Non-metropolitan district

Non-metropolitan district
Also known as: Shire district
Category	Local authority districts
Location	England
Found in	Non-metropolitan county
Created by	Local Government Act 1972
Created	1 April 1974
Number	226 (as of 2023)
Possible types	Two-tier (164)   Unitary authority (62)
Possible status	City Royal borough Borough

Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially "shire districts", are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties (colloquially shire counties) in a two-tier arrangement. Non-metropolitan districts with borough status are known as boroughs, able to appoint a mayor and refer to itself as a borough council.

Typically a district will consist of a market town and its more rural hinterland. However districts are diverse with some being mostly urban such as Dartford, and others more polycentric such as Thurrock.