In England and Wales local government legislation, a principal area is one of the sub-national areas established for control by a principal council.
In England the principal areas are defined by the Local Government Act 1992 as, Note that while the local authority bodies of the City of London, Inner Temple, Middle Temple, civil parishes and the Isles of Scilly are not included within this definition, they otherwise remain defined as "local government areas".
While the phrase exists as a specific term in legislation such as the 1992 Act to refer to the geographical area governed by a principal council[1] the usual descriptive title otherwise used for such an area is one of County, Borough, District, City.
The plural Welsh translation as used in legislation such as Reg.
2 The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (Wales) Regulations 2004 is Prif Ardaloedd.