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Procedure descriptions
Submit a citizens' petition
Would you like a referendum to be held on a specific issue in your municipality?
You can initiate a referendum for matters within the municipality's sphere of influence for which the municipal council is responsible. This could be, for example, the maintenance of a swimming pool, the construction of a kindergarten or similar.
A citizens' petition is not possible on:
- Matters for which the mayor is responsible by law
- Issues relating to the internal organisation of the municipal administration
- the legal relationships of municipal councillors, the mayor and municipal employees
- the budget statutes including the business plans of the municipal enterprises and the adoption of the annual financial statements
- Municipal charges, tariffs and fees
- Urban land-use plans and local building regulations with the exception of the resolution initiating the procedure
- Decisions in appeal proceedings
Responsible authority
the municipal/city administration of your place of residence
Note: They will also answer any questions you may have in connection with the citizens' petition.
Details
Prerequisite
- The petition must be clearly formulated so that the unanimous will of the signatories is clearly evident. It must contain the following:
- the question to be asked in the referendum
- a statement of reasons
- a feasible proposal for covering the costs of the requested measure
- It must not be a matter on which a referendum has already been held within the last three years on the basis of a citizens' initiative.
- At least seven per cent of all eligible voters in the municipality (but no more than 20,000 people) must support the referendum with their signature.
Procedure
You must submit the petition with the supporting signatures in writing.
There are no official forms.
If possible, nominate up to three persons of trust with names and addresses.
Theserepresentatives are the contact persons for the municipal or city administration and are authorised to make and receive binding declarations on the petition.
If you do not nominate anyone, the first two signatories are deemed to be persons of trust.
The municipal council checks whether all requirements have been met. If this is the case, it will initiate a referendum.
The referendum does not take place if the municipal council itself decides in the meantime to implement the measure requested by the petition.
Deadlines
You can submit the petition at any time.
Exception: If the citizens' petition is against a decision of the municipal council, you must submit it within three months of the announcement of this decision.
Required documents
- Citizens' petition (= application for the organisation of a referendum) with
- Specification of the question of the intended referendum,
- Justification and
- Cost coverage proposal
- List or individual sheets with the signatures of the citizens
Costs
none
Processing time
The municipal council examines as soon as possible, but at the latest within two months of receiving the application, whether the petition for a referendum is admissible.
The referendum is held within four months of the municipal council's authorisation decision. The municipal council determines the exact date.
Miscellaneous
none
Legal basis
Gemeindeordnung (GemO)
- § 21 Bürgerentscheid, Bürgerbegehren
Kommunalwahlgesetz (KomWG)
- § 41 Antrag auf Einwohnerversammlung, Einwohnerantrag, Bürgerbegehren, Bürgerentscheid
Kommunalwahlordnung (KomWO)
- § 53 Antrag auf Einwohnerversammlung, Einwohnerantrag, Bürgerbegehren, Bürgerentscheid
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Innenministerium Baden-Württemberg, 23.07.2025