It consists of the mayor, eight councillors who each represent one of the city's eight wards, and four regional councillors who, along with the mayor, are elected via double direct election to represent the city at York Regional Council.
Council meets in the chambers of the Markham Civic Centre at the corner of Warden Avenue and Highway 7.
[1] This system was used until 1 January 1971, when municipalities in York County were reorganized into the Regional Municipality of York, and Markham was newly incorporated as a town when Markham Village merged with Unionville and Thornhill east of Yonge Street.
[2] Minor boundary changes have taken place (1978, 1982, 1997 and 2006) with no impact on the numbering.
Provincial legislation extended the election period to 4 years.
Prior to the Ward 3 by-election Joseph Virgilio was appointed to fill the vacancy left by the death of Regional Councillor Tony Wong.