Forvaltningsrett

Forvaltningsret, or administrative law, is the branch of law that governs how public authorities operate in relation to private individuals and organizations. It sets the rules for how administrative decisions are prepared, taken and reviewed, and it constrains public power by the rule of law. The aim is to ensure legal certainty, accountability, and fair treatment in the exercise of public authority.

Core principles include legality, proportionality, necessity, non-discrimination, equality before the law, and the obligation to provide reasons for decisions. Decisions should be reasoned, foreseeable, and individuals should have an opportunity to be heard before a decision is made. Authorities are typically required to publish reasons and inform about how to challenge or appeal a decision.

Procedural framework is anchored in central statutes such as the Forvaltningsloven (Administration Act), which governs case processing, notifications, time limits, access to files, and opportunities to comment. Complementary acts, such as the Offentlighedsloven (Public Access to Information Act), regulate transparency and access to documents. In many cases, decisions can be appealed to higher administrative authorities or challenged in the ordinary courts.

Scope and areas of application include welfare benefits, taxation, planning and environment, immigration, and other areas of public administration. Forvaltningsrett intersects with constitutional law and, where applicable, European Union law, and it is subject to ongoing reform to strengthen transparency, accountability, and protection of individual rights.