[4] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2), all land.

As of 2022, the Town Council consists of President Mark A. Maguire, Vice President Raymond K. Morris, Treasurer Suzanne K. Morris, Secretary Megan S. Raughley, and Land Use Administrator Robert J. Graves.

Town meetings are held once every two months at the Hartly Volunteer Fire Company.

As a result, the town government could not pay bills, collect taxes, enforce codes, or apply for state aid.

The town had not collected taxes for two years and was in thousands of dollars of debt.

A meeting was held in January 2015 at the Hartly Volunteer Fire Company on reforming the town government.

The meeting was attended by about 150 people, of which 16 lived in the town of Hartly and could run for office.

DE 44 passes northwest–southeast through the town on Main Street, heading northwest to an intersection with Delaware Route 300 in Everetts Corner that provides access to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and southeast to an intersection with Delaware Route 8 in Pearsons Corner that provides access to the city of Dover.