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Coats of arms and emblems of municipalities; notification of change or adoption

Municipalities that adopt or change coats of arms or flags must inform the Directorate General of the Bavarian State Archives and the Bavarian Central Mint Office.

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Street address

Zamdorfer Str. 92
81677 München

Postal address

Zamdorfer Str. 92

81677 München

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Generaldirektion der Staatlichen Archive Bayerns

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Schönfeldstr. 5
80539 München

2. OG

Postal address

Postfach 221152

80501 München

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Procedure details

Municipalities, counties and districts may decide at their own discretion whether they wish to adopt new coats of arms and flags or change existing coats of arms and flags. They are only obliged to seek advice from the Directorate General of the Bavarian State Archives before making their decision. If the local authorities do not wish to follow the proposal of the Directorate General of the Bavarian State Archives, they must submit the matter to the legal supervisory authority before making their decision.

The Directorate General of the Bavarian State Archives must be informed of the adoption of new coats of arms and flags and of changes to existing ones. The Bavarian Central Mint Office must also be informed of the adoption of new coats of arms and changes to existing ones. Official seals and seal stamps can only be ordered from the Bavarian Main Mint.

Further information can be obtained from the Directorate General of the Bavarian State Archives and the Bavarian Main Mint Office (for contact details see "Further links").

New or modified coats of arms and flags must comply with heraldic requirements and be sufficiently distinguishable from other coats of arms and flags.

In terms of their content, coats of arms must have a relationship to the respective municipality, county or district.

They should be as memorable as possible and so simple that they still appear clear even when reduced in size in the official seal.

Apply for the use of the coat of arms to the administration of the municipality whose coat of arms you wish to use. The municipality will decide on the application and notify you of the decision.

The permission is granted for a limited period and is revocable. It can be provided with conditions, in particular about kind and form of the use.

The use of the coat of arms or flag for commercial purposes may be subject to fees.

Permission must be requested before using the coat of arms or flag.

Municipalities, counties and districts with their own coat of arms shall bear this in their official seal. If they do not have their own coat of arms, municipalities and rural districts shall bear the small coat of arms in their official seal; districts shall then bear the large coat of arms. If the Landratsamt acts as a state authority, the small state coat of arms must be used.

The seals of municipalities, counties and districts shall bear the inscription "Bavaria" in the upper half-arch and the inscription "Municipality ...", "County ..." or "District ..." in the lower half-arch. Municipalities with the name "Stadt" or "Markt" shall place this name in front of their name, the other municipalities shall place the word "Gemeinde" in front of their name. The city of Munich prefixes the word "Landeshauptstadt".

The official seal is a sign of legitimacy and serves as a certificate of sovereignty and authenticity on official documents or deeds. They are used, for example, for official certifications.

Status: 21.01.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bayerisches Staatsministerium des Innern, für Sport und Integration
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