North Little Rock operates under a mayor-city council form of government. The mayor is elected by popular vote to head the executive branch of government on a full-time basis for a four-year term. Eight aldermen are elected to represent four wards. Aldermen serve staggered four-year terms with one of the two ward positions up for re-election every two years. Regularly scheduled city council meetings are the second and fourth Monday of each month.

Other elected city officials include the City Clerk, City Attorney, City Treasurer, Municipal Judge and Traffic Judge.

North Little Rock has a long-range master plan for its physical growth with effective zoning and code ordinance enforcement. The city is a member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Arkansas Municipal League, Metroplan (regional planning agency), Pulaski County Solid Waste Management District, the North Little Chamber of Commerce, the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Little Rock Downtown Partnership.