In the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), publicparticipation in the planning process of rural planning has recently increased its importance in the political sense, since citizen groups have become influential by taking initiatives for local plan-making. However, in West Germany, public participation in planning decision-making is limited by the principles of representative democracy. Therefore, local residents can participate in the preparatory stages of the planning process, but later decisions are to be made by their elected representatives.This general principle can be observed in different types of planning in rural areas, of which the author gives three examples.1. A construction management plan of municipalitiesEvery municipality establishes a construction management plan for its territory. This plan is to regulate land uses for construction and other purposes. The plan consists of two stages. The first stage is the preparatory land-use planning (Flachennutzungsplan, usually called F-plan) . An F-plan covers the whole area of the municipality and provides planning guidelines for different land uses. The second stage is more detailed and restrictive (Bebauungsplan, usually called B-plan) . A B-plan covers the central and residential districts of the municipality and controls land uses of private lands as well as public lands with legal power. Rural residents can take part in the preparatory stage.2. Special-purpose planningPlanning in rural areas consists of various kinds of special-purpose planning. Every sectorial plan is prepared by a proper authority, often a governmental agency, and not by local representatives. So local citizens have fewer chances of participation in this special-purpose planning than they have in the process of municipality planning. If they have, that means often a chance to protest against the proposed plan.3. Land consolidation planningLand consolidation planning is one of the special-purpose planning in rural areas, which is supervised by the Land Consolidation Agency of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Land consolidation planning has a wide implication for the benefit of rural areas ; it aims not only at the improvement of agricultural structure, but also at the improvement of infrastructure and the development of the whole region. In this case, local residents can organize participants'union, hold general meetings of the union concerning the land consolidation project and discuss issues with those in the Land Consolication Agency and other particir ting bodies.Finally, the case of land consolidation in the State of Bayern is explained.