The development of local governments in Germany on the example of communities in Brandenburg was analyzed in details. The study characterizes historical models of governance at the basic level of local government ­ magistrate, Northern German, Southern German and Rhine burgomaster. The following stages of  local government evolution in Brandenburg were proposed: establishment of cities as autonomous centers of political, economic and cultural life; development of governance under the conditions of Magdeburg Law; transformation of local government in grassroots super centralized governance of Prussia; development of magistrate management type and establishing foundations of a modern model of local self­governance in Brandenburg; municipal system in terms of totalitarianism; implementation of modern municipal reform. The study shows the latest trends of municipal government were shown. It was found that the municipal structure of the majority of federal states was based on the Southern German model. It is implemented in two ways: »council ­ mayor with one management center» and »council – mayor with dual management center.» The necessity to study the efficacy and feasibility of using elements of the German system of local government in Ukraine was highlighted.