RIS MCP Server

npm version License: MIT Node.js MCP MCP Registry

An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that gives AI assistants access to Austria's official legal database — the Rechtsinformationssystem (RIS).

Ask your AI assistant about Austrian law, and it will search and retrieve legal documents directly from the official government API. No API key required.

What You Can Do

Once connected, you can ask your AI assistant things like:

"What does Austrian law say about tenancy rights?"

"Find Constitutional Court decisions on freedom of expression."

"Show me §1295 of the ABGB (Austrian Civil Code)."

"What laws about climate protection were published in 2024?"

"Look up the building code for the province of Salzburg."

"Get the full text of document NOR40052761."

The server translates these natural language requests into structured API calls against the RIS Open Government Data API.

Features

12 specialized tools covering all major RIS collections
Federal law (ABGB, StGB, UGB, ...) and state law for all 9 provinces
Court decisions from 11 court types (Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, Administrative Court, ...)
Law gazettes — Federal (BGBl) and state (LGBl)
Government bills, ministerial decrees, cabinet protocols
Full document retrieval with smart prefix-based routing
Change history tracking across 30 application types
Markdown and JSON output formats
Free and open — uses Austria's Open Government Data API, no API key needed

Quick Start

Run directly without installation:

pnpm dlx ris-mcp-ts

Or install globally:

pnpm add -g ris-mcp-ts

Configuration

Claude Desktop

Add to your Claude Desktop config (Settings > Developer > Edit Config):

macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ris": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "ris-mcp-ts"]
    }
  }
}

Note: The "Add custom connector" UI in Claude Desktop only supports remote MCP servers (HTTP/SSE). Local stdio servers like this one must be configured via the JSON file.
Tip: You can also use pnpm dlx instead of npx in all configuration examples if you prefer pnpm.

Claude Code

Add to your project or user settings:

claude mcp add ris -- npx -y ris-mcp-ts

VS Code (GitHub Copilot)

Add to .vscode/mcp.json in your project:

{
  "servers": {
    "ris": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "ris-mcp-ts"]
    }
  }
}

Cursor

Add to .cursor/mcp.json in your project (or ~/.cursor/mcp.json for global access):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ris": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "ris-mcp-ts"]
    }
  }
}

Windsurf

Add to your Windsurf MCP config at ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ris": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "ris-mcp-ts"]
    }
  }
}

Other MCP Clients

Any MCP-compatible client can connect via stdio transport:

npx -y ris-mcp-ts
# or: pnpm dlx ris-mcp-ts

Available Tools

Tool	Description
`ris_bundesrecht`	Search federal laws (ABGB, StGB, UGB, etc.)
`ris_landesrecht`	Search state/provincial laws (all 9 provinces)
`ris_judikatur`	Search court decisions (11 court types)
`ris_bundesgesetzblatt`	Search Federal Law Gazettes (BGBl I/II/III)
`ris_landesgesetzblatt`	Search State Law Gazettes (LGBl)
`ris_regierungsvorlagen`	Search government bills
`ris_dokument`	Retrieve full document text by ID or URL
`ris_bezirke`	Search district authority announcements
`ris_gemeinden`	Search municipal law and regulations
`ris_sonstige`	Search miscellaneous collections (8 sub-apps)
`ris_history`	Track document change history (30 app types)
`ris_verordnungen`	Search state ordinance gazettes

Tool Reference

Search Austrian federal laws such as ABGB, StGB, UGB, and more.

Inputs:

Parameter	Type	Description
`suchworte`	string	Full-text search (e.g., "Mietrecht", "Schadenersatz")
`titel`	string	Search in law titles (e.g., "ABGB", "Strafgesetzbuch")
`paragraph`	string	Section number (e.g., "1295" for §1295)
`applikation`	string	"BrKons" (consolidated, default), "Begut" (draft reviews), "Erv" (English version)
`fassung_vom`	string	Date for historical version (YYYY-MM-DD)
`seite`	number	Page number (default: 1)
`limit`	number	Results per page: 10, 20, 50, 100 (default: 20)
`response_format`	string	"markdown" (default) or "json"

All parameters are optional. At least one search parameter (suchworte, titel, or paragraph) should be provided.

Search state laws of the nine Austrian provinces.

Inputs:

Parameter	Type	Description
`suchworte`	string	Full-text search
`titel`	string	Search in law titles
`bundesland`	string	Province: Wien, Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Kaernten, Steiermark, Burgenland
`applikation`	string	"LrKons" (consolidated, default)
`seite`	number	Page number
`limit`	number	Results per page
`response_format`	string	"markdown" or "json"

Search court decisions from Austrian courts.

Inputs:

Parameter	Type	Description
`suchworte`	string	Full-text search in decisions
`gericht`	string	Court type (see below)
`norm`	string	Legal norm (e.g., "1319a ABGB")
`geschaeftszahl`	string	Case number (e.g., "5Ob234/20b")
`entscheidungsdatum_von`	string	Decision date from (YYYY-MM-DD)
`entscheidungsdatum_bis`	string	Decision date to (YYYY-MM-DD)
`seite`	number	Page number
`limit`	number	Results per page
`response_format`	string	"markdown" or "json"

Available courts:

Value	Court
`Justiz`	Supreme Court (OGH), Higher Regional Courts (OLG), Regional Courts (LG) — default
`Vfgh`	Constitutional Court
`Vwgh`	Supreme Administrative Court
`Bvwg`	Federal Administrative Court
`Lvwg`	Provincial Administrative Courts
`Dsk`	Data Protection Authority
`AsylGH`	Asylum Court (historical)
`Normenliste`	Index of legal norms
`Pvak`	Personnel Representation Supervisory Commission
`Gbk`	Equal Treatment Commission
`Dok`	Disciplinary Commission

Search the Federal Law Gazette (BGBl) — official publications of federal legislation.

Inputs:

Parameter	Type	Description
`bgblnummer`	string	Gazette number (e.g., "120")
`teil`	string	"1" (I = Acts), "2" (II = Regulations), "3" (III = Treaties)
`jahrgang`	string	Year (e.g., "2023")
`suchworte`	string	Full-text search
`titel`	string	Search in titles
`applikation`	string	"BgblAuth" (authentic from 2004, default), "BgblPdf" (PDF), "BgblAlt" (1945–2003)
`seite`	number	Page number
`limit`	number	Results per page
`response_format`	string	"markdown" or "json"

Search State Law Gazettes (LGBl) — official publications of state legislation.

Inputs:

Parameter	Type	Description
`lgblnummer`	string	Gazette number (e.g., "50")
`jahrgang`	string	Year (e.g., "2023")
`bundesland`	string	Province name
`suchworte`	string	Full-text search
`titel`	string	Search in titles
`applikation`	string	"LgblAuth" (authentic, default), "Lgbl" (general), "LgblNO" (Niederoesterreich)
`seite`	number	Page number
`limit`	number	Results per page
`response_format`	string	"markdown" or "json"

Search government bills — draft legislation submitted to parliament.

Inputs:

Parameter	Type	Description
`suchworte`	string	Full-text search
`titel`	string	Search in titles
`beschlussdatum_von`	string	Approval date from (YYYY-MM-DD)
`beschlussdatum_bis`	string	Approval date to (YYYY-MM-DD)
`einbringende_stelle`	string	Submitting ministry (e.g., BKA, BMF, BMJ, BMK)
`im_ris_seit`	string	Added recently: EinerWoche, ZweiWochen, EinemMonat, DreiMonaten, SechsMonaten, EinemJahr
`sortierung_richtung`	string	Ascending or Descending
`sortierung_spalte`	string	Kurztitel, EinbringendeStelle, Beschlussdatum
`seite`	number	Page number
`limit`	number	Results per page
`response_format`	string	"markdown" or "json"

Retrieve the full text of a legal document by its ID or URL. Uses a dual strategy: direct URL access first, then search API fallback.

Inputs:

Parameter	Type	Description
`dokumentnummer`	string	RIS document number (e.g., "NOR40052761")
`url`	string	Direct URL to document content
`response_format`	string	"markdown" (default) or "json"

At least one of dokumentnummer or url is required. Long documents are truncated to 25,000 characters.

Supported document prefixes:

Prefix	Type
NOR	Federal norms
LBG, LKT, LNO, LOO, LSB, LST, LTI, LVB, LWI	State laws (9 provinces)
JWR, JFR, JWT, BVWG, LVWG, DSB, GBK, PVAK, ASYLGH	Court decisions
BGBLA, BGBL	Federal Law Gazette
REGV	Government bills
BVB	District authorities
VBL	Ordinance gazettes
MRP, ERL	Cabinet protocols, ministerial decrees

Search announcements from district administrative authorities.

Note: Only available for: Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Burgenland, Steiermark.

Inputs:

Parameter	Type	Description
`suchworte`	string	Full-text search
`titel`	string	Search in titles
`bundesland`	string	Province name
`bezirksverwaltungsbehoerde`	string	District authority name
`kundmachungsnummer`	string	Announcement number
`kundmachungsdatum_von`	string	Date from (YYYY-MM-DD)
`kundmachungsdatum_bis`	string	Date to (YYYY-MM-DD)
`im_ris_seit`	string	Added recently: EinerWoche, ZweiWochen, EinemMonat, DreiMonaten, SechsMonaten, EinemJahr
`seite`	number	Page number
`limit`	number	Results per page
`response_format`	string	"markdown" or "json"

Search municipal law — local ordinances and regulations.

Inputs:

Parameter	Type	Description
`suchworte`	string	Full-text search
`titel`	string	Search in titles
`bundesland`	string	Province name
`gemeinde`	string	Municipality name (e.g., "Graz")
`applikation`	string	"Gr" (municipal law, default) or "GrA" (official gazettes)
`im_ris_seit`	string	Added recently
`seite`	number	Page number
`limit`	number	Results per page
`response_format`	string	"markdown" or "json"

Additional parameters depend on the selected application. See Gr (municipal law) and GrA (official gazettes) specific parameters in the source code.

Search miscellaneous legal collections and specialized databases.

Inputs:

Parameter	Type	Description
`applikation`	string	Required. Collection to search (see below)
`suchworte`	string	Full-text search
`titel`	string	Search in titles
`datum_von`	string	Date from (YYYY-MM-DD)
`datum_bis`	string	Date to (YYYY-MM-DD)
`im_ris_seit`	string	Added recently
`seite`	number	Page number
`limit`	number	Results per page
`response_format`	string	"markdown" or "json"

Available collections:

Value	Description
`Mrp`	Cabinet protocols (Ministerratsprotokolle)
`Erlaesse`	Ministerial decrees
`Upts`	Party transparency reports
`KmGer`	Court announcements
`Avsv`	Social insurance regulations
`Avn`	Veterinary notices
`Spg`	Health structure plans
`PruefGewO`	Trade licensing exams

Each collection has additional specific parameters. See the tool description for details.

Track document creation, modification, and deletion across the RIS database.

Inputs:

Parameter	Type	Description
`applikation`	string	Required. Application type (30 options — see below)
`aenderungen_von`	string	Changes from date (YYYY-MM-DD)
`aenderungen_bis`	string	Changes to date (YYYY-MM-DD)
`include_deleted`	boolean	Include deleted documents (default: false)
`seite`	number	Page number
`limit`	number	Results per page
`response_format`	string	"markdown" or "json"

Available applications (30):

Federal law: Bundesnormen, BgblAuth, BgblAlt, BgblPdf, RegV State law: Landesnormen, LgblAuth, Lgbl, LgblNO, Vbl, Gemeinderecht, GemeinderechtAuth Case law: Justiz, Vfgh, Vwgh, Bvwg, Lvwg, Dsk, Gbk, Pvak, AsylGH Other: Bvb, Mrp, Erlaesse, PruefGewO, Avsv, Spg, KmGer, Dok, Normenliste

Search state ordinance gazettes (Verordnungsblätter).

Note: Currently only data from Tirol is available (since January 2022).

Inputs:

Parameter	Type	Description
`suchworte`	string	Full-text search
`titel`	string	Search in titles
`bundesland`	string	Province name
`kundmachungsnummer`	string	Announcement number
`kundmachungsdatum_von`	string	Date from (YYYY-MM-DD)
`kundmachungsdatum_bis`	string	Date to (YYYY-MM-DD)
`seite`	number	Page number
`limit`	number	Results per page
`response_format`	string	"markdown" or "json"

Development

Prerequisites

Node.js >= 20.0.0

Setup

git clone https://github.com/philrox/ris-mcp-ts.git
cd ris-mcp-ts
pnpm install
pnpm run build

Scripts

Script	Description
`pnpm run dev`	Start with hot reload (tsx)
`pnpm run build`	Compile TypeScript
`pnpm start`	Run compiled version
`pnpm test`	Run all tests
`pnpm run check`	Typecheck + lint + format check + tests
`pnpm run inspect`	Launch MCP Inspector for manual testing

Project Structure

src/
├── index.ts           # Entry point (stdio transport)
├── server.ts          # MCP server setup, delegates to tools/
├── client.ts          # HTTP client for RIS API
├── types.ts           # Zod schemas + TypeScript types
├── parser.ts          # JSON parsing and response normalization
├── formatting.ts      # Output formatting (markdown/json)
├── helpers.ts         # Shared helper functions
├── constants.ts       # Static mappings and configuration
├── tools/             # One file per tool handler
│   ├── index.ts
│   ├── bundesrecht.ts
│   ├── landesrecht.ts
│   ├── judikatur.ts
│   └── ...
└── __tests__/         # Unit and integration tests

Contributing

See CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines.

License

MIT

Built on the Open Government Data API provided by the Austrian Federal Chancellery (Bundeskanzleramt).

ris-mcp

RIS MCP Server

What You Can Do

Features

Quick Start

Configuration

Claude Desktop

Claude Code

VS Code (GitHub Copilot)

Cursor

Windsurf

Other MCP Clients

Available Tools

Tool Reference

Development

Prerequisites

Setup

Scripts

Project Structure

Contributing

License

Resources

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