On Administrative-Territorial Division of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Updated Unofficial translation

The Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 8 December 1993, № 2572-XII.

      Unofficial translation
      Footnote. In the text after the word “Chapter” figures “I-IV” are substituted respectively by the figures “1-4” by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 20 December 2004 No. 13 (shall be enforced from 1 January 2005).
      Footnote. Throughout the whole text, the words “aul (village)”, “auls (villages)” are substituted respectively by the words “village” by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 21.01.2013 No. 72-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of three months after its first official publication).

Chapter 1. General provisions

Article 1. System of administrative-territorial division of the Republic of Kazakhstan

      The system of administrative-territorial division of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall include administrative-territorial entities: village, rural settlement, rural district, district in a city, city, district, oblast.

Article 2. Categories of administrative-territorial units

      1. For the implementation of public administration on the basis of an optimal combination of republican and local interests, the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan is divided into two main categories - regions and settlements.

      2. Region is a part of the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, including several settlements, formed and managed in the interests of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

      Regions are oblast, district and rural district as the main links of the republican administrative-territorial structure.

      The region consists of cities of regional significance and districts.

      The district consists of cities of district significance, villages, settlements, rural districts with a total population of not more than 300 thousand people.

      A rural district consists of two or more rural settlements with a total population of at least 500 people.

      3. Settlement is a part of the densely populated territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, formed as a result of economic and other social activities of citizens, with a population of at least 50 people, recorded and registered in the manner prescribed by the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan and managed by local representative and executive bodies.

      Peasant and other settlements with a population of less than 50 people are included in the composition of the nearest settlement.

      4. Settlements located on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan are divided into urban and rural:

      1) urban settlements include cities of republican, regional and district significance, as well as settlements located on the territory of their administrative subordination;

      2) rural settlements include all other settlements, regardless of their administrative subordination.

      5. Settlements have constituent parts.

      The constituent parts of settlements are micro-districts, districts in the city, squares, avenues, boulevards, streets, alleys, parks, squares, bridges and other parts.

      A district in a city is a district in a city of regional significance, a city of republican significance, or the capital. A district in a city of regional significance, a city of republican significance, the capital is created with a population of over 400 thousand people. The population of the district in the city should be at least 200 thousand people.

      Footnote. Article 2 as amended by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 30.06.2021 No. 60-VII (shall be enforced ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication).

Article 3. Categories of settlements

      Localities are divided into:

      1) cities of republican significance, which include settlements of special national importance or a population of more than one million people;

      2) cities of regional significance, which include settlements that are large economic and cultural centers, have a developed industrial and social infrastructure and a population of more than 50 thousand people;

      3) cities of district significance, which include settlements on the territory of which there are industrial enterprises, public utilities, state housing stock, a developed network of educational and healthcare organizations, cultural and educational and commercial facilities, with a population of at least 10 thousand people;

      4) settlements, which include settlements with a population of at least 3 thousand people.

      The settlements are also equated with settlements located in areas of medical importance, with a population of at least 2 thousand people, of which the number of people who come annually for treatment and recreation is at least half. They also include holiday villages, which are places of summer recreation for citizens, in which at least 25 percent of the adult population is constantly engaged in agriculture;

      5) villages are settlements with a population of at least 50 people.

      Footnote. Article 3 as amended by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 30.06.2021 No. 60-VII (shall be enforced ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication).

Article 4. Legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on administrative-territorial division

      1. Legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on administrative-territorial division is based on the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan consists of this Law and other regulatory legal acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

      2. If international treaty ratified by the Republic of Kazakhstan establishes other rules than those provided by this Law, the rules of the international treaty shall be applied.

      Footnote. Article 4 is in the wording of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 29.04.2009 No. 154-IV (the order of enforcement see Article 2).

Article 5. Bodies taking decisions on education, abolishment of administrative-territorial entities, establishment and change of their borders, their naming and renaming

      The President and Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, local representative and executive bodies shall take decisions within the competence on establishment and abolishment of administrative-territorial entities, establishment and change of their borders, their naming and renaming.

      Central and local executive bodies, within the limits of their powers, decide on the assignment of names, renaming, clarifying and changing the transcription of their names and assigning proper names of persons to state legal entities, legal entities with the participation of the state on the basis of the conclusion of the Republican onomastic commission

      Footnote. Article 5 as amended by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan having a force of the Law dated 19 December 1995 No. 2691; by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 19.04.2023 No. 223-VII (shall be enforced ten calendar days after the date of its first official publication).

Article 6. Expenses linked with naming and renaming of oblasts, districts, cities

      Expenses linked with naming and renaming of oblasts, districts, cities shall be incurred on account of budget funds.

      Footnote. Article 6 as amended by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 20 December 2004 No. 13 (shall be enforced from 1 January 2005).

Article 7. Onomastic commissions

      Onomastic commissions shall be created for the purpose of harmonization of work on naming and renaming of administrative-territorial entities, component parts of inhabited localities, airports, ports, railway terminals, railway stations, subway stations, bus terminals, auto stations, physiographic and other objects of state ownership in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, clarification and change of a transcription of their names and assignment of proper names of persons to state legal entities, legal entities with participation of the state, as well as restoration, preservation of historical names as a component part of historical and cultural heritage of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

      A Republican onomastic commission is formed under the authorized body, and onomastic commissions of regions, cities of republican significance, and the capital are formed under local executive bodies of regions, cities of republican significance, and the capital, respectively.

      Footnote. Article 7 is in the wording of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 21.01.2013 No. 72-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of three months after its first official publication); as amended by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 19.04.2023 No. 223-VII (shall be enforced ten calendar days after the date of its first official publication).

Article 8. Recording and registration of administrative-territorial entities, their exclusion from accounting data

      Settlements the number of resident population of which more than fifty people and that shall be considered as independent inhabited localities shall be subject to recording and registration.

      Single hoses, farms, settlements that are the objects of official designation (houses of foresters, waymen, roadmasters, hunters’ lodges, winterings, field camps, meteorological stations and other) shall be considered in a composition of inhabited localities with which they are linked administratively and territorially.

      Inhabited localities included to the composition of cities, rural settlements or villages and that became their parts, as well as settlements from which all the habitants moved or resettled shall lose their status of independent administrative-territorial entities and shall be excluded from the accounting data. <*>

      Footnote. Article 8 is in the wording of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 20 December 2004 No. 13 (shall be enforced from 1 January 2005).

Chapter 2. Powers of republican bodies on decision of the
issues of administrative-territorial division

Article 9. Powers of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

      Under the submission of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and taking opinion of local representative and executive bodies into account, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall:

      1) establish and abolish the oblasts and districts, establish and transfer their administrative centres;

      2) is excluded by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 03.07.2017 № 86-VI (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after the day its first official publication);

      3) relate inhabited localities to the categories of cities of republican, oblast and district significance, establish and change their subordinance;

      4) resolve the issues on naming and renaming of oblasts, districts and cities, as well as clarifications and changes of a transcription of their names;

      4-1) makes a decision on the transformation of cities of republican, regional and district significance into other settlements;

      5) carry out other powers in accordance with the Constitution and Laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

      Footnote. Article 9 is in the wording of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan having a force of the Law dated 19.12.1995 No. 2691; as amended by the Laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 05.07.2011 No. 452-IV (shall be enforced from 13.10.2011); dated 21.01.2013 No. 72-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of three months after its first official publication); dated 03.07.2017 № 86-VI (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after the day its first official publication); dated December 12, 2020 No. 383-VI (shall be enforced ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication).

Article 10. Competence of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan

      The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall:

      1) submits to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan the recommendations on formation and abolition of regions and districts, establishment and modification of their administrative centers;

      1-1) establishes and changes the boundaries of regions and cities of republican significance;

      2) submits to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan the recommendations on categorization of settlements as the cities of republican, regional and district significance, establishment and change of their subordination;

      2-1) submits to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan an idea on the transformation of cities of republican, regional and district significance into other settlements;

      3) approve the rules of assignment of names to airports, ports, railway terminals, railway stations, subway stations, bus terminals, auto stations, physiographic and other objects of state ownership in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as renaming, clarifications and changes of a transcription of their names and assignment of proper names of persons to state legal entities, legal entities with participation of the state;

      4) make submissions to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan on naming and renaming of oblasts, districts, cities, as well as clarification and change of a transcription of their names on the basis of conclusion of the Republic onomastic commission and taking opinion of population of the relevant territory into account, its local representative and executive bodies;

      4-1) decides on naming airports, ports, railway stations, stations, metro stations, bus stations, physical-geographical and other objects of state ownership on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

      5) (is excluded);

      6) perform other functions imposed on it by the Constitution, this Law, other Laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan and acts of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

      Footnote. Article 10 as amended by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan having a force of the Law dated 19.12.1995 No. 2691; the Laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 20.12.2004 No. 13 (shall be enforced from 01.01.2005); dated 05.07.2011 No. 452-IV (shall be enforced from 13.10.2011); dated 21.01.2013 No. 72-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of three months after its first official publication); dated 03.07.2017 № 86-VI (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after the day its first official publication); dated December 12, 2020 No. 383-VI (shall be enforced ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication); dated 19.04.2023 No. 223-VII (shall be enforced ten calendar days after the date of its first official publication).

Chapter 3. Powers of local representative and executive
bodies on decision of issues of administrative-territorial
division

Article 11. Powers of oblast representative and executive bodies

      By the joint resolution, oblast representative and executive bodies shall:

      1) make proposals to the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on change of the borders of oblast, on establishment and abolishment of districts of oblast, establishment and transfer of their administrative centres, on relating of inhabited localities to the category of cities of republican, oblast and district significance;

      2) in coordination with the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, establish and change the boundaries of cities of regional significance; establish and change the boundaries of districts of the region, towns of district significance, rural districts, solve issues about transfer of settlements, villages from one district to another or to the administrative subordination of municipal authorities;

      3) relate inhabited localities that are not the cities to the category of other inhabited localities established by this Law; establish, abolish and transform rural settlements, villages, rural districts, as well as change their subordinance taking opinion of district (city of oblast significance) representative and executive bodies into account;

      3-1) submit proposals to the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the transformation of cities of regional and district significance into other settlements;

      4) taking into account the opinion of the population of the relevant territory on the basis of the conclusion of the regional onomastic commission on the proposal of local representative and executive bodies of districts, cities of regional significance, resolve issues of naming, renaming villages, towns, rural districts, as well as clarifying and changing the transcription of their names;

      4-1) resolve the issues on naming, renaming of districts if a city, component parts of cities of oblast significance, as well as clarification and change of a transcription of their names taking opinion of population of the relevant territory into account on the basis of conclusion of the Republican onomastic commission;

      4-2) make proposals for consideration of the Republic onomastic commission on assignment of names to airports, ports, railway terminals, railway stations, subway stations, bus terminals, auto stations, physiographic and other objects of state ownership, as well as renaming, clarification and change of a transcription of their names and assignment of proper names of persons to state legal entities, legal entities with participation of the state;

      5) carry out other powers imposed on local representative and executive bodies by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

      Under the submission of district (city of oblast significance) executive bodies, oblast executive bodies shall carry out recording of existing and registration of newly created administrative-territorial entities and separate inhabited localities within the borders of oblasts, as well as shall exclude them from accounting data.

      Footnote. Article 11 as amended by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan having a force of the Law dated 19.12.1995 No. 2691; Laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 20.12.2004 No. 13 (shall be enforced from 01.01.2005); dated 05.07.2011 No. 452-IV (shall be enforced from 13.10.2011); dated 21.01.2013 No. 72-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of three months after its first official publication); dated 29.03.2016 № 479-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of twenty one calendar days after the day its first official publication); dated 12.12.2020 No. 383-VI (shall be enforced upon the expiration of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication); dated 30.06.2021 No. 60-VII (shall be enforced upon the expiration of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication).

Article 12. Powers of district representative and executive bodies

      By the joint resolution, district representative and executive bodies shall:

      1) make proposals to oblast representative and executive bodies on relating of inhabited localities to the category of cities of district significance;

      2) make proposals to oblast representative and executive bodies on relating of inhabited localities to the category of rural settlements or villages; on establishment or transformation of rural settlements or villages, change of their subordinance, their recording and registration;

      3) taking opinion of managing bodies of rural settlements and villages, shall establish and change the borders of these inhabited localities;

      4) make proposals to oblast representative and executive bodies on change of the borders of districts, rural districts;

      5) taking into account the opinion of the population of the relevant territory, make proposals to the regional representative and executive bodies on the naming and renaming of settlements, rural districts, villages, as well as clarifying and changing the transcription of their names;

      5-1) resolve the issues on naming, renaming of component parts of a city of district significance, as well as clarification and change of a transcription of their names taking opinion of population of the relevant territory into account on the basis of conclusion of oblast onomastic commission;

      6) (is excluded);

      7) carry out other powers imposed on local representative and executive bodies by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

      District executive bodies shall carry out recording of existing and registration of newly created inhabited localities within the borders of a district, as well as shall exclude them from accounting data.

      Footnote. Article 12 as amended by the Laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 20.12.2004 No. 13 (shall be enforced from 1 January 2005); dated 09.02.2009 No. 126 (the order of enforcement see Article 2); dated 05.07.2011 No. 452-IV (shall be enforced from 13.10.2011); dated 21.01.2013 No. 72-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of three months after its first official publication); dated 30.06.2021 No. 60-VII (shall be enforced upon the expiration of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication).

Article 13. Powers of city representative and executive bodies

      By the joint resolution, city representative and executive bodies shall:

      1) make proposals to oblast representative and executive bodies on relating of cities to the category of republican, oblast and district significance;

      2) submit to the regional representative and executive bodies, and the representative and executive bodies of cities of republican significance, the capital - to the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, proposals on changing the boundaries of cities, including the inclusion of separate settlements in their composition;

      3) establish and abolish districts in city, establish and change their borders;

      4) local representative and executive bodies of cities of republican significance, the capital:

      resolve the issues on naming, renaming, as well as clarification and change of a transcription of their names of districts in a city, component parts of cities of republican significance, the capital taking opinion of population of the relevant territory into account on the basis of conclusion of onomastic commission of cities of republican significance, the capital coordinated with Republican onomastic commission;

      make proposals for consideration of the Republican onomastic commission on assignment of name to airports, ports, railway terminals, railway stations, subway stations, bus terminals, auto stations, physiographic and other objects of state ownership, renaming, clarification, as well as change of a transcription of their names and assignment of proper names of persons to state legal entities, legal entities with participation of the state;

      4-1) local representative and executive bodies of cities of regional significance:

      taking into account the opinion of the governing bodies of settlements and villages, establish and change the boundaries of these settlements;

      make proposals to the regional representative and executive bodies on changing the boundaries of rural districts;

      taking into account the opinion of the population of the relevant territory, make proposals to the regional representative and executive bodies on the naming and renaming of villages, towns, rural districts, as well as clarifying and changing the transcription of their names;

      5) ensure performance of works on naming and renaming of districts in a city, squares, avenues, boulevards, streets, minor streets, parks, public gardens, bridges and other component parts of a city, change of a transcription of their names;

      6) carry out other powers imposed on local representative and executive bodies by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

      Footnote. Article 13 as amended by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan having a force of the Law dated 19.12.1995 No. 2691; Laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 20.12.2004 No. 13 (shall be enforced from 01.01.2005); dated 05.07.2011 No. 452-IV (shall be enforced from 13.10.2011); dated 21.01.2013 No. 72-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of three months after its first official publication); dated 28.12.2018 No. 210-VI (shall be enforced upon expiry of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication); dated 30.06.2021 No. 60-VII (shall be enforced upon the expiration of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication).

Article 14. Authority of the akim of the city of district significance, township, village, rural district

      Footnote. Heading - as amended by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 12.12.2020 No. 383-VI (shall be enforced ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication).

      Akim of the city of district significance submits to the district representative and executive bodies a proposal to classify the city of district significance as a settlement, village.

      Akim of rural settlement, rural district shall:

      1) submit proposals to the district (cities of regional significance) representative and executive bodies on classifying these settlements as cities of district significance, towns, villages, on their abolition and transformation;

      2) taking into account the opinion of the population of the respective settlement, makes proposals to the district (cities of regional significance) representative and executive bodies on the naming and renaming of settlements, rural districts, villages, as well as clarifying and changing the transcription of their names;

      3) submit proposals to the district (cities of regional significance) representative and executive bodies on establishing and changing the boundaries of settlements, rural districts, villages;

      4) taking opinion of population of the relevant territory, shall resolve the issues on naming, renaming of component parts of these inhabited localities, as well as clarification and change of a transcription of their names on the basis of conclusion of oblast onomastic commission.

      Footnote. Article 14 as amended by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan having a force of the Law dated 19.12.21995 No. 2691; Laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 09.02.2009 No. 126 (the order of enforcement see Article 2); dated 21.01.2013 No. 72-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of three months after its first official publication); dated 12.12.2020 No. 383-VI (shall be enforced upon the expiration of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication); dated 30.06.2021 No. 60-VII (shall be enforced upon the expiration of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication).

Article 14-1. Consideration of opinion of population of the relevant territory upon naming and renaming of administrative-territorial entities, component parts of inhabited localities, as well as clarification and change of a transcription of their names

      1. The opinion of the population of the relevant territory when naming, renaming administrative-territorial units, constituent parts of settlements, as well as clarifying and changing the transcription of their names is taken into account by local executive bodies in the manner determined by the authorized body in the field of onomastics.

      2. By the joint resolution local representative and executive bodies shall make proposals for consideration of the relevant onomastic commissions following the results of considering the opinion of population of the relevant territory on naming, renaming of administrative-territorial entities, component parts of inhabited localities, as well as clarification and change of a transcription of their names.

      Footnote. Chapter 3 is supplemented by Article 14-1 in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 21.01.2013 No. 72-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of three months after its first official publication); as amended by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 19.04.2023 No. 223-VII (shall be enforced ten calendar days after the date of its first official publication).

Article 14-2. The procedure for changing the categories of settlements

      1. Changing the status of the city is carried out in case of non-compliance within five years with the requirements established by subparagraphs 1), 2) and 3) of Article 3 of this Law.

      2. Changing the status of a village, settlement is carried out in case of non-compliance within three years with the requirements established by subparagraphs 4) and 5) of Article 3 of this Law.

      3. In case of non-compliance within three years with the requirements of part five of paragraph 2 of Article 2 of this Law, the rural district is abolished, and its rural settlements are attached to nearby rural districts or other settlements, unless otherwise established by the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

      4. The procedure for changing the category of a settlement is carried out in the manner prescribed by this Law.

      Footnote. Section 3 is supplemented by Article 14-2 in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 30.06.2021 No. 60-VII (shall be enforced ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication).

Chapter 4. Documents and materials required for
consideration of issues of administrative-territorial
division

Article 15. List of documents and materials required for resolution of the issues of administrative-territorial division at regional level

      For resolution of issues of administrative-territorial division at regional level, it shall be required as follows:

      1) decision of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan or submission (joint) of oblast representative and executive bodies resolving the issue in essence;

      2) submission of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan containing the relevant petition and substantiation of practicability of made proposal, details on size of the territory being subject to change, number of population residing on it, the list of main legal entities, their production figures, number of employees working on each of them, details on a structure and states of local representative and executive bodies, their changes due to reorganization, issues of naming and renaming, as well as all the rest details required for resolution of issues in essence;

      3) proposals of local (oblast, district, city) representative and executive bodies, akims of rural settlements, villages, rural districts on a considered issue;

      4) schematic map with indication of new borders of administrative-territorial entities, other geographical data having significance for resolution of the issue in essence. Map shall be signed by a representative of the Government, as well as heads of representative and executive bodies accepting and transferring the territories, the signs shall be under the seal;

      5) act on scientific investigation and economic calculation on performed transformations and renaming.

      Footnote. Article 15 as amended by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan having a force of the Law dated 19 December 1995 No. 2691; Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 09.02.2009 No. 126 (the order of enforcement see Article 2); dated 21.01.2013 No. 72-V (shall be enforced upon expiry of three months after its first official publication).

Article 16. List of documents and materials required for resolution of issues of administrative-territorial division within the regions

      To resolve issues of administrative-territorial structure within the region, it is necessary:

      1) Joint regulation of representative and executive body resolving the issue in essence;

      2) minutes of the gathering of the local community concerning the essence of the issue being resolved;

      3) explanatory note containing substantiation of practicability of made proposal, details on the territory being subject to change, number of population, list of inhabited localities, industrial and other objects, as well as other details required for resolution of the issue in essence;

      4) schematic map with indication of new borders of inhabited localities and other geographical data having significance for resolution of the issue in essence. Map shall be signed by heads of representative and executive bodies of the territory being subject to change;

      5) act on scientific investigation and economic calculations on performed transformations and renaming.

      It is not required to provide an act of scientific expertise when abolishing settlements that do not meet the requirements established by subparagraphs 4) and 5) of Article 3 of this Law.

      Footnote. Article 16 as amended by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 30.06.2021 No. 60-VII (shall be enforced ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication).

      The President
of the Republic of Kazakhstan

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