Hyndburn borders the boroughs of Ribble Valley to the north, Burnley to the east, Rossendale to the south, and Blackburn with Darwen to the west.

[4] The new district was awarded borough status on the day that it came into being, allowing the chairman of the council to take the title of mayor.

[5] In 2007, the council proposed changing the name from Hyndburn to "Accrington and Districts", to aid recognition of the borough by those not familiar with the area.

Altham is a civil parish, which forms a third tier of local government for that part of the borough.

[16] The council's main offices are at Scaitcliffe House on Ormerod Street in Accrington, being part of a converted textile mill.

The Acrrington/Rossendale built-up area extends from the town of Accrington to Rawtenstall and Bacup, taking in parts of the boroughs of Hyndburn and Rossendale.

They chair meetings of the full council and are expected to be politically impartial during their term of office, but they do get an additional casting vote in the event of a tie.

The mayors since 1974 have been:[23] The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the Borough of Hyndburn.