List of urban local bodies in Tamil Nadu

Urban local bodies in Tamil Nadu, consisting of municipal corporations, municipalities, and town panchayats, have been established by the Government of Tamil Nadu in accordance with the Constitution of India. Municipal corporations cater to larger urban areas, municipalities serve smaller urban areas, and town panchayats cater to areas that are under transition from rural to urban. As of 2024, there are 25 municipal corporations, 138 municipalities and 490 town panchayats in Tamil Nadu.

Municipal Corporations
A municipal corporation is headed by a mayor, who presides over elected councilors representing individual wards. Chennai Corporation, established in 1688, is the oldest urban body in India and is the second oldest corporation in the world after London. As of 2024, there are 25 municipal corporations in Tamil Nadu.

Municipalities
Municipalities are classified into four categories based on their annual income:

Their elected representatives include ward councilors and a presiding officer, Municipal Chairperson. Municipal Commissioner is the executive authority. As of 2024, there are 138 municipalities in the state.

Town panchayats
Tamil Nadu was the first state to establish town panchayats as a new administrative unit.

They are classified into four categories based on their annual income:

Their elected representatives include councilors and a presiding officer, panchayat chairman. As of 2024, there are 490 municipalities in the state.