Upper Hutt City Council, Te Kaunihera o Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta, is the local council for Upper Hutt, and its offices are at the Civic Centre, 838 and 842 Fergusson Drive, in Upper Hutt Central. The council runs the local services, parks, sports fields and events for the city. Residents can book a park, sports field or picnic area on the website. The council also handles applications and approvals, including for food trucks, street stalls, raffles and busking, for alcohol licences and duty manager's certificates, and for food and health registrations. Businesses can find guidance on starting or growing a business in the city.
People can report a problem with a road, footpath or berm, and apply for approval to work on one. The council sets fees for water supply and drainage connections, and it handles abandoned vehicle and parking infringements. It also sets variable speed limits for schools across the city. Plans that affect the city's future, such as Plan Change 48A and the Tiaki Taiao rules for significant natural areas and landscapes, are open for public comment, and residents can have a say through the Let's Kōrero consultation pages. For someone in Upper Hutt who needs to book a park, start a business or make a formal request, the Civic Centre is the council's main point of contact.