New Brunswick is the eighth-most populous province in Canada, with 775,610 residents as of the 2021 census, and the third-smallest province by land area, at 71,248.50 km² (27,509.20 sq mi).^[1] New Brunswick's 104 municipalities,^[2] as of 2021, covered only 10.9% of the province's land mass but were home to 69.5% of its population.

Local governments in New Brunswick may be incorporated under the Local Governance Act of 2017.^[3] Local governments include municipalities – cities, towns, and villages – as well as rural communities and regional municipalities.^[4] Municipal governments are led by elected councils and are responsible for the delivery of services such as civic administration, land use planning, emergency measures, policing, road, and garbage collection.^[5]

In 1785, Saint John became the first community in what would eventually become Canada to be incorporated as a city.^[6] Moncton is New Brunswick's largest municipality by population, with 79,470 residents, and Saint John is the largest urban municipality by land area, at 315.59 km² (121.85 sq mi).^[7] As of 2021, approximately one-third of the residents of New Brunswick did not live in municipalities but resided in local service districts, which were unincorporated communities administered by the Minister of Environment and Local Government and had no local government of their own.^[5]

Beginning in 2021, the government of New Brunswick launched a local governance reform, which eventually saw the local service districts dissolved in 2023, with their territory assigned to cities, towns, villages, rural communities or rural districts.^[8] The same reforms reduced the number of municipalities to 77.^[9]

Prior to the reforms, New Brunswick had 8 cities, 26 towns, 61 villages, 1 regional municipality, and 8 rural communities.^[5][10] Following the reforms, New Brunswick has 8 cities, 30 towns, 21 villages, 17 rural communities, and 1 regional municipality.^[11]

Cities

The Lieutenant-Governor in Council may incorporate an area as a city under the Local Governance Act if it has a population of at least 10,000.^[3] Cities already in existence on January 1, 1967 continue to be incorporated regardless of population.^[3] New Brunswick had eight cities that had a cumulative population of 293,928 in the 2021 Census.^[7] Moncton is New Brunswick's largest city by population with 79,470 residents and Saint John is the largest by land area 315.59 km² (121.85 sq mi) respectively.^[7] Campbellton is New Brunswick's smallest city by population and land area with 7,047 residents and 18.57 km² (7.17 sq mi).^[7]

Towns

The Lieutenant-Governor in Council may incorporate an area as a town under the Local Governance Act if it has a population of at least 1,500 and provides a level of services that the Minister of Local Government and Local Governance Reform considers appropriate.^[3] Towns already in existence on January 1, 1967 continue to be incorporated regardless of population.^[3]

Prior to implementation of the 2023 local governance reforms, New Brunswick had 26 towns that had a cumulative population of 133,350 in the 2021 Census.^[7] New Brunswick's largest town by population is Riverview with 20,584 residents and largest town by area was Sackville with a land area of 73.91 km² (28.54 sq mi).^[7] New Brunswick's smallest town by population was Hartland with 933 residents and the smallest by land area was Saint-Quentin at 4.24 km² (1.64 sq mi).^[7] The number of towns increased to 30 in 2023 upon implementation of the local governance reforms.^[11]

Villages

Prior to implementation of the 2023 local governance reforms, New Brunswick's 61 villages had a cumulative population of 71,186 as of the 2021 Census.^[7] New Brunswick's largest village by population was Memramcook with 5,029 residents and largest village by area was Belledune with a land area of 189.18 km² (73.04 sq mi).^[7] New Brunswick's smallest village by population was Meductic with 180 residents and the smallest by land area was Saint-Louis de Kent at 1.98 km² (0.76 sq mi).^[7] The number of villages decreased to 21 in 2023 upon implementation of the local governance reforms.^[11]

Regional municipalities

The Lieutenant-Governor in Council may incorporate an area as a regional municipality under the Local Governance Act if there is a population of at least 15,000 and at least one existing municipality. New Brunswick's first and only regional municipality was incorporated on May 12, 2014.^[12] The Regional Municipality of Tracadie was formed through the amalgamation of the former Town of Tracadie–Sheila, eighteen local service districts and portions of two other local service districts.^[12] Regional municipalities must have a population greater than 15,000 and a community grouping that includes at least one municipality.^[5] Regional municipalities elect a local council but are responsible only for community administration, planning and emergency measures services, and all services previously provided by any former municipality that is now part of the regional municipality.^[5] The Province of New Brunswick is responsible for police protection and road services, unless the regional municipality chooses to assume these responsibilities.^[5]

Rural communities

Prior to implementation of the 2023 local governance reforms, New Brunswick had eight rural communities that had a cumulative population of 24,842 in the 2021 Census.^[7] New Brunswick's largest and smallest rural communities were Beaubassin East and Campobello Island with populations of 6,718 and 949 respectively.^[7] The number of rural communities increased to seventeen in 2023 upon implementation of the local governance reforms.^[11]

Rural communities elect local councils and are responsible for the delivery of some local services, including administrative services, community planning and emergency measures.^[5] The province of New Brunswick ensures the delivery of other services including solid waste collection and recreation services unless the rural community chooses to take on these responsibilities.^[5] Rural communities that include a former village or town are an exception, as they are responsible to provide all services that were previously provided by their former municipality.^[5]

Lists of municipalities

Pre-2023 local governance reform

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  Skyline of Moncton, New Brunswick's largest municipality
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  Skyline of Saint John, New Brunswick's second largest municipality
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  Skyline of Fredericton, New Brunswick's capital city and third-largest municipality