Emeryville is a general law city, restricted to the exercise of powers specifically outlined in State general law. This is in contrast with a charter city whose broader range of powers are locally set by an original charter voted on by the city's electorate.

The City of Emeryville has a City Council-City Manager form of government. Under this form of government the Emeryville City Council is the legislative body responsible for setting City policy and adopting the City budget. The five City Councilmembers are elected at-large by the Emeryville electorate for four year staggered terms. Elections are held in odd-numbered years, with three Councilmembers elected in one cycle and two Councilmembers elected in the alternate cycle. Councilmembers must be electors of the City and must have been residents of the City for the year preceding the election. Every year, the five City Councilmembers select a Mayor and Vice-Mayor from among themselves. The City Councilmembers also serve as the Emeryville Redevelopment Agency.

The City Council appoints a City Manager, who is the administrative head of the city government and also serves as the Executive Director of the Redevelopment Agency. The City Manager is responsible for policy implementation and management of all city operations. The City Manager advises and makes recommendations to the City Council concerning any conditions or situations which require Council direction or policy determination and prepares the recommended budget for consideration and approval by the City Council.

The Emeryville Redevelopment Agency is the governmental body responsible for directing and overseeing the goals and objectives of the City's Redevelopment Plans: the Emeryville Redevelopment Plan adopted in 1976 and the Shellmound Park Redevelopment Plan, adopted in 1987. Together, the two Project Areas cover approximately 95% of the City. The only major areas in the City not included in the Redevelopment Project Areas are the marina area and the Watergate Condominiums.

In accordance with California Community Redevelopment Law, the objectives of the Redevelopment Plans are to eliminate economic, social, physical, and visual blight, provide for economic revitalization, preserve and improve existing residential areas, establish a more beneficial mix of land uses and restore the public infrastructure. To further these objectives, the Agency implements programs to improve the quality of existing housing, build new low and moderate income housing and support the redevelopment of vacant and underutilized or deteriorated properties within the Redevelopment Project Areas.

The City Council acts as the Redevelopment Agency Board, which sets policy and provides oversight to redevelopment activities. The City Manager acts as the Redevelopment Agency's Executive Director and the City Attorney acts as the Agency's General Counsel. Redevelopment Agency activities and programs are conducted by the City's Economic Development and Housing Department.