Lynden operates with a mayor-council form of government. The part-time mayor (Scott Korthuis as of January 2010) is assisted by a full-time city administrator (Bill Verwolf since October 2001) and professionals who head the city’s public works, parks, planning, finance, police and fire departments. The City Council’s seven members receive compensation on a per-meeting basis. The mayor and council members are elected to four-year terms in odd-numbered years. Plans for Lynden’s future development also are being developed and updated.