Belfast City Council

Belfast City Council (Irish: Comhairle Cathrach Bhéal Feirste) is the local authority with responsibility for part of Belfast, the largest city of Northern Ireland. The council serves an estimated population of 352,390 (2024), the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while being the smallest by area. Belfast City Council is the primary council of the Belfast Metropolitan Area, a grouping of six former district councils with commuter towns and overspill from Belfast, containing a total population of 579,276. The council is made up of 60 councillors, elected from ten district electoral areas. It holds its meetings in the historic Belfast City Hall. The Lord Mayor as of 2 June 2025 is Tracy Kelly. The Deputy Lord Mayor is Paul Doherty, who was originally nominated by the SDLP before later resigning from the party. As part of the 2014/2015 reform of local government in Northern Ireland the city council area expanded, covering an area that includes 53,000 additional residents in 21,000 households. The number of councillors increased from 51 to 60. The first elections to the expanded city council took place on 22 May 2014.