Districts (okresy) form the second-tier administrative division of Slovakia, with 79 such units spanning the country between the regional and municipal levels. These districts serve primarily as territorial units for the deconcentrated state administration, meaning they function as local branches of central government ministries rather than as self-governing entities. District offices handle matters such as civil registry services, building permits, vehicle registration, environmental protection enforcement, and various licensing procedures. While districts lack their own elected representative bodies, they play a crucial role in delivering state services to citizens at a more accessible local level than the eight self-governing regions above them.