The relevance of the article is conditioned by the exceptional importance of the social infrastructure for the development of the state, society and each individual. Social infrastructure ensures the development of the municipal unit, satisfaction of the basic needs and interests of the population, creation of the conditions for its subsistence and reproduction. In this connection, the paper aims at analysis of the main challenges and tendencies in the functioning of the social infrastructure of the Russian territories, the factors of its development. The major method of research is jury of opinion--the leaders of local authorities, that has allowed to consider the main resources and restrictions of their activities for the development of social infrastructure in the modern Russian conditions. The article includes the analysis of factors, determining the effectiveness of the development of social infrastructure of municipal units in the Russian Federation. The work discloses the financial-and-economic and political factors, limiting the development of territorial social infrastructure. The article proves that the socio-cultural factors can serve as resources of formation of investment attractiveness of the territory, the development of social infrastructure. The results of the research can be used in the activity of public authorities in drafting of regulations, the practice of local government, contributing to the development of social infrastructure.