See main article: 2012 Scottish local elections.
| Election Name: | 2012 Renfrewshire Council election |
| Country: | Scotland |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2007 Renfrewshire Council election |
| Previous Year: | 2007 |
| Next Election: | 2017 Renfrewshire Council election |
| Next Year: | 2017 |
| Seats For Election: | All 40 seats to Renfrewshire Council |
| Majority Seats: | 21 |
| 3Blank: | Swing (pp)--> |
| Party1: | Scottish Labour Party |
| Leaders Seat1: | Paisley Southwest |
| Seats Before1: | 19 |
| Seats Needed1: | 4 |
| Seats1: | 22 |
| Seat Change1: | 5 |
| Leader2: | Brian Lawson |
| Party2: | Scottish National Party |
| Leaders Seat2: | Paisley East and Ralston |
| Seats Before2: | 16 |
| Seats Needed2: | 4 |
| Seats2: | 15 |
| Seat Change2: | 2 |
| Leader3: | James MacLaren |
| Party3: | Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party |
| Leaders Seat3: | Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank |
| Seats Before3: | 1 |
| Seats Needed3: | 19 |
| Seats3: | 1 |
| Seat Change3: | 1 |
| Leader4: | Eileen McCartin |
| Party4: | Scottish Liberal Democrats |
| Leaders Seat4: | Paisley Southwest |
| Seats Before4: | 1 |
| Seats Needed4: | 11 |
| Seats4: | 1 |
| Seat Change4: | 3 |
| Leader5: | Paul Mack |
| Party5: | Independent (politician) |
| Leaders Seat5: | Paisley South |
| Seats Before5: | 0 |
| Seats Needed5: | 21 |
| Seats5: | 1 |
| Seat Change5: | 1 |
| Map Size: | 400px |
| Council Leader | |
| Before Election: | Brian Lawson |
| Before Party: | Scottish National Party |
| Posttitle: | Council Leader after election |
| After Election: | Mark MacMillan |
| After Party: | Scottish Labour Party |
The 2012 Renfrewshire Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Renfrewshire Council. The election used the eleven wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with each ward electing three or four Councillors using the single transferable vote system a form of proportional representation, with 40 Councillors being elected.
The election saw the Scottish Labour Party gain five seats to regain an overall majority on the council that they had lost at the time of the 2007 Local Elections, while also significantly increasing their vote. The Scottish National Party remained in second place on the council but recorded a disappointing performance as the party lost two seats and saw a slight drop in its vote share. Both the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrats declined in numbers to just one seat each. Meanwhile, Independent and former Labour Party member, Paul Mack, secured a seat on the council.
Following the election the Labour majority administration was formed. This replaced the previous SNP – Lib Dem coalition that had existed from 2007 to 2012.
Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections on 3 May 2007. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.