| Election Name: | 1986 West Dorset District Council election |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1984 West Dorset District Council election |
| Previous Year: | 1984 |
| Next Election: | 1987 West Dorset District Council election |
| Next Year: | 1987 |
| Seats For Election: | 19 of 55 seats (one third) to West Dorset District Council |
| Majority Seats: | 28 |
| Image1: | Ind |
| Party1: | Independent politician |
| Seats Before1: | 28 |
| Seats1: | 10 |
| Seats After1: | 29 |
| Seat Change1: | 1 |
| Popular Vote1: | 3,978 |
| Percentage1: | 24.4% |
| Party2: | Conservative Party (UK) |
| Seats Before2: | 17 |
| Seats2: | 3 |
| Seats After2: | 12 |
| Seat Change2: | 5 |
| Popular Vote2: | 4,028 |
| Percentage2: | 24.7% |
| Image3: | All |
| Party3: | SDP–Liberal Alliance |
| Seats Before3: | 6 |
| Seats3: | 4 |
| Seats After3: | 9 |
| Seat Change3: | 3 |
| Popular Vote3: | 5,027 |
| Percentage3: | 30.9% |
| Image4: | IndC |
| Party4: | Independent Conservative |
| Seats Before4: | 3 |
| Seats4: | 1 |
| Seats After4: | 3 |
| Popular Vote4: | 440 |
| Percentage4: | 2.8% |
| Image5: | Lab |
| Party5: | Labour Party (UK) |
| Seats Before5: | 1 |
| Seats5: | 1 |
| Seats After5: | 2 |
| Seat Change5: | 1 |
| Popular Vote5: | 2,806 |
| Percentage5: | 17.2% |
| Council control | |
| Posttitle: | Council control after election |
| Before Election: | Independent |
| After Election: | Independent |
The 1986 West Dorset District Council election was held on Thursday 8 May 1986 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. One third of seats were up for election.
The 1986 election saw the Independent councillors maintain their majority control on the Council.