Kleinich belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Bernkastel-Kues, whose seat is in the like-named town.

Until municipal administrative reform in Rhineland-Palatinate in 1969, the village belonged to the Bernkastel district, whose seat was at Bernkastel-Kues.

Today’s municipality arose from a merger of the dissolved municipalities of Kleinich, Emmeroth, Fronhofen, Götzeroth, Ilsbach, Oberkleinich and Pilmeroth on 17 March 1974.

In 1996, Kleinich reached second place in Rhineland-Palatinate in the contest Unser Dorf soll schöner werden (“Our village should become lovelier”).

The municipal council is made up of 12 council members, who were elected at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009, and the honorary mayor as chairman.