The Lord Mayor of York is the 'first citizen' of the city; appointment to this position is made each year, in May. At the same time each year, the Sheriff of York is appointed.
The Lord Mayor chairs meetings of 'full council' and, together with the Sheriff:
- represents the city on ceremonial occasions
- welcomes international visitors
- attends events organised by local people and community groups
York's Lord Mayor is second only to the Lord Mayor of London in precedence and its Sheriff holds the oldest office of Sheriff in England and Wales.
The Civic Protocol 2025 to 2026 details practices and procedures of the Civic Office; it's reviewed and adapted for the current civic year, to suit the changing times in which the Lord Mayor and Civic Party are involved. The protocol develops to accommodate changes in local governance, central government legislation and societal changes.
The Civic Party
Our Civic Party for 2025 to 2026 is:
- The Rt Hon Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Martin Rowley BEM
- Lady Mayoress, Mrs Elizabeth Rowley
- Sheriff of York, Mr Paul Doughty
- Sheriff’s Consort, Mr David Smith
Read the biographies of our Civic Party members.
The Mansion House
The Lord Mayor hosts formal and informal functions at the Mansion House.
Situated in St Helen's Square, in the heart of York city centre, the Mansion House is the official residence of the Lord Mayor of York during their year of office.
The Mansion House is also available for tours and private hire - see further information on The Mansion House website.
The Guildhall
The Guildhall was built in the 15th century and is situated on the River Ouse, behind the Mansion House. We hold full council meetings, chaired by the Lord Mayor, in the council chambers within the Guildhall.
Also see
The Civic Office
Civic Services
