Iceland
Sveitarstjórnarlög
Formally: Sveitarstjórnarlög
Lög nr. 138/2011 (Sveitarstjórnarlög), 16. gr. (fundir sveitarstjórnar)
56/100
Sunshine Score
56/100
Limited
Methodology v0.1
| Advance Notice | 7 days, online posting required |
|---|---|
| Public Comment | Required |
| Closed Sessions | 7 permitted categories |
| Minutes | Required |
| Recording | Not required |
| Remote Participation | Allowed |
| Enforcement | Voidable, legislature exempt |
Agenda & Notice Requirements
Regular Meetings
7 days
Online posting: Required
Public Participation
Public Comment
Required
Written Comment
Not allowed
Virtual Meetings
Member Remote Participation
Allowed
Public Remote Comment
Not allowed
Closed Sessions
Closed (executive) sessions: Allowed under specific circumstances
Permitted Categories
Meeting Minutes
Minutes Required
Yes
Online posting: Not required
Recording & Broadcast
Recording Required
No
Broadcast Required
No
Enforcement
Violation Effect
Voidable
Standing to Sue
Any person with a legitimate interest may seek judicial review
Enforcement Body
Héraðsdómur (District Courts)
Scope
This law applies to:
Legislature: Exempt (follows own rules)
Sources & References
Notes
Iceland's Local Government Act (Sveitarstjórnarlög) 138/2011 governs the country's 64 municipalities (sveitarfélög). § 16 establishes that sveitarstjórn (municipal council) meetings are public unless the council decides to close a specific session, which must be recorded in the minutes with reasons. Notice is by each municipality's samþykkt (bylaws). The Innanríkisráðuneytið (Ministry of Infrastructure) supervises municipal compliance. Iceland's strong consensus and small population means open-meeting culture is deeply embedded in practice.