Ministry confirms merger of Húnabyggð and Skagabyggð municipalities in Iceland

The Ministry of Infrastructure has officially confirmed the merger of the municipalities of Húnabyggð and Skagabyggð, which will take effect on August 1. Upon this date, the two municipalities will be formally united as one entity under the name Húnabyggð.

The combined area of the new municipality will be approximately 4,500 square kilometers, with a population of around 1,350 residents. The municipal council of Húnabyggð will assume control over the newly-formed municipality and will oversee its governance until the end of the current electoral term. Existing bylaws regarding the administration and meetings of Húnabyggð will apply to the merged municipality.

The decision to merge was supported by a significant majority during elections that concluded on June 22, where approximately 90% of voters from Húnabyggð and 75% from Skagabyggð expressed their approval for the consolidation.

This merger reflects the residents’ preferences, highlighting a strong desire for a unified local governance structure.