities which have decided to alter their administrative-territorial organisation;
 3) the map of the merging local authority which sets out the current boundaries of the local authorities applying for merger and the boundary of the new local authority formed as a result of the merger. If the local authorities are not merging in their entirety or the merger results in the merging of a territorial area of a local authority, a description of the boundaries shall be annexed to the map which, compared to the former boundary of the local authority, will be altered.
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 2 – entry into force 05.07.2017]

 (3) [Repealed – RT I 21.06, 2016, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]

 (4) The merger agreement together with its annexes shall be displayed for public examination, the public shall be granted an opportunity to examine such documents and a term, which shall not be shorter than three weeks after the beginning of the public display, shall be set for submission of proposals and objections on the matter.

 (5) The proposals and objections presented to the council together with a certificate which sets out the dates of receipt and the persons submitting such proposals and objections, and the result of the review thereof by the council shall be annexed to the merger agreement.

 (6) The merger agreement and annexes thereto shall be approved by a resolution of the council concerned. If alteration of the administrative-territorial organisation results in the alteration of the boundaries of an administrative unit, the merger agreement and annexes thereto shall also be approved by the council of the rural municipality or city whose boundaries are to be altered. If the council of the rural municipality or city whose boundaries are to be altered does not approve the merger agreement, the procedure of alteration of the boundaries of the rural municipality or city shall be terminated.

 (7) The merger agreement together with the annexes thereto shall be published at the website of the rural municipality or city after approval thereof by the councils concerned. The merger agreement shall be published in the Riigi Teataja.
[RT I 2004, 56, 399 – entry into force 25.07.2004]

§ 92.  Passive legal capacity and legal succession

 (1) A local authority formed as a result of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation obtains passive legal capacity on the date of announcement of the results of the municipal council elections.

 (2) Upon formation of a local authority as a result of a merger, the merging local authority as a legal person in public law is terminated. A local authority formed as a result of merger is the universal successor of the merged local authorities.

 (3) As a result of reorganisation of a local authority as a result of a joinder, only the joining local authority as a legal person in public law is terminated. A local authority to which the joining local authority was joined is the universal successor of the joining local authority.
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]

§ 10.  Implementation of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation

 (1) A regulation of the Government of the Republic on the alteration of administrative-territorial organisation enters into force on the day following publication thereof in the Riigi Teataja but not later than ninety days prior to the date of regular municipal council elections. Municipal council elections and necessary election activities shall be carried out pursuant to the Municipal Council Election Act and on the basis of the administrative-territorial organisation to be established by a corresponding regulation.

 (2) The alteration of administrative-territorial organisation and the alteration of the list of administrative units of rural municipalities and cities resulting therefrom enter into force on the date of announcement of the results of the municipal council elections which are held pursuant to the administrative-territorial organisation being established.

 (3) Councils concerned may assume proprietary obligations which are not covered by the budget of the current year only by consensus, from the date of entry into force of the regulation issued by the Government of the Republic concerning the alteration of administrative-territorial organisation until the date of announcement of election results.

 (4) The merger agreement entered into on the basis of § 91 of this Act and agreements reached between the former councils concerning the settlement of the issues provided by clause 2 of subsection 3 of § 8 of this Act shall enter into force as of the date of announcement of the results of the council elections.
[RT I 2004, 56, 399 – entry into force 25.07.2004]

§ 11.  Alteration of rural municipality district and city district boundaries

 (1) Initiation of an alteration of boundaries of a rural municipality or city district is carried out pursuant to the procedure for formation of rural municipality and city districts prescribed by the Local Government Organisation Act.

 (2) Councils shall decide on the alteration of rural municipality and city district boundaries.

§ 12.  Changes to names of administrative units

 (1) Municipal councils shall adopt reasoned resolutions on applications for changes to names of rural municipalities and cities.

 (2) The council concerned shall submit to the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture:
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]
 1) the resolution of the council on an application for a change of name;
 2) an explanatory memorandum justifying the need to change the name based on local historical, geographical, natural and other conditions, and considering the wishes of the residents of the corresponding rural municipality or city.

 (3) [Repealed – RT I 04.07, 2017, 1 – entry into force 01.01.2018]

 (4) A rural municipality or city shall not be given the name of another municipality or city.

§ 13.  Changes to name of rural municipality or city district

 (1) Initiation of a change to the name of a rural municipality or city district is carried out pursuant to the procedure for formation of rural municipality and city districts prescribed by the Local Government Organisation Act.

 (2) Councils shall decide on a change to the name of a rural municipality or city district.

Chapter 3 Final Provisions  

§ 14.  Designation of boundaries of administrative units

 (1) The boundaries of administrative units shall be designated pursuant to the procedure established by the Government of the Republic.

 (2) The road designation system of the boundaries of administrative units and the procedure for the implementation thereof shall be established by the minister in charge of the policy sector.
[RT I 2006, 14, 111 – entry into force 26.04.2006]

§ 141.  Implementing provisions

 (1) If the Government of the Republic has not issued the regulation specified in subsection 1 of § 10 of this Act concerning a local authority who wishes to initiate alteration of the administrative-territorial organisation, such local authority shall send the documentation related to the administrative-territorial organisation to the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture and the county governor within ten days after the entry into force of the Promotion of Local Government Merger Act, and enter into a merger agreement in compliance with § 91 of this Act.

 (2) Except in the case specified in subsection 3 of this section, no new budget for the local authority formed as the result of a merger shall be passed for the period beginning on the date of announcement of the results of the council elections of the local authority formed as the result of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation and ending at the end of the budgetary year. The merged local authorities shall continue performance of their budgets which were passed separately.

 (3) The council may pass the budget of a local authority formed as the result of alteration of the administrative-territorial organisation by the year of merger if the results of the council elections of the local authority formed as the result of alteration of the administrative-territorial organisation are announced not later than on 28 February. Budget sections contained in the draft budget being reviewed by the councils of the merged local authorities shall be consolidated line-by-line and the transactions between the merged local authorities shall be eliminated.
[RT I 2010, 72, 543 – entry into force 01.01.2011]

 (4) The requirements towards proposals for amending the draft budget provided for in subsection 1 of § 23 of the Local Government Financial Management Act shall not apply to amendments specified in subsection 3 of this section.
[RT I 2010, 72, 543 – entry into force 01.01.2011]

 (41) The legislation of the merged local authorities shall be effective until the establishment of the legislation of a local authority formed as the result of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation on the territory of the local authority where it was in force until the merger of rural municipalities and cities.
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]

 (42) The council of a local authority formed as the result of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation shall establish the statutes of a rural municipality or city within six months as of the date of announcement of the results of the council elections, and the statutes of the merged local authority agreed in the merger agreement shall be followed until the establishment of the new statutes.
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]

 (43) An agency under the administration of administrative agencies to be transferred into the composition of a local authority formed as the result of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation shall function according to the statutes previously in force until the establishment of the new statutes of the agency.
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]

 (44) Until the adoption of the development plan and establishment of the comprehensive plan of a local authority formed as the result of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation, the development plans and comprehensive plans of the merged local authorities shall be effective on the territories where these have been established before the merger or joinder. Until the adoption of the development plan of a local authority formed as the result of a merger, the development plans of all the merged local authorities shall be followed in decision-making.
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]

 (45) Until the establishment of the statutes of a rural municipality or city in a local authority formed as the result of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation, the formed local authority may use the insignia of the merged rural municipality or city agreed in the merger agreement, which complies with the requirements specified in subsection 3 of § 14 of the Local Government Organisation Act.
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]

 (46) If a regulation of the Government of the Republic specified in subsection 1 of § 10 of this Act has entered into force with regard to a local authority formed as the result of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation, the development plan and budget strategy of the local authority at 15 October of the year of merger may include not less than three independent budgetary years.
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 2 – entry into force 05.07.2017]

 (5) If the results of the council elections of a local authority formed as the result of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation are announced in the period from 1 October to 31 December, the council of the local authority formed as the result of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation shall approve the development plan and budget strategy no later than by 15 October of the year following the year of merger.
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]

 (51) If the results of the council elections of a local authority formed as the result of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation are announced at another time than the period specified in subsection 5 of this section, the council of the local authority formed as the result of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation shall approve the development plan and budget strategy within nine months after the announcement of the results of the council elections.
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]

 (52) Until the adoption of the development plan and budget strategy of a local authority formed as the result of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation, the development plans and budget strategies of the merged local authorities will be effective, and these shall be followed in the preparation of the budget of the local authority formed as the result of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation.
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]

 (53) If the results of the council elections of a local authority formed as the result of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation are announced after 1 October, the rural municipality or city government shall submit the draft budget and explanatory note to the council not later than on 31 December of the ending budgetary year.
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 2 – entry into force 05.07.2017]

 (6) In the case specified in subsection 2 of this section, the submission of the information specified in subsection 1 of § 30 of the Local Government Financial Management Act by the merged local authorities shall be continued separately until the end of the budgetary year. If subsection 3 of this section was followed when passing the budget, the relevant information shall be submitted with regard to the local authority formed as the result of merger at the first opportunity after the consolidation of the budgets.
[RT I 2010, 72, 543 – entry into force 01.01.2011]

 (7) The explanatory memorandum appended to the first budget of the local authority formed as the result of merger shall provide comparable figures by the consolidation of the relevant figures of the merged local authorities for the previous budgetary year, eliminating the figures recording the transactions between the local authorities.
[RT I 2010, 72, 543 – entry into force 01.01.2011]

 (8) The annual report for the year of merger shall be prepared pursuant to § 29 of the Local Government Financial Management Act separately for each of the merged local authorities. If subsection 3 of this section was followed when passing the budget, the annual report for the year of merger shall be prepared with regard to the local authority formed as the result of merger. The first annual report of the local authority formed as the result of merger shall provide the comparable figures for the preceding financial year by consolidation of the relevant figures of the merged local authorities for the previous financial year, eliminating the figures recording the transactions between the merged local authorities.
[RT I 2010, 72, 543 – entry into force 01.01.2011]

 (9) The local authority formed as the result of merger may display the figures specified in clauses 2 and 3 of subsection 4 of § 29 of the Local Government Financial Management Act by the merged local authorities separately until the end of the financial year when the merged local authorities prepared the annual reports separately.
[RT I 2010, 72, 543 – entry into force 01.01.2011]

 (10) The procedure for eliminating the risk of a difficult financial situation initiated on the basis of the Local Government Financial Management Act shall terminate as of the beginning of the budgetary year when the budget of the local authority formed as the result of merger becomes effective.
[RT I 2010, 72, 543 – entry into force 01.01.2011]

 (11) The council of the local authority formed as the result of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation shall initiate the comprehensive plan of the formed local authority within one year as of the date of announcement of the results of the municipal council elections and establish the comprehensive plan within four and a half years as of the initiation thereof.
[RT I, 03.01.2022, 1 – entry into force 13.01.2022]

 (111) If the preparation of a comprehensive plan is initiated as of 1 July 2015 with regard to the territory of the merged local authority, the comprehensive plan procedure of the merged local authority shall be consolidated with the comprehensive plan procedure of the local authority formed as the result of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation.
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 2 – entry into force 05.07.2017]

 (112) If the procedures specified in subsection 111 of this section are consolidated in the preparation of a comprehensive plan of the local authority formed as the result of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation, the conducted procedural acts need not be repeated in the processing of the comprehensive plan of the formed local authority in case of the territory of the merged local authority, unless the basic content of the plan is amended.
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 2 – entry into force 05.07.2017]

 (12) After the formation of a new local authority through merger as the result of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation as a legal person in public law all the existing executive bodies and administrative agencies, and agencies under the administration of administrative agencies of the merged local authorities shall be transferred into the composition of the formed local authority.
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]

 (13) The structure, composition and salary guide of an administrative agency of a local authority formed as the result of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation shall be established by a new elected council.
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]

 (14) The new administrative agencies of a local authority formed as the result of alteration of administrative-territorial organisation taking place in the course of the regular council elections shall commence work on 1 January of the year following the merger.
[RT I, 21.06.2016, 1 – entry into force 01.07.2016]

 (15) The provisions of § 4 and subsections 6‒9 of § 6 of the Promotion of Local Government Merger Act shall apply also in case of merger of local authorities initiated by the Government of the Republic.
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 2 – entry into force 05.07.2017]

§ 142.  Transfer of taxes and support after merger

  The taxes passed on to the local authorities and the support granted from the state budget shall be transferred as of announcement of the results of the municipal council elections until the end of the budgetary year to the local authority which delivered a territorial area from its composition to the composition of another local authority.
[RT I, 04.07.2017, 2 – entry into force 05.07.2017]

§ 15. – § 16. [Omitted from this text.]

§ 17.  Entry into force of clauses 1 and 3-6 of § 16 of this Act

  Clauses 1 and 3-6 of § 16 of this Act enter into force on 1 September 1995.

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