Urban districts of Germany

In Germany an Urban District (German: Kreisfreie Stadt or Stadtkreis)^[1] is a large town or city that is responsible for its own local government. Germany is divided into 429 districts. 313 are rural districts (Landkreise, see List of German rural districts) and 116 urban districts (Kreisfreie Städte / Stadtkreise)^[1] which are listed below.

It is not part of a rural district, or county (German: Kreis or Landkreis).

In some states, there is another level of government, the Regierungsbezirk or governmental district. Several urban and rural districts are joined together to make a regierungsbezirk, which does some of their jobs, especially things in land-use planning which can affect several districts.

They are the equivalent of an independent city in the United States or unitary authority in the United Kingdom.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Last one only in Baden-Württemberg.