It was a unitary authority, although between 1974 and 1997 it was an administrative district council with Dorset.

On 1 April 1900 it received county borough status which lasted until 1974.

[1] In February 2018 the 'Future Dorset' plan was approved by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Sajid Javid.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole borough councils merged on 1 April 2019 into Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.

The Council consisted of 54 elected members, 3 from each of the 18 wards.