The community lies in the Upper Franconia-West region on the Bach Lauter (brook), which runs into the river Baunach.

Pope Innocent IV stated in 1251 in a document the goods and privileges of the Michelsberg Monastery in Lauter.

The community council is made up of 12 members, listed here by party or voter community affiliation, and also with the number of seats that each holds: In 1999, municipal tax revenue, converted to euros, amounted to €497,000 of which business taxes (net) amounted to €126,000.

Lauter’s arms might heraldically be described thus: Gules two wings argent emerging from each inwards a clothed arm argent, each of which holds the handle of a grill reversed Or.

According to official statistics, there were no workers on the social welfare contribution rolls working in producing businesses in 1998, and in trade and transport also none, but 391 such workers worked from home.