For the first time in the history of humanity, the world encountered a global emergency that showed all the weaknesses of emergency management and the unwillingness of states to respond to that challenge adequately. Although it is evident that the governments in which the state-owned health care system adapted more quickly to the epidemic, it was also apparent that the emergency management was practically on local governments, but also that the states with a clearly defined legal framework and established management systems emergencies are easier to deal with such an emergency. In the Republic of Serbia, there is a legally prescribed procedure for acting in epidemics, which is a sufficient basis for engaging emergency management. The organizational challenges of the epidemic are practically the responsibility of local self-government units, and so far, although the epidemic is still ongoing, according to available data, it seems that they are adequately responding to that challenge. This paper is based on the legal framework analysis for introducing the state of emergency and the practical research of the engagement of local self-governments during the epidemic.