A PDF map that shows the local authority districts, counties and unitary authorities in the United Kingdom as at April 2023. The map has been created to show the United Kingdom from country level down to local authority district level. (File Size - 1,909 KB)

This data shows the local authority districts, council areas (Scotland) and unitary authorities for Great Britain. A JPEG image of the map is also contained in the download.

The current system of Local Government in the Republic of Ireland comprises of 31 Local Authorities. Local Government and the right of local self-government is a cornerstone of any modern democracy. Irish Local Authorities are the closest and most accessible form of Government to people in their local community. They also have responsibility for delivery of a wide range of services in their local area with a focus on making towns and cities attractive places to live, work and invest. These services generally include housing; planning; roads; water supply; environmental protection; provision of recreation and amenities and community infrastructure. Local Authorities also play a key role in supporting economic development and enterprise at a local level. Local Government support on the ground is critical to the success of many initiatives which drive local communities. These range from local festivals and events; design of streetscapes and village renewal schemes; support for micro-enterprises, business parks and incubation units; involvement in energy efficiency projects; promotion of rural broadband; planning for major investments in the green economy.

Merge of Department of Statistics Meshblock Level 1 boundaries and Topo Coastline, plus Chatham Islands to give a better map of the land area for each Territorial Local Authority (TLA). Unitary Authorities are also clipped for their TLA role. TLA boundaries are MHWS which is not mapped in the Cadastral database and is only approximate using the 1:50,000 coastline and island borders, but it is better than the generalised meshblocks. Reloaded to fix topology error that merged Kapiti and Porirua.

Uses Ordnance Survey local authority layer to create - also used to create https://services3.arcgis.com/yXZb4wJ6UtOsHfp4/arcgis/rest/services/local_authority_districts_may_2020_boundaries_uk_bfe/FeatureServer

The Rural-Urban Classification is a Government Statistical Service product developed by the Office for National Statistics; the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and the Welsh Assembly Government.Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0.Contains OS data © Crown copyright 2025Links below to FAQ, Methodology and User GuideFAQ https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/documents/f359d48424664a1584dca319f3dac97f/aboutMethodology https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/documents/833a35f2a1ec49d98466b679ae0a0646/aboutUser Guide https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/documents/c8e8e6db38e04cb8937569d74bce277a/about

A PDF map that shows the local authority districts, counties and unitary authorities in Great Britain as at December 2015. The map has been created to show Great Britain from country level down to local authority district level. (File Size - 1 MB)

A PDF map showing the Rural Urban Classification (2011) of the local authorities in England. (File Size - 611 KB)

Essex Property Asset Map (EPAM) showing land owned by local authorities in Essex.

The local authority interactive tool (LAIT) is an app that presents information in interactive tables and charts, along with local authorities’ rank positions in England and against statistical neighbours.

It includes local authority, regional and national data on:

• children looked after and adoption
• child protection
• the children’s social care workforce
• special educational needs and disability
• pupil attainment and attendance
• children’s health
• youth justice
• post-16
• finance

The ‘Children’s services statistical neighbour benchmarking tool’ allows you to select a local authority and display its ‘closest statistical neighbours’ (local authorities with similar characteristics). The tool has been reviewed and rebuilt to include updated socio-economic variables from the 2021 census. More information is available in the associated update note and technical report.

Local government in Scotland comprises 32 unitary local authorities, which are responsible for the provision of a range of public services such as education, licensing regulations, social care, transport and waste management. The current authority boundaries are largely a result of reorganization that took place in 1996, following the enactment of the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994 which abolished the two tier structure of regions and districts. Boundaries Scotland is responsible for recommendations on the definition of local authority boundaries, however, the definitive dataset is delineated by Ordnance Survey for inclusion in their BoundaryLine product.

This file contains the digital vector boundaries for Grouped Lower Tier Local Authorities in England and Wales as at December 2022. The boundaries available are:Generalised (20m) - clipped to the coastline (Mean High Water mark)Contains both Ordnance Survey and ONS Intellectual Property Rights. Download File SizesGeneralised (20m) - clipped to the coastline (5MB)

REST URL of WFS Server – https://dservices1.arcgis.com/ESMARspQHYMw9BZ9/arcgis/services/GLTLA_DEC_2022_EW_BGC/WFSServer?service=wfs&request=getcapabilities

REST URL of Map Server – https://services1.arcgis.com/ESMARspQHYMw9BZ9/arcgis/rest/services/GLTLA_DEC_2022_EW_BGC/MapServer

REST URL of Feature Access Service – https://services1.arcgis.com/ESMARspQHYMw9BZ9/arcgis/rest/services/GLTLA_DEC_2022_EW_BGC/FeatureServer

N_COMP_INTERCOM_AEP_ZSUP_019 Layers made on the basis of information collected from the Prefecture of Corrèze (statutes and decrees relating to groupings effecting actual changes since 1/01/2017 and linked to the application of the departmental scheme of intercommunal cooperation) and some groupings of municipalities when there were points of uncertainty. These documents give the actual situation in April 2017 on the skills of small and large water cycles. It should be noted that the current situation with regard to these powers is special, in particular for groupings of municipalities formed by mergers of groupings and which have not, as a result of this change, taken new statutes. In that case, the powers of the ex-groups included in the new grouping are present in the group but exercised in the territories of the ex-groups.

Nigeria Local Government Area Boundaries provides a 2023 boundary with a total population count. The layer is designed to be used for mapping and analysis. It can be enriched with additional attributes using data enrichment tools in ArcGIS Online.The 2023 boundaries are provided by Michael Bauer Research GmbH. They are sourced from GRID3 Nigeria. These were published in October 2023. A new layer will be published in 12-18 months. Other administrative boundaries for this country are also available: Country State

This file contains the digital vector boundaries for Local Authority Districts in Great Britain, as at December 2009. The boundaries are generalised (20m) - clipped to the coastline (Mean High Water mark). Contains both Ordnance Survey and ONS Intellectual Property Rights.REST URL of ArcGIS for INSPIRE View Service – https://services1.arcgis.com/ESMARspQHYMw9BZ9/arcgis/rest/services/LAD_(Dec_2009)_GCB_GB/MapServerREST URL of ArcGIS for INSPIRE Feature DownloadService – https://dservices1.arcgis.com/ESMARspQHYMw9BZ9/arcgis/services/LAD_Dec_2009_Generalised_Clipped_Boundaries_GB/WFSServer?service=wfs&request=getcapabilitiesREST URL of Feature Access Service – https://services1.arcgis.com/ESMARspQHYMw9BZ9/arcgis/rest/services/LAD_Dec_2009_GCB_GB_2022/FeatureServer

This file contains the digital vector boundaries for the historical local authority districts in England and Wales as at Census Day 1921.The boundaries available are: (BGC) Generalised resolution - clipped to the coastline (Mean High Water mark).Contains both Ordnance Survey and ONS Intellectual Property Rights.

REST URL of WFS Server – https://dservices1.arcgis.com/ESMARspQHYMw9BZ9/arcgis/services/LAD_JUN_1921_EW_BGC/WFSServer?service=wfs&request=getcapabilities

REST URL of Map Server – https://services1.arcgis.com/ESMARspQHYMw9BZ9/arcgis/rest/services/LAD_JUN_1921_EW_BGC/MapServer

REST URL of Feature Access Service – https://services1.arcgis.com/ESMARspQHYMw9BZ9/arcgis/rest/services/LAD_JUN_1921_EW_BGC/FeatureServer

This dataset is the definitive version of the annually released territorial authority boundaries as at 1 January 2023 as defined by territorial authorities and/or Local Government Commission, and maintained by Stats NZ (the custodian). This version contains 67 territorial authorities, excluding ‘area outside territorial authority’.

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Territorial authorities are the second tier of local government in New Zealand, below regional councils. They are defined under schedule 2, part 1 of the Local Government Act 2002 as city councils or district councils. Territorial authorities were established in 1989 when 205 territorial local authorities were replaced by 75 territorial authorities. Territorial boundaries must coincide with meshblock boundaries under schedule 3, clause 17 of the Local Government Act 2002.

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There are 67 territorial authorities: 12 city councils, 53 district councils, Auckland Council, and Chatham Islands Council. Five territorial authorities (Auckland Council, Nelson City Council, and the Gisborne, Tasman, and Marlborough district councils) also perform the functions of a regional council and are therefore unitary authorities. The Chatham Islands Council performs some regional council functions.

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Some territorial authority boundaries are coterminous with regional council boundaries but there are several exceptions. An example is Taupo District, which is split between four regions, although most of its area falls within the Waikato Region. When defining the boundaries of territorial authorities, the Local Government Commission bases considerable weight on the ‘community of interest’.

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Territorial authorities are defined at meshblock level. Statistical area 1, statistical area 2 and statistical area 3 geographies nest within territorial authority boundaries.

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Maintenance

Local government boundaries may be changed through the Local Government Act 2002, an Act of Parliament, or a natural process such as the middle line of a river changing its natural course.

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The Territorial Authority classification is released annually on 1 January to coincide with the update of meshblocks, but there are not always changes from the previous classification.

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1989:

New Zealand’s local government structural arrangements were significantly reformed by the Local Government Commission in 1989. Prior to reformation there were 205 territorial local authorities: 28 cities, 78 boroughs, 67 counties, 31 districts, and 1 town district, as well as a multitude of ad-hoc authorities such as pest control boards, drainage boards, catchment boards, and domain and reserve boards.

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These were replaced by 74 territorial local authorities, 15 of which were cities and 58 districts. The exception was Chatham Islands County which retained its county status.

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1990:

Invercargill was proclaimed a city.

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1992:

Nelson-Marlborough Regional Council was abolished by a Local Government Amendment Act. Kaikoura District was transferred to the Canterbury Region. Nelson City, and Tasman and Marlborough districts became unitary authorities.

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1995:

The Chatham Islands County was dissolved and reconstituted by a specific Act of Parliament as the "Chatham Islands Territory", with powers similar to those of territorial authorities and some functions similar to those of a regional council. This included the addition of territorial sea, a coastal buffer extending to twelve nautical miles from the coastline.

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1995:

Tasman District boundary extended to align with the Tasman Region boundary at the 12-mile limit.

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1998:

Not Applicable category changed to Area Outside Territorial Authority

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2004:

Tauranga District changed to Tauranga City.2006:Banks Peninsula District merged into Christchurch City as a result of a Local Government Commission decision following a 2005 referendum.

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2010:

Auckland Council established under the Local Government (Tamaki Makaurau Reorganisation) Act 2009. Rodney District, North Shore City, Waitakere City, Auckland City, Manukau City, Papakura District, and Franklin District territorial councils, and the Auckland Regional Council, were abolished to become a unitary authority known as the Auckland Council. The area now consists of one city council (with statutory provision for three Māori councillors), 13 wards, and 21 local boards.

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2015:

Wanganui District Council name changed to Whanganui District Council effective 1 December 2015.

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2020:

Otorohanga District Council name amended to Ōtorohanga District Council.

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Opotiki District Council name amended to Ōpōtiki District Council.

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Both changes were under schedule 2 of the Local Government Act 2002 and effective 17 January 2020.

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2021:

A local government reorganisation transferred land between two territorial authorities, Western Bay of Plenty District and Tauranga City. The changes took effect on 19 February 2021 under schedule 3 of the Local Government Act 2002. Refer to the New Zealand Gazette notice for further details.

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Numbering

The territorial authority classification is a flat classification. Territorial authorities are given a unique three-digit code. The classification contains 68 categories (including ‘999 – Area Outside Territorial Authority’).

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Generalised version

This generalised version has been simplified for rapid drawing and is designed for thematic or web mapping purposes.

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Macrons

Names are provided with and without tohutō/macrons. The column name for those without macrons is suffixed ‘ascii’.

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Digital data

Digital boundary data became freely available on 1 July 2007.

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To download geographic classifications in table formats such as CSV please use Ariā

A PDF map that shows the local authority districts, counties and unitary authorities in the United Kingdom as at December 2022. The map has been created to show the United Kingdom from country level down to local authority district level. (File Size - 521 KB)

Historic Boundaries for City of Pittsburgh City Council Districts

For more recent and current council district boundaries, see https://data.wprdc.org/dataset/resources/city-council-districts-2012