San Marino is divided into 9 municipalities (comuni or castelli), which constitute the only level of local administration below the national government. These municipalities function as the primary units of local governance, responsible for managing essential public services including urban planning, local infrastructure maintenance, waste management, and civil registry services. Each municipality operates with a degree of autonomy under its own municipal council (Giunta di Castello) and captain (Capitano di Castello), who oversee local administrative matters and serve as liaisons to the central government. The municipalities handle day-to-day civic functions such as maintaining roads, managing public facilities, issuing building permits, and organizing local events and cultural activities. Given San Marino's small geographic size and population, these municipalities maintain close coordination with national authorities while addressing the specific needs of their local communities.