Administrative Costs; Cost Collection at the Local Level

Municipalities, counties, districts, special-purpose associations, other local government entities, and public-law institutions may charge fees (charges and expenses) for activities within their own jurisdiction that are carried out in the exercise of sovereign authority (official acts). The collection of these costs must be governed by a cost ordinance (Art. 20 of the Cost Act). Administrative fees are a payment for the general expenses incurred by the relevant authorities in performing official acts. The amount of the administrative fees is determined in accordance with the respective fee schedule, which may include a schedule of costs as an appendix. Out-of-pocket expenses are the costs incurred by the relevant authorities that are not already covered by the fee (e.g., costs for expert opinions, fees for telecommunications services, or postal delivery charges).

You can obtain the relevant cost regulations and schedule of costs from your municipality, county office, district office, special-purpose association, other local government entity, or public-law institution.

Official acts performed by municipalities, counties, and districts on behalf of the state are subject to fees pursuant to Art. 1, para. 1, sentence 3 of the Cost Act.

However, the amount of the fee is not specified in the municipal fee schedule in this case, but is determined by the (state) schedule of fees, which, pursuant to Article 5(1) of the Cost Act, is issued by the Bavarian State Ministry of Finance and Home Affairs and published in the Law and Ordinance Gazette (GVBl).