Buntingford Rural District was a rural district in Hertfordshire, England from 1894 to 1935, covering the town of Buntingford and a number of surrounding parishes in the north-east of the county.

A workhouse was built in Buntingford to serve the union, opening in 1837.

Under the Public Health Act 1872 sanitary districts were created, and the boards of guardians of poor law unions were made responsible for public health and local government for any part of their district not included in an urban authority.

The link with the poor law union continued, with all the elected councillors of the rural district council being ex officio members of the Buntingford Board of Guardians.

[5][6] Under the Local Government Act 1929 the boards of guardians and poor law unions were abolished, and provisions were put in place allowing county councils to review the districts within their areas to form more effective areas for administrative purposes.