Dienststelle

Dienststelle is a German term for a local office or organizational unit of a public or semi-public institution where employees perform their official duties. The word combines Dienst (service, duty) and Stelle (place, position) and is widely used in German-speaking countries to designate the workplace or unit within an organization rather than a mere storefront.

Usage. In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland the term is common in administration and law enforcement. It refers to the specific office or department within an agency, such as a police Dienststelle, a tax office Dienststelle, or a social services Dienststelle. It can denote either the geographic location or the functional unit responsible for a defined set of tasks or a particular area.

Difference from related terms. Dienststelle emphasizes the organizational unit or official office within a public authority, while Büro is a more general term for an office. Dienstort refers to the place where someone works, and Filiale or Zweigstelle describes a branch, typically in a commercial or multi-site context. The term Dienststelle is thus more formal and institutionally oriented than everyday office language.

Structure and function. A Dienststelle typically has a head, staff, and defined responsibilities. It handles administrative tasks, case processing, service delivery, and frontline inquiries. In police usage, the Dienststelle is where officers report and where the public seeks assistance; in other authorities it serves as a counter for applications and the issuance of documents.