The district covers almost the same area as the historic county of Huntingdonshire, which had been abolished for administrative purposes in 1965, with some differences to the northern boundary with Peterborough.

The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.

[7] The council has been under no overall control since the 2022 election, being led by a coalition of the Liberal Democrats, Labour, Greens and independent councillors.

[23] The council is based at Pathfinder House on St Mary's Street in the centre of Huntingdon.

The current building was completed in 2010, replacing the council's former headquarters of the same name on the site.