Office of the Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama

The Office of the Mayor leads the executive branch of the city government of Birmingham, Alabama. Under the city’s mayor-council system, the Mayor serves as the city’s chief executive, overseeing day-to-day operations, city departments and the implementation of policy, while the Birmingham City Council acts as the legislative branch.

The Role of the Mayor

The Mayor of Birmingham is elected by the city’s voters and is responsible for managing municipal departments such as police, fire, public works, parks and planning. The mayor prepares and proposes the city’s annual budget, appoints key department heads (including the police and fire chiefs), represents the city in regional and state matters, and sets the administration’s policy priorities. The mayor’s decisions and proposed budgets are carried out in coordination with the City Council, which reviews and approves the budget and major actions.

The Mayor-Council Form of Government

Birmingham uses a mayor-council structure in which executive and legislative powers are deliberately separated. The mayor runs the administration and the departments that deliver city services, while the nine-member council writes ordinances and controls the budget. This balance means major initiatives generally require cooperation between the two branches, with the mayor proposing and the council approving.

Current Mayor

As of 2026, the Mayor of Birmingham is Randall L. Woodfin, who has served as mayor since taking office in 2017. His administration has focused on neighborhood revitalization, affordable housing, public safety and economic opportunity. Recent priorities have included addressing blight, returning vacant properties to productive use, and supporting longtime residents.

What the Office Handles

• Overall management of city government and departments
• Preparation of the annual operating and capital budgets
• Appointment of department leadership
• City policy initiatives and legislative agenda
• Constituent services and community engagement

Constituent Services

The mayor’s office is also a point of contact for residents who need help navigating city services or want to raise a concern. Constituent-services channels can route questions about trash and recycling, street and infrastructure issues, code enforcement and other day-to-day matters to the right department, helping residents reach the appropriate office without having to know its name in advance.

The Budget Process

One of the mayor’s most consequential responsibilities is proposing the city’s annual budget, which sets funding for police, fire, public works, parks and every other department. The mayor’s administration drafts the spending plan based on the city’s priorities and projected revenue, and the City Council then reviews, adjusts and approves it. Because the budget determines what the city can actually deliver, it is where executive priorities and council oversight meet most directly each year.

Working With Departments

The mayor oversees the leadership of the city’s operating departments and is responsible for how effectively services are delivered day to day. From street maintenance and sanitation to permitting and public safety, the administration coordinates these functions and sets performance expectations. When residents experience a problem with a city service, the mayor’s constituent-services channels can help route the issue to the department responsible for resolving it.

Contacting City Hall

The Office of the Mayor is located at Birmingham City Hall, 710 North 20th Street, Birmingham, AL 35203. Residents can reach the city’s main offices for general inquiries, and the mayor’s office maintains constituent-services channels for questions and concerns. Current contact details and online forms are published on the city’s official website.

Frequently Asked Questions