| Election Name: | 1983 West Dorset District Council election |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1979 West Dorset District Council election |
| Previous Year: | 1979 |
| Next Election: | 1984 West Dorset District Council election |
| Next Year: | 1984 |
| Seats For Election: | All 55 seats to West Dorset District Council |
| Majority Seats: | 28 |
| Image1: | Ind |
| Party1: | Independent politician |
| Last Election1: | 37 seats, 42.1% |
| Seats1: | 30 |
| Seat Change1: | 7 |
| Popular Vote1: | 7,666 |
| Percentage1: | 26.0% |
| Swing1: | 16.1% |
| Party2: | Conservative Party (UK) |
| Last Election2: | 7 seats, 20.9% |
| Seats2: | 15 |
| Seat Change2: | 8 |
| Popular Vote2: | 10,923 |
| Percentage2: | 37.1% |
| Swing2: | 16.2% |
| Image3: | All |
| Party3: | SDP–Liberal Alliance |
| Last Election3: | 8 seats, 24.8% |
| Seats3: | 6 |
| Seat Change3: | 2 |
| Popular Vote3: | 8,871 |
| Percentage3: | 30.1% |
| Swing3: | 5.3% |
| Image4: | IndC |
| Party4: | Independent Conservative |
| Last Election4: | 1 seat, 0.6% |
| Seats4: | 3 |
| Seat Change4: | 2 |
| Popular Vote4: | N/A |
| Percentage4: | N/A |
| Swing4: | 0.6% |
| Image5: | Lab |
| Party5: | Labour Party (UK) |
| Last Election5: | 2 seats, 10.8% |
| Seats5: | 1 |
| Seat Change5: | 1 |
| Popular Vote5: | 2,009 |
| Percentage5: | 6.8% |
| Swing5: | 4.0% |
| Council control | |
| Posttitle: | Council control after election |
| Before Election: | Independent |
| After Election: | Independent |
The 1983 West Dorset District Council election was held on Thursday 5 May 1983 to elect councillors to West Dorset District Council in England. It took place on the same day as other district council elections in the United Kingdom. The entire council was up for election, following boundary changes that reduced the number of wards by two, but altogether the number of seats remained the same.[1] Subsequent elections for the council would be elected by thirds following the passing a resolution under section 7 (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.
The 1983 election saw the Independent councillors lose seats but maintain their majority control on the Council.