Hardeeville operates under the Council/Manager form of government. Policymaking and legislative authority are vested in a City Council consisting of a directly elected Mayor and four council members. All are elected to four-year staggered terms. The City Council is responsible for passing ordinances, adopting the budget, appointing committees, and hiring the City Manager, City Attorney and Municipal Judge.

The City Manager is responsible for carrying out policies and ordinances of the City Council, for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the government and for appointing the heads of various departments. . The City’s current total budget is $53,914,850 of which $27,791,505 comprises the General Fund. The City employs 156.5 FTE’s.

Hardeeville provides a full range of services including the Municipal Judge, the City Attorney, the City Clerk, Administrative Services, Finance, Planning, Police, Fire, Public Works, Parks, Recreation & Tourism, Media, Information Systems, Project Management and Human Resources.