Powiaty

Powiaty are the second-tier units of local government and administration in Poland, forming a level between the voivodeships (województwa) and the gminas (municipalities). Each powiat encompasses several gminas and coordinates cross‑municipal matters that go beyond the scope of individual gminas. There are two main forms: powiat ziemski (land county), which comprises multiple municipalities, and miasto na prawach powiatu (city with county rights), where a city acts as both a municipality and a county.

Governance and structure follow a two‑tier model. Powiats are governed by an elected council (rada powiatu) that approves budgets and local laws within the powers granted by law. The executive authority is typically exercised by a starosta (in land counties) or, in city counties, by the city’s mayor/president who also fulfils county duties. The day‑to‑day administration is carried out by the powiat’s management or “zarząd powiatu,” operating within the framework set by the council.

Key responsibilities of powiats include management of secondary education and specialized schooling, hospitals and certain health services, public transportation and the maintenance of county roads, social welfare and assistance programs, environmental protection, land use planning, and coordination of cultural and sport activities. They work with gminas to implement regional development plans and to address issues requiring cooperation across municipalities.

Powiaty were established in their current form in the local government reform of 1999, which reorganized Poland’s administrative structure into three levels: voivodeships, powiats, and gminas. They represent a foundational element of Poland’s decentralized governance and are funded from local revenues, fees, and state subsidies.