The scientific article is devoted to the study and comprehensive analysis of the peculiarities of the regulatory and legal foundations of the formation and development of local self-government in ukrainian territories. Taking into account the doctrinal study, it was stated that the formation and transformation of the regulatory and legal framework for the development of local self-government in the Ukrainian territories (the first half of the 18th mid-19th centuries) was combined with the fact that any bodies and officials entrusted with the functions of city administration were supposed to act in the interests of strengthening the existing system, improving the legal position of states prevailing in society. The establishment of various organizational forms of local self-government was also aimed at developing more flexible forms of local governance. Moreover, they functioned under the control and permanent guardianship of central state bodies and governors. In fact, this development led to the gradual integration of local authorities into the mechanism of the state. Only the degree of legal consolidation of powers by controlling authorities changed, which, in fact, had a rather negative effect on the independence of local governments, and, as a result, significantly reduced the effectiveness of their activities. But this influence of administration bodies had another, positive role, for example, educational influence arising from the cooperation of public institutions of self-government with institutions of administration, was especially noticeable on the example of peasants who went from indifference and unwillingness to participate in self-government to actively upholding their interests through active and purposeful participation. Thus, to the degree of independence of local self-government, the readiness of the population to independently solve issues of local importance plays an important role. The further development of capitalist relations after the abolition of serfdom, the growth of cities forced the authorities to make concessions in the field of urban self-government, which was reflected in further state-management reforms in the field of local self-government. It emphasized that considering the historical aspect of the development of domestic local self-government and public administration, it is necessary to take into account the following: on the part of the state there was a rather gradual authorization or assumption of the existence of local self-government in general. This is due to the fact that in each historical period, state authorities admit the presence of “ordinary” forms of self-government, since they fulfill the tasks set by the state. One of the factors determining the degree of freedom in the activities of local self-government and the existence of this phenomenon in general is the fact that at different stages the state and society have different goals and objectives, therefore, the most optimal system of social management develops from this.