Purpose. Study of municipal policy in Russia during the period of building the «vertical of power». Methods. Using the methodologies of comparative analysis and comparative studies, the author identified general and specific characteristics of the municipal policies in Russia. The study used a complex of historical techniques (domain-chronological and historical-comparative), which involves analyzing the origin and development of local self-government in the Russian Federation. Results. In the article the author shows that there is a course on nationalization of local self-government; finds offensive tendencies of partial restoration of subordination inherent in local self-government of the Soviet period. The article makes a conclusion about domination of the approach to local self-government as a lower level of authority that must be under control. Scientific novelty. Scientific novelty of the research lies in the municipal policy on material samples taken from the political life of the Middle Urals.