Who runs local government in Dominican Republic?
The Dominican Republic has one level of local self-government: 158 municipalities (157 plus the National District of Santo Domingo) and, below them, 235 municipal districts (2021 counts). Mayors and councillors are elected every four years in municipal elections held separately from national ones. Provinces are run by governors appointed by the president.
Dominican Republic · Unitary presidential republic · Caribbean
The levels of government below the nation
| Level | How it is chosen | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Regions (10) and provinces (31) | Provincial governors appointed by the president | Represent the executive; no technical powers. |
| Municipalities (157) and the National District | Mayor (alcalde) and council (concejo de regidores) elected for four years | Waste, markets, local roads, urban planning, municipal police (Law 176-07). |
| Municipal districts (235) | Director and board members (vocales) elected for four years | Most municipal functions except some, such as urban planning, that they lack capacity for. |
Three questions about local power in Dominican Republic
Are local leaders elected?
Mayors, councillors and municipal district directors and boards are elected. Provincial governors are appointed.
Which laws set up local government?
Municipalities and municipal districts are in the 2010/2015 Constitution and Law 176-07; juntas de vecinos and participatory budgeting are formal under that law. Church influence is informal.
Who are local leaders accountable to?
Voters every four years; the Chamber of Accounts; the Dominican Municipal League and a monitoring system (SISMAP) track municipal performance.
Traditional and customary authority
There is no customary authority with legal power. The Catholic Church, which has a concordat with the state, and growing evangelical churches have strong social influence, and local priests and pastors often act as community mediators.
Community and neighbourhood power
Neighbourhood councils (juntas de vecinos) are recognised in the municipal law and register with the municipality. Law 176-07 requires municipalities to run participatory budgeting, in which neighbourhood assemblies propose and vote on local projects.
Points to know
- Municipal elections have been held in February, three months before presidential and congressional elections, since 2020.
- A new law on local administration has been under discussion since 2016.
- Municipal districts can be created by Congress, which has led to many small units.
Local terms
- Junta de vecinos
- A registered neighbourhood council that represents residents to the municipality.
- Distrito municipal
- A sub-municipal unit with its own elected director and board.
Sources
- Dominican Republic: country profile (SNG-WOFI), OECD–UCLG World Observatory on Subnational Government Finance and Investment, checked 14 October 2026
- Dominican Republic's Constitution of 2015, Constitute Project, checked 14 October 2026
See also: Dominican Republic's official statistics and leaders · the 10 levels of power.