City Council Districts & By-District Elections

Districting sets geographic boundaries that decide who can run for a Council seat and which voters elect that seat. Services stay citywide, only the election method changes.

Yes. You can contact any Council Member, and all continue to serve the entire City.

Possibly—districts can affect contests on your ballot. Confirm your voter status and ballot info through the County Registrar.

The district boundaries were adopted by the City Council on April 2, 2025, following a public process that incorporated:

• Legal criteria: equal population using 2020 Census data; compliance with the California Voting Rights Act; contiguity; and respect for natural and man-made boundaries where practicable.

• Communities of Interest (COI): testimony and COI input describing neighborhoods, shared amenities, schools, and local concerns to help keep communities together.

• Public participation: multiple public meetings/hearings, posted draft maps, and opportunities for written and spoken feedback before the Council selected the final map and election sequence.

Learn more on our Transition to District Elections page.

Through November 2026, Sonoma’s Council Members are elected at-large, meaning they are chosen by all city voters and each Council Member represents the entire city—there is no single district representative yet.

Beginning with the November 2026 election, Districts 1, 3, and 5 will each elect a Council Member who must live in that district and will serve as that district’s representative. Districts 2 and 4 will continue to be represented at-large until their first district elections in November 2028.

View the Interactive District Map to look up your district number; after the 2026 election results are certified, this page will list the Council Member for each district.

Cities in California review and, if needed, redraw Council district boundaries every 10 years after the release of new U.S. Census data to keep districts substantially equal in population. The next full review will occur after the 2030 Census. The process follows the FAIR MAPS Act and includes multiple public hearings and outreach opportunities for residents.