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Local government directory
Boston, MA: council, meetings and contacts
Boston is the 25th largest city in the United States with about 672,973 residents, in Suffolk. Here is who governs it, when they meet in public, and where the agendas are posted.
City government at a glance
- Form of government
- Mayor-council
- Governing body
- Boston City Council — 13 members
- Regular meetings
- Wednesdays, 12:00 p.m., Christopher A. Iannella Chamber, Room 550, City Hall
- City Hall
- 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201
- Main information line
- 311 or (617) 635-4500
- Population (2025 est.)
- 672,973 (2020 census: 675,647)
- County
- Suffolk
- Planning body
- Boston Planning Department
Nine district and four at-large councilors serving two-year terms; Suffolk County government was abolished in 1999.
Official links
The bodies that decide things in Boston
| Body | What it decides | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Boston City Council | Ordinances, the city budget, zoning changes, contracts, police and fire funding | Official page |
| Boston Public Schools board | School budget, boundaries, calendar, curriculum adoption, superintendent | District website |
| Boston Planning Department | Rezonings, site plans, variances and long-range land use recommendations | City website |
Questions people ask about Boston government
When does the Boston City Council meet?
Wednesdays, 12:00 p.m., Christopher A. Iannella Chamber, Room 550, City Hall Always confirm the date and location on the official agenda before you attend, because meetings can be cancelled, moved or continued.
How do I contact Boston city government?
The main information line is 311 or (617) 635-4500. City Hall is at 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201, and the official website is https://www.boston.gov.
How do I speak at a Boston public meeting?
Find the agenda for the meeting, check the sign-up deadline (many cities close the list before the meeting starts), prepare remarks for the posted time limit — usually two or three minutes — and state your name, your district and your specific ask.
Open debates in Boston
Start here if you are new to this
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