Verwaltungsgericht des Kantons Zürich

The Administrative Court, based in the city of Zurich, is the highest cantonal court in the field of administrative law. It applies both cantonal law and large parts of federal administrative law. Decisions by the cantonal government, the cantonal departments, the district councils, the Building Appeals Court, and the Tax Appeals Court can primarily be challenged before the Administrative Court. In certain cases, the Administrative Court rules as the court of first instance, for example in the case of a lawsuit.

The Administrative Court issues around 1,000 judgments annually in a wide range of legal areas, including disputes concerning spatial planning, construction, and environmental protection law, tax law, personnel law, education, social welfare, healthcare, procurement, migration law, criminal justice and enforcement of measures, administrative measures in road traffic, and police law.

The current five full-time and twelve part-time judges and twelve substitute members are elected by the Cantonal Council for a term of six years. They are supported in their judicial work by around 20 court clerks and six administrative secretaries.