Established in 2008, it was preceded by several previous local government areas with histories extending back to the early 1900s.

On 11 November 1879, the Rawbelle and Perry Divisions were created to serve regional areas under the Divisional Boards Act 1879.

In July 2007, the Local Government Reform Commission released its report and recommended that the six areas amalgamate, asserting that there were "inefficiencies with having six local governments to manage the economic and community interests of a relatively small geographic region which has a static population of just over 10,000".

It believed amalgamation would offer potential for both strategic planning and improving the quality of governance and decision-making, as well as allowing one of the towns to emerge as a regional centre for the area.

The North Burnett Regional Council operates public libraries at Biggenden, Eidsvold, Gayndah, Monto, Mount Perry, and Mundubbera.

[13] On 5 May 2014, the North Burnett Regional Council published their first Local Heritage Register, containing 64 sites out of a proposed 71.