fylkeskommunenes

Fylkeskommunene, or the county municipalities, are Norway’s elected regional authorities. They operate at the county level and are responsible for a set of public services and development tasks that cut across individual municipalities. The exact scope of responsibilities has evolved over time, but several core areas have long been associated with the fylkeskommunene.

The most prominent duties historically include upper secondary education, regional planning and development, and cultural affairs. Upper secondary schools (videregående opplæring) are typically organized and funded by the counties, while regional planning covers land use, housing, and transportation strategies that affect several municipalities. Cultural services, such as libraries, museums, and regional cultural programs, are also commonly within their remit. In addition, fylkeskommunene engage in coordinating and financing regional transportation solutions and infrastructure projects that require collaboration beyond a single municipality.

Governance and administration follow a representative model. Each county elects a fylkesting (county council), which sets policy and annual budgets. The council appoints a fylkesråd or equivalent executive body and a leading administrator, often titled fylkesrådmann or fylkesdirektør, who heads the county administration. The central government’s presence at the regional level is represented by the county governor (statsforvalteren), who oversees compliance with national laws and coordination with national authorities.

In 2020, Norway reformed its regional structure, merging several counties to form larger units. The fylkeskommunene continue to function as the county level of government, now across 11 larger counties, maintaining responsibilities that span education, planning, and cultural affairs, while cooperating with municipalities and state agencies.