Elections to Cookstown District Council were held on 20 May 1981 on the same day as the other Northern Irish local government elections.

The election used three district electoral areas to elect a total of 15 councillors.

Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes.

1977: 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x UUUP, 1 x Independent Nationalist 1981: 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x UUUP, 1 x Independent Nationalist 1977-1981 Change: No change 1977: 2 x SDLP, 2 x UUUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Independent Republican 1981: 2 x SDLP, 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Independent Republican 1977-1981 Change: UUP and DUP gain from UUUP (two seats) 1977: 2 x SDLP, 2 x UUP 1981: 2 x SDLP, 1 x UUP, 1 x DUP 1977-1981 Change: DUP gain from UUP