Parish elections

Parish or town councils are the most local level of government in England. They are independent of other levels of local government. Our Returning Officer manages all elections held at parish and town councils on their behalf. There are 2893 seats within the parish councils in North Yorkshire.

There are 730 parishes in North Yorkshire. Those parishes form 162 parish meetings (with no council) and 411 parish councils. Some parish councils in our county are known as town or city councils but have the same role as a parish council.

Parish council elections

Parish council ordinary scheduled elections usually occur every four years and they were last held in May 2022. At scheduled elections, all 2900 seats are re-elected to.

Parish and town councillors elected in 2022 are however serving an extended five year term of office because of changes caused by local government reorganisation in North Yorkshire in 2023.

View results from those elections held in 2022 here

The next scheduled parish and town council elections will be held in May 2027. Parish by-elections can happen at any time between scheduled elections if a casual vacancy arises.

Parish casual vacancies

A parish council by-election may happen when a seat becomes vacant between scheduled parish elections and an election is requested to fill that vacancy by local electors. The exception to this rule is if the vacancy occurs within six months before the date on which that elected member would have retired, in which case an election will not be held and the parish may choose to co-opt someone to that vacancy.

View our guidance about when a casual vacancy occurs and how that seat can be filled here

View a list of all current parish council casual vacancies