District Administration Act (DAA) (BEZVG)

1. The Canton shall be divided into the districts of Zurich, Affoltern, Horgen, Meilen, Hinwil, Uster, Pfäffikon, Winterthur, Andelfingen, Bülach, Dielsdorf and Dietikon.

2. The district capitals and the political municipalities belonging to the districts are listed in the appendix to this Act.

3. The state administration shall be structured into districts, insofar as it is decentralized and unless otherwise provided by law.

B. General Provisions

13 District Authorities, in particular, are the District Councils and the District Governor's Offices.

administrative

authorities

§3. The District Authorities are not bound by any instructions when deciding on a criminal matter or an appeal, except in the case of a remand by a higher instance.

Independence

The district authorities constitute themselves. For the constitution and rules of procedure, Sections 6, 38–44, 46 and 52 of the Municipal Act² of April 20, 2015 apply *mutatis mutandis*.¹⁸

Sections 5 and 6.8

The State provides the district authorities with office premises.

The district authorities report to the superior authorities-

annually report on their activities.

report

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173.1

C. Individual Authorities

District Council

a. Appointment

b. Tasks

District Administrator's Office

a. Appointment

b. Tasks

Abolition of previous law

District Administration Act (BezVG)

1 The eligible voters of a district elect10

a. the District Governor as President of the District Council,

b. four additional members in the districts of Zurich and Winterthur and

two additional members in other districts,

c. two substitute members.

2 The District Council appoints the Council Clerk and any deputies.7

3 The Council Clerk manages the chancery under the supervision of the President.

**1 The District Council is primarily responsible for the supervision of the municipalities and the decision on appeals in municipal matters; special provisions are reserved.**

**2 The District Council handles district tasks for which no other authority is responsible.**

The Governor10 heads the Governor’s Office and exercises its decision-making powers. He or she appoints one or more deputies with the approval of the Government Council. He or she assigns tasks to them.

1 The Governor's Office is primarily responsible for supervising

local police, communal road systems, and fire services,

as well as enforcing minor criminal law; special

provisions are reserved.15

2 The Governor's Office may utilize the assistance of the police and communal

authorities.

3 The Governor carries out special assignments

from the Government Council.9

D. Final Provisions

a. the Law concerning the Division of the Canton into Districts, Electoral Districts and Political Municipalities of April 28, 1878,

b. the Law on District Capitals of December 6, 1931,

c. the Law concerning the Organization of District Authorities of March 24, 1901.

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District Administration Act (DAA)

173.1

2 The Government Council determines the date of entry into force5.

previous

Law

1 OS 49, 363.

2 LS 131.1.

3 LS 173.4.

4 For text, see OS 49, 363.

5 In force since 1 July 1985 (OS 49, 369).

6 Version according to Act on the Formation of the District of Dietikon of 10 March 1985 (OS 49, 406).

In force since 1 July 1989 (OS 50, 455).

7 Version according to Act of 27 September 1998 (OS 54, 752). In force since 1 July

1999 (OS 55, 62).

8 Repealed by Act of 27 September 1998 (OS 54, 752). In force since

1 July 1999 (OS 55, 62).

9 Inserted by Act on Political Rights of 14 September 2009 (OS

64, 693; ABI 2008, 2069). In force since 1 January 2010.

10 Version according to Act on Political Rights of 14 September 2009 (OS

64, 693; ABI 2008, 2069). In force since 1 January 2010.

11 Deletion of marginal numbering according to Act on Political Rights

of 14 September 2009 (OS 64, 693; ABI 2008, 2069). In force since 1 January

2010.

12 Version according to Act on the Amendment of Cantonal Administrative Procedure Law

of 22 March 2010 (OS 65, 390; ABI 2009, 801). In force since 1 July

2010.

13 Version according to Children and Youth Welfare Act of 14 March 2011 (OS 66,

991; ABI 2010, 17). In force since 1 January 2012.

14 The municipality of Bertschikon was removed from the list after its merger with the municipality

of Wiesendangen on 1 January 2014.

15 Version according to Planning and Building Act of 28 October 2013 (OS 69, 262;

ABI 2011, 1119). In force since 1 July 2014.

16 The municipality of Sternenberg was removed from the list after its merger with the

municipality of Bauma on 1 January 2015.

17 The municipality of Kyburg was removed from the list after its merger with the municipality

of Illnau-Effretikon on 1 January 2016.

18 Version according to Municipal Act of 20 April 2015 (OS 72, 183; ABI 2013-

04-19). In force since 1 January 2018.

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173.1 District Administration Act (BezVG)

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19 The municipality of Hofstetten was removed from the list after its merger with the

municipality of Elgg on 1 January 2018.

20 The municipality of Hirzel was removed from the list after its merger with the municipality

of Horgen on 1 January 2018.

21 The municipalities of Oberstammheim, Unterstammheim, and Waltalingen were

removed from the list after their merger to form the new municipality of Stammheim on 1 January

2019.

22 The municipalities of Schönenberg and Hütten were removed from the list after their merger

with the municipality of Wädenswil on 1 January 2019.

23 The municipalities of Humlikon and Adlikon were removed from the list after their merger

with the municipality of Andelfingen on 1 January 2023.

District Administration Act (BezVG)

Appendix

173.1

The Districts, their Capitals, and the Associated

Political Municipalities

District of Zurich: City of Zurich.

District of Affoltern: Capital Affoltern a. A. Associated municipalities

Aeugst a. A., Affoltern a. A., Bonstetten, Hausen a. A., Hedingen,

Kappel a. A., Knonau, Maschwanden, Mettmenstetten, Obfelden,

Ottenbach, Rifferswil, Stallikon and Wettswil a. A.

District of Horgen:20, 22 Capital Horgen. Associated municipalities: Adliswil,

Horgen, Kilchberg, Langnau a. A., Oberrieden, Richterswil, Rüschlikon,

Thalwil and Wädenswil.

District of Meilen: Capital Meilen. Associated municipalities: Erlenbach,

Herrliberg, Hombrechtikon, Küsnacht, Männedorf, Meilen, Oetwil a. S.,

Stäfa, Uetikon a. S., Zollikon and Zumikon.

District of Hinwil: Capital Hinwil. Associated municipalities: Bäretswil,

Bubikon, Dürnten, Fischenthal, Gossau, Grüningen, Hinwil, Rüti,

Seegräben, Wald and Wetzikon.

District of Uster: Capital Uster. Associated municipalities: Dübendorf,

Egg, Fällanden, Greifensee, Maur, Mönchaltorf, Schwerzenbach, Uster,

Volketswil and Wangen-Brüttisellen.

District of Pfäffikon:16, 17 Capital Pfäffikon. Associated municipalities

Bauma, Fehraltorf, Hittnau, Illnau-Effretikon, Lindau, Pfäffikon, Russikon,

Weisslingen, Wila and Wildberg.

District of Winterthur:14, 19 Capital Winterthur. Associated municipalities

Altikon, Brütten, Dägerlen, Dättlikon, Dinhard, Elgg, Ellikon a. d. Th.,

Elsau, Hagenbuch, Hettlingen, Neftenbach, Pfungen, Rickenbach,

Schlatt, Seuzach, Turbenthal, Wiesendangen, Winterthur and Zell.

District of Andelfingen:21, 23 Capital Andelfingen. Associated municipalities

Andelfingen, Benken, Berg a. I., Buch a. I., Dachsen, Dorf, Feuerthalen,

Flaach, Flurlingen, Henggart, Kleinandelfingen, Laufen-Uhwiesen,

Marthalen, Ossingen, Rheinau, Stammheim, Thalheim a. d. Th.,

Trüllikon, Truttikon and Volken.

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173.1

District Administration Act (BezVG)

District of Bülach: Capital Bülach. Associated municipalities: Bachenbülach,

Bassersdorf, Bülach, Dietlikon, Eglisau, Embrach, Freienstein-

Teufen, Glattfelden, Hochfelden, Höri, Hüntwangen, Kloten, Lufingen,

Nürensdorf, Oberembrach, Opfikon, Rafz, Rorbas, Wallisellen,

Wasterkingen, Wil and Winkel.

District of Dielsdorf: Capital Dielsdorf. Associated municipalities: Bachs,

Boppelsen, Buchs, Dällikon, Dänikon, Dielsdorf, Hüttikon, Neerach,

Niederglatt, Niederhasli, Niederweningen, Oberglatt, Oberweningen,

Otelfingen, Regensberg, Regensdorf, Rümlang, Schleinikon, Schöfflisdorf,

Stadel, Steinmaur and Weiach.

District of Dietikon: Capital Dietikon. Associated municipalities: Aesch,

Birmensdorf, Dietikon, Geroldswil, Oberengstringen, Oetwil a. d. L.,

Schlieren, Uitikon, Unterengstringen, Urdorf and Weiningen.

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