Welcome to Reykjavik 

Reykjavík is governed by the city council, directly elected by anyone over the age of 18 and registered with a home in the city. The council has 15 members that are elected for 4 year terms. The city council governs the city of Reykjavík according to law number 45/1998. This elected city council selects the members of the boards and each board controls a different field under the city council's authority. The most important board is the city board that wields the executive rights along with the city mayor. The city mayor is the uppermost public official in the city and also the director of city operations. Other public official then control different institution under his authority.

Therefore the administration consists of two different parts. The political power that the city council wields and other boards in its authority, and the official system where public officials under the authority of the city mayor take care of administering the policy and the management.

The mayor is appointed by the city council, usually one of the council members is chosen but they may also hire a mayor that is not member of the council.

Reykjavík residents can access the city’s services from three portals: community-based service centers, call centers and e-services. Six service centers, in as many neighborhoods, are operated in the city. These focus on providing families in the city with both comprehensive and targeted welfare services and accept applications for all services provided by the city. Each service center is a pioneer in a particular field of the services, e.g. multicultural issues and preventive measures.

The telephone center 411 1111 connects callers to all operating units within the city infrastructure and provides general information on services and activities provided by the city. Electronic Reykjavík involves, among other things, personal areas on the website of the City of Reykjavík which residents can establish for e-business. All applications for Reykjavík City services are accessible from one area on the city’s website.