Armorial of local councils in Wales

This is a list of the coats of arms of the local authorities in Wales.

Principal areas (1996-present)
Since 1996, Wales has been divided into 22 principal areas, variously styled as counties or county boroughs.

Preserved counties (1974-1996)
Between 1974 and 1996, Wales was divided into 8 counties, which were further divided into thirty-seven districts. In 1996 this two-tier system of local government was abolished and replaced with the current single-tier system of principal areas, mostly based on the formerly lower-tier districts. However, the former upper-tier counties have been "preserved" for the ceremonial purposes of lieutenancy and shrievalty.

Administrative counties (1889-1974)
In 1889 a system of administrative counties was established in parallel to the 13 historic counties, which had been the main subdivisions of Wales since 1536. Between 1889 and 1974 some boroughs were elevated to county boroughs outside of the administrative counties (Cardiff and Swansea in 1889, Newport in 1891 and Merthyr Tydfil in 1908). The boundaries of the administrative counties gradually departed from those of the historic counties until they were replaced by a new system in 1974.