1999–2000 was the first season that Division 1 functioned as the third-level of ice hockey in Sweden, below the second-level Allsvenskan and the top-level Elitserien (now the SHL).
The league was divided into four regional groups.
In each region, the top teams qualified for a promotion round for the opportunity to be promoted to the Allsvenskan.
The bottom teams in each group were forced to play in a relegation round in order to retain their spot in Division 1 for the following season.
These were also conducted within each region.