It is responsible for public health and sanitation, cleanliness management, town planning, environmental protection and building control, social and economic development and general maintenance functions of urban infrastructure.

[2] The MBMB main headquarters is located at Graha Makmur in Ayer Keroh, just outside its area of jurisdiction and opposite that of Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council at Melaka Mall (formerly known as Plaza Kotamas).

The Municipality of the Town and Fort of Malacca, 11 square kilometres (4.2 sq mi) wide, was established in 1824 by the British East India Company for the purpose of town planning, public order and collection of assessment rates.

The council obtained its present name on 15 April 2003 when Malacca Town was granted city status.

[4] On 1 January 2010, part of its area including the headquarters' building, covering 57.66 square kilometres (22.26 sq mi) was separated for the establishment of Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council (Majlis Perbandaran Hang Tuah Jaya, MPHTJ).