Meldepflicht

Meldepflicht is the obligation to report certain facts or events to public authorities, designated bodies or institutions. It is a basic feature of administrative law and serves to ensure public safety, health, population data, and orderly governance. The scope and penalties of Meldepflicht are defined by statute and vary by jurisdiction.

A common area is public health: the reporting of infectious diseases and outbreaks by doctors, clinics, or laboratories to health authorities to enable surveillance, risk assessment and timely intervention. In Germany, the Infektionsschutzgesetz (IfSG) regulates Meldepflicht for communicable diseases.

Another area is civil status and residence: residents may be required to report changes in personal data or address to local registration offices so population registries stay current and services can be allocated. In some systems, registering a residence or changing address triggers a Meldepflicht.

In business and administration, Meldepflicht covers reporting obligations to authorities when corporate data changes or events occur, such as changes in management, registered office, or ownership, and required filings with tax or social security agencies. This supports tax collection, corporate transparency, and compliance.

Penalties for non-compliance vary, from administrative fines to other sanctions, depending on the obligation and jurisdiction. Some Meldepflichts are mandatory by statute, others by regulations or local ordinances.