[1] At the previous election in 2012 the SNP won 28 seats, becoming the largest party on the council for the first time since 1995, replacing the Liberal Democrats.

[1] West Garioch Conservative Cllr Sebastian Leslie was suspended from the party on 18 September 2018 and became an Independent having refused to pay his Council Tax.

[7] Mearns SNP Cllr Leigh Wilson resigned from the party and became an Independent on 15 May 2020 citing professional circumstances.

[8] North Kincardine SNP Cllr Alistair Bews resigned from the party and became an Independent on 17 May 2020 citing personal and professional reasons.

[11] On 12 October 2017 a by-elected was held after Inverurie & District Conservative Cllr Colin Clark was elected as an MP for Gordon on 8 June 2017.

On 17 June 2021 a by-election was held after East Garioch Lib Dem Councillor Fergus Hood died in March 2021 following a prolonged illness.

On 19 August a by-election was held after Mid-Formartine SNP Cllr Karen Adam resigned her seat upon being elected a MSP to the Scottish Parliament for Banffshire and Buchan Coast on 3 June 2021.