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Local government directory
Winston-Salem, NC: council, meetings and contacts
Winston-Salem is the 90th largest city in the United States with about 257,271 residents, in Forsyth County. Here is who governs it, when they meet in public, and where the agendas are posted.
City government at a glance
- Form of government
- Council-manager
- Governing body
- City Council — 8 members
- Regular meetings
- Regular meetings are generally on Mondays (about the first and third of the month) at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, City Hall
- City Hall
- 101 N. Main St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101
- Main information line
- 336-727-8000 (CityLink 311)
- Population (2025 est.)
- 257,271 (2020 census: 249,545)
- County
- Forsyth County
- Planning body
- Winston-Salem/Forsyth County City-County Planning Board
The body was called the Board of Aldermen until December 2002; eight members are elected by ward plus a citywide mayor.
Official links
- Winston-Salem official website
- Agendas, minutes and meeting video
- Forsyth County Board of Commissioners
- Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools
The bodies that decide things in Winston-Salem
| Body | What it decides | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| City Council | Ordinances, the city budget, zoning changes, contracts, police and fire funding | City website |
| Forsyth County Board of Commissioners | County budget, sheriff and jail, public health, elections administration, county roads | County website |
| Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools board | School budget, boundaries, calendar, curriculum adoption, superintendent | District website |
| Winston-Salem/Forsyth County City-County Planning Board | Rezonings, site plans, variances and long-range land use recommendations | City website |
Questions people ask about Winston-Salem government
When does the Winston-Salem City Council meet?
Regular meetings are generally on Mondays (about the first and third of the month) at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, 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 Winston-Salem city government?
The main information line is 336-727-8000 (CityLink 311). City Hall is at 101 N. Main St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101, and the official website is https://www.cityofws.org.
How do I speak at a Winston-Salem 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.
No debates for Winston-Salem yet. If something is on the council agenda — a rezoning, a fee increase, a transit change — open the first debate and invite both sides.
Start here if you are new to this
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