Pamlico county is divided into five numbered Townships and is governed by a seven member Board of Commissioners which meets twice monthly.
The County is a member of the regional Eastern Carolina Council of Governments which is one of the 17 regional North Carolina Councils of Governments established by the NC General Assembly for the purpose of regional planning and administration. With headquarters in New Bern, it serves Pamlico County as well as Onslow, Duplin, Wayne, Green, Lenoir, Jones, Craven, and Carteret counties.