Citizen participation in shaping policies that directly affect the quality of life, in decision-making and involvement of citizens in decision-making processes in which public interests are decided, is a characteristic of a democratic society and the right of all citizens and legal entities (associations, private sector...). The possibility and scope of citizen participation is constantly increasing and expanding, but it mostly takes place at a local level because it is closest to the citizens, and where, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, most public businesses are performed. Modalities (forms) of citizen participation are different and are provided by the existing legislative framework, and can be divided into two basic groups: forms of direct democracy and forms of citizen participation. However, the use of the envisaged institutes in the Republic of Croatia is still not at a satisfactory level and it is necessary to strongly and continuously encourage citizens to get involved in order to achieve a cooperative relationship between citizens and representatives of political authorities and administration. Such active approach and greater involvement of citizens in public life would contribute to more appropriate solutions in accordance with the real needs of the local community, and at the same time would achieve a positive effect on the quality of public policy making and would facilitate their implementation.