| Election Name: | 1996 Rochford District Council election |
| Country: | Essex |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Previous Election: | 1995 Rochford District Council election |
| Previous Year: | 1995 |
| Election Date: | 2 May 1996 |
| Next Election: | 1998 Rochford District Council election |
| Next Year: | 1998 |
| Seats For Election: | 13 out of 39 seats on the Rochford District Council |
| Majority Seats: | 20 |
| Party1: | Liberal Democrats (UK) |
| Last Election1: | 8 |
| Seats Before1: | 22 |
| Seats1: | 6 |
| Seats After1: | 23 |
| Seat Change1: | 1 |
| Popular Vote1: | 4,697 |
| Percentage1: | 34.0% |
| Party2: | Labour Party (UK) |
| Last Election2: | 3 |
| Seats Before2: | 8 |
| Seats2: | 4 |
| Seats After2: | 11 |
| Seat Change2: | 3 |
| Popular Vote2: | 3,915 |
| Percentage2: | 28.3% |
| Party3: | Conservative Party (UK) |
| Last Election3: | 1 |
| Seats Before3: | 7 |
| Seats3: | 1 |
| Seats After3: | 2 |
| Seat Change3: | 5 |
| Popular Vote3: | 3,704 |
| Percentage3: | 26.8% |
| Party4: | Residents Association |
| Last Election4: | N/A |
| Seats Before4: | 2 |
| Seats4: | 2 |
| Seats After4: | 3 |
| Seat Change4: | 1 |
| Popular Vote4: | 1,500 |
| Percentage4: | 10.9% |
| Party5: | Independent (politician) |
| Last Election5: | 1 |
| Seats Before5: | 1 |
| Seats5: | N/A |
| Seats After5: | 1 |
| Popular Vote5: | N/A |
| Percentage5: | N/A |
Elections to Rochford Council were held on 2 May 1996. One third of the council was up for election.