Birmingham City Council

The Birmingham City Council is the legislative branch of the city government of Birmingham, Alabama. It works alongside the Mayor (who heads the executive branch) under the city’s mayor-council form of government, established by the Mayor-Council Act of the State of Alabama. The council passes ordinances, approves the city budget, sets policy and represents the interests of Birmingham residents.

Structure: Nine Districts

The council is made up of nine members, each elected from one of nine geographic districts across the city. Council members serve four-year terms. Because each district elects its own representative, every part of Birmingham has a council member responsible for advocating on local neighborhood issues. The council selects a President and a President Pro Tempore from among its members to lead meetings and set the legislative agenda. The council president also assigns members to the council’s standing committees and, under the city’s charter, would act as mayor if the office became vacant.

What the Council Does

• Adopts city ordinances and resolutions
• Reviews and approves the annual city budget
• Approves contracts, appointments and major expenditures
• Sets policy on zoning, public services and city programs
• Responds to constituent concerns within each district

Committees

Much of the council’s detailed work happens in committees, where members study specific topics such as finance, public safety, transportation, economic development and parks before issues come to the full council. Committee review lets members examine proposals in depth and hear from staff and the public, so that by the time a measure reaches a full vote it has been thoroughly considered.

Council Meetings

The Birmingham City Council holds its regular meetings on Tuesday mornings (excluding holidays) at City Hall, 710 North 20th Street, in the Council Chambers on the third floor. Meetings are open to the public, and the council also holds committee meetings on specific topics. Agendas, minutes and live or archived video of meetings are available through the city’s website and meeting-video portal.

Participating as a Resident

Residents can attend meetings in person, watch online, and in many cases address the council during designated public-comment periods. To raise a neighborhood concern, residents can also contact the council member for their specific district. District maps and current member contact information are published on the city’s website. Birmingham also has an active system of neighborhood associations and community advisory committees, which gives residents another structured way to bring local issues forward.

How the Council Works With the Mayor

Under Birmingham’s mayor-council system, the council and the mayor have distinct but interdependent roles. The mayor leads the administration and proposes the budget and major initiatives, while the council reviews, amends and votes on those proposals and writes the city’s ordinances. Many significant actions require agreement between the two branches, which is why understanding the council’s role helps residents see how city decisions actually get made.

What Council Members Do for Residents

Beyond voting on citywide policy, each council member acts as a representative for the residents of their district. That includes responding to constituent concerns, helping connect residents with city services, advocating for neighborhood needs in the budget process, and weighing in on zoning and development that affects their area. For a specific local issue, such as a street, park or land-use concern, contacting the district’s council office is often the most direct route to action.

Finding Your District

To determine which council district an address falls in, residents can use the city’s council-district maps or GIS tools, then reach out to that district’s office for assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions