Verwaltungsgerichtsverfahren

Verwaltungsgericht is the court of first instance inGermany for disputes between private individuals or entities and public authorities under public law. It handles cases in which a government agency’s decision or action is challenged as unlawful or as violating procedural requirements. Typical areas include planning and building permits, licensing and administrative acts, social benefits and welfare entitlements, immigration and asylum decisions, and administrative enforcement measures. The jurisdiction does not cover purely civil disputes, criminal matters, or tax issues, which are handled by other branches of the judiciary.

The system operates at the level of the German states. Each state has its own network of Verwaltungsgerichte (administrative courts) that apply administrative law under the respective state provisions, particularly the Verwaltungsgerichtsgesetz (VwGO). Above the Verwaltungsgerichte are higher administrative authorities, such as Oberverwaltungsgerichte or Verwaltungsgerichtshöfe, which hear appeals and certain types of revision. At the federal level, the Federal Administrative Court (Bundesverwaltungsgericht) settles nationwide questions of administrative law on appeal or revision in selected cases.

Proceedings typically involve written submissions and an oral hearing. The court can annul or modify a challenged administrative act and may grant suspensive or interim relief. Costs and fees usually depend on the outcome, with provisions for legal aid in certain circumstances. The Verwaltungsgerichte thus serve as an essential control mechanism to ensure legality and proportionality of public administration and to protect individual rights against administrative overreach. In constitutional matters, issues may ultimately be referred to the Federal Constitutional Court.