[3] The city's main commercial and residential town centres are located at Wanneroo in the east and Clarkson in the north.

Further urban centres are planned at Alkimos, Yanchep and Two Rocks in the future to coincide with rapid metropolitan expansion and development in the area.

It is also roughly 10 km from Joondalup, Perth's largest satellite city north of the Swan River.

Prior to 1902, Wanneroo was part of the Perth Road District, which eventually went on to become the City of Stirling.

With the development of and subsequent population growth surrounding Joondalup, the Shire of Wanneroo attained City status on 31 October 1985.

[8] On 1 July 1998, on the recommendation of a report by the Local Government Advisory Committee, the City of Wanneroo was bifurcated.

A third north–south arterial route, the Mitchell Freeway, extends north from Joondalup to terminate in the south of Alkimos.

Elections are held every four years, for a mayor and 14 councillors across the city's seven electoral wards, covering 36 suburbs.