Minister of Local Government and Regional Development

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development of Norway
Kommunal- og distriktsministeren
Incumbent
Erling Sande
since 16 October 2023
Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development
Member ofCouncil of State
SeatOslo
NominatorPrime Minister
AppointerMonarch
with approval of Parliament
Term lengthNo fixed length
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Norway
Formation20 December 1948
First holderUlrik Olsen
DeputyState secretaries at the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development
WebsiteOfficial website

The Minister of Local Government and Modernisation (Norwegian: Kommunal- og moderniseringsministeren) is a Councillor of State and Chief of the Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. Currently, Erling Sande of the Centre Party has held the post since 2023. The ministry is responsible for local administration, including municipalities and county municipalities, rural and regional policy, information technology, elections and government administration, including management of state real estate and government employment. Major subordinate agencies include the Government Administration Services, Statsbygg, the Competition Authority, the National Office of Building Technology and Administration, the State Housing Bank and the Data Protection Authority.

The position was created in 1948 as a successor of the Minister of Labour, originally named the Minister of Local Government and Labour. The title changed to the Minister of Local Government. Labour issues were moved to the Minister of Government Administration and Labour in 1998 and the title was changed to the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development until 2013. During the government of Erna Solberg, the post was renamed into Minister of Local Government and Modernisation when the position took over part of the portfolio of the Minister of Public Administration from 2014 until 2021. In January 2022, the current name was reverted into the 1998 one.