Carmarthen Town Council, as presently constituted, was established in 1974 and inherited some of the responsibilities and properties of the former Carmarthen Borough Council. The Town Council consists of eighteen elected members covering three Wards. North Ward has seven elected members, South Ward five elected members and West Ward six elected members. The history of the Town Council may be summarised as follows:
- circa 1300 – Carmarthen was the largest Welsh town, with a population of around 1,000
- 1546 – Carmarthen was made a Corporate Borough and appointed a Mayor and Common Council
- 1764 – A Carmarthen Borough Charter was granted by George III, creating a common council of twenty members, to be elected by the mayor and burgesses
- By 1790 – the population had increased to between 6,000 and 7,000 - boroughs such as Carmarthen were granted a measure of self government and trading rights to hold fairs and markets. The boroughs were established by a charter or charters
- 1835 – government of boroughs was reformed, with improved elected councils and financial regulations
- 1875 – Carmarthen Borough Council was granted new powers (equivalent to Urban District Councils)
- 1974 – Carmarthen Borough Council became Carmarthen Town Council
- 1974 - Carmarthen District Council was established, after the 1974 Local Government Act and was abolished after the Local Government Act 1996
- 1974 - Dyfed County Council was created
- 1996 – Carmarthen District Council was abolished
- 1996 - Carmarthenshire County Council was created, following the re-organisation of local government