The City Council of Half Moon Bay, consisting of five members, is the governing body elected directly by the city’s voters. The Council sets priorities and policies, makes final decisions on all major city matters, adopts ordinances and resolutions, appoints the City Manager and City Attorney, and approves the annual budget.

City Council members are elected at-large to four-year, overlapping terms during elections administered by the City Clerk. There are no term limits in Half Moon Bay. Half Moon Bay has 5 electoral districts with an annual rotating mayor. The City Council selects one of its five members to serve as Mayor and one to serve as Vice Mayor, annually on a rotating basis.

The Half Moon Bay City Council meets regularly on the first and third Tuesday of each month starting at 7:00 p.m. All meetings are held at the Ted Adcock Community Center, 535 Kelly Avenue.