The City of Fayetteville operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The elected body consists of a Mayor and five City Council members. The Mayor and Council are responsible for setting local policy, enacting ordinances, and adopting the city budget. They appoint a professional City Manager who oversees the day-to-day operations of the city’s departments and manages city staff.
As the county seat of Fayette County, Fayetteville also hosts the county's administrative and judicial centers. The historic county courthouse sits on the city square, though modern judicial proceedings take place at the Fayette County Justice Center just down the street.
Public services provided by the city include a dedicated police department, a highly trained fire department, public works, and community development services. Residents are represented in the Georgia General Assembly and the U.S. House of Representatives through designated state and federal legislative districts.