This is a list of the coats of arms of the local authorities in Wales.
Since 1996, Wales has been divided into 22 principal areas, variously styled as counties or county boroughs.
Between 1974 and 1996, Wales was divided into 8 counties, which were further divided into thirty-seven districts. In 1996 this two-tier system of local government was abolished and replaced with the current single-tier system of principal areas, mostly based on the formerly lower-tier districts. However, the former upper-tier counties have been "preserved" for the ceremonial purposes of lieutenancy and shrievalty.
| Council | Arms | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clwyd County Council | Granted 3 December 1974[10] | ||
| Dyfed County Council | | ||
| Gwent County Council | Inherited from the historic county of Monmouthshire, and then passed on to the present Monmouthshire County Council. | ||
| Gwynedd County Council (not to be confused with the present Gwynedd Council) | | Used by the former Gwynedd County Council (1974-1996), until it was divided into Anglesey, Conwy, and Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire, the latter of which was renamed back to Gwynedd (1996-present). Continues to be used by the present Gwynedd Council. | |
| Mid Glamorgan County Council | |||
| Powys County Council | Granted 2 March 1984. Powys continues to exist as a unitary authority using the same arms. | ||
| South Glamorgan County Council | |||
| West Glamorgan County Council |
In 1889 a system of administrative counties was established in parallel to the 13 historic counties, which had been the main subdivisions of Wales since 1536. Between 1889 and 1974 some boroughs were elevated to county boroughs outside of the administrative counties (Cardiff and Swansea in 1889, Newport in 1891 and Merthyr Tydfil in 1908). The boundaries of the administrative counties gradually departed from those of the historic counties until they were replaced by a new system in 1974.
| Council | Arms | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monmouthshire County Council (1889-1974) | Granted 28 January 1948. Continues to be used by the present Monmouthshire County Council.[11] | ||
| Glamorgan County Council (1889-1974) | | Granted 15 December 1950[12] | |
| Carmarthenshire County Council (1889-1974) | Granted 28 August 1935; supporters granted 1997. Continues to be used by the present Carmarthenshire County Council.[13] | ||
| Pembrokeshire County Council (1889-1974) | Granted 11 October 1937. Continues to be used by the present Pembrokeshire County Council.[14] | ||
| Cardiganshire County Council (1889-1974) | Granted 21 October 1937. Continues to be used by the present Ceredigion County Council[15] | ||
| Brecknockshire County Council (1889-1974) | Unofficial[16] | ||
| Radnorshire County Council (1889-1974) | | Granted 21 November 1950[17] | |
| Montgomeryshire County Council (1889-1974) | | Granted 23 January 1951[18] | |
| Denbighshire County Council (1889-1974) | | Granted 12 March 1962[19] | |
| Flintshire County Council (1889-1974) | Granted 12 May 1938. Continues to be used by the present Flintshire County Council.[20] | ||
| Merionethshire County Council (1889-1974) | | Granted March 1952[21] | |
| Caernarvonshire County Council (1889-1974) | | Granted 1949. County was anglicised as Carnarvonshire prior to 1926. | |
| Anglesey County Council (1889-1974) | Granted 9 April 1954. Continues to be used by the present Isle of Anglesey County Council.[22] |