What it means
شهرداری (shahrdâri) is the Persian word for a municipal government or city hall, the institution that manages urban infrastructure, public spaces, waste collection, parks, and local permits. The word is entirely Persian in origin: شهر (shahr) means city, and داری (dâri) is the suffix from داشتن (dâshtan, to hold or to administer), giving the sense of city administration or city stewardship. The head of a شهرداری is called the شهردار (shahrdâr), the mayor. In formal documents the term سازمان شهرداری (sâzmân-e shahrdâri) is sometimes used for the full municipal organization.
How to use it
- شهرداری گفته این ساختمون رو خراب میکنه. (shahrdâri gofte in sâkhtemun ro kharâb mikone.) “The municipality said it will demolish this building.”
- باید مجوز بگیری از شهرداری. (bâyad mojawwez begiri az shahrdâri.) “You need to get a permit from city hall.”
- کارگرای شهرداری داشتن خیابون رو درست میکردن. (kârgarhâ-ye shahrdâri dâshtan khiyâbun ro dorost mikardan.) “The municipality workers were fixing the street.”
- شکایت از همسایه رو بردیم شهرداری. (shekâyat az hamsâye ro bordim shahrdâri.) “We took the complaint about the neighbor to city hall.”
Cultural note
In Iran, the شهرداری is a significant institution in daily civic life: it issues building permits, manages public transport contracts, and maintains green spaces. Mayors (شهردار) of major cities like Tehran are appointed rather than directly elected, and the role has historically been a launching pad for political careers. Citizens often interact with their local شهرداری for matters ranging from parking fines to neighborhood beautification projects.