# Reparent department

Move a department to a new parent or make it a top-level department.

Changes the parent of a department, effectively moving it within the hierarchy. The operation updates the department's `parent_id`, `path`, and `depth` fields, as well as those of all its descendants. Circular references (making a department its own ancestor) are rejected.

#### Path Parameters

**`organization_id`** string required

The unique identifier of the organization (format: `org_*`).

**`department_id`** string required

The unique identifier of the department to move (format: `dept_*`).

#### Request Body

**`new_parent_id`** string | null required

The ID of the new parent department (format: `dept_*`). Set to `null` to make the department a top-level department.

## Returns

The updated department object with its new hierarchical position.

Request

```bash cURL
curl -X POST https://api.aitronos.com/v1/organizations/org_xyz789/departments/dept_def456/reparent \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $ACCESS_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "new_parent_id": "dept_ghi789"
  }'
```


```python Python SDK
from aitronos import Aitronos

client = Aitronos(api_key="your-api-key")

# Department endpoints coming to SDK soon
# result = client.departments.reparent(
#     organization_id="org_xyz789",
#     department_id="dept_def456",
#     new_parent_id="dept_ghi789",
# )
```


```python Python
import requests

org_id = "org_xyz789"
dept_id = "dept_def456"
url = f"https://api.aitronos.com/v1/organizations/{org_id}/departments/{dept_id}/reparent"
headers = {
    "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN",
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
}
data = {"new_parent_id": "dept_ghi789"}

response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, json=data)
department = response.json()
print(department)
```


```javascript JavaScript
const orgId = "org_xyz789";
const deptId = "dept_def456";

const response = await fetch(
  `https://api.aitronos.com/v1/organizations/${orgId}/departments/${deptId}/reparent`,
  {
    method: "POST",
    headers: {
      "Authorization": `Bearer ${accessToken}`,
      "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({ new_parent_id: "dept_ghi789" }),
  }
);

const department = await response.json();
console.log(department);
```

Response

```json 200 OK
{
  "id": "dept_def456",
  "name": "Backend",
  "description": "Backend engineering team",
  "parent_id": "dept_ghi789",
  "path": "/dept_ghi789/dept_def456",
  "depth": 1,
  "organization_id": "org_xyz789",
  "member_count": 3,
  "is_active": true,
  "is_default": false,
  "color": null,
  "created_by": "usr_owner1",
  "created_at": "2025-01-16T14:30:00Z"
}
```


```json 422 Error
{
  "success": false,
  "error": {
    "code": "DEPARTMENT_CYCLE_DETECTED",
    "message": "This move would create a circular reference in the department hierarchy.",
    "system_message": "Department cycle detected",
    "type": "client_error",
    "status": 422,
    "details": {
      "department_id": "dept_def456",
      "new_parent_id": "dept_ghi789"
    },
    "trace_id": "abc-123-def",
    "timestamp": "2025-11-02T08:21:45Z"
  }
}
```

## Related Resources

- [Get Department Tree](/docs/api-reference/departments/tree)
- [List Departments](/docs/api-reference/departments/list)
- [Retrieve Department](/docs/api-reference/departments/retrieve)
- [Create Department](/docs/api-reference/departments/create)
- [Update Department](/docs/api-reference/departments/update)
- [Delete Department](/docs/api-reference/departments/delete)
- [List Department Members](/docs/api-reference/departments/list-members)
- [Add Department Member](/docs/api-reference/departments/add-member)
- [Remove Department Member](/docs/api-reference/departments/remove-member)
- [Department Object](/docs/api-reference/objects/department-object)