Thousand Oaks is a General Law City with a Council/Manager form of government. Under this type government, the City Council is the policy-making body, appointing the City Manager who is responsible for carrying out Council policy.

The Council consists of five members elected from the City at-large. Council members serve four-year staggered terms. Municipal (local) elections are held in November of even-numbered years. The Council annually selects a Mayor who serves as presiding officer during City Council meetings which are scheduled on Tuesday nights approximately two times per month. (The month of August is recessed.) Besides appointing a City Manager, Council duties include appointing a City Attorney and members of City Committees and Commissions, adopting a two-year budget, enacting legislation and establishing basic City policy.

City Manager is Scott Mitnick and Assistant City Manager is Linda Pappas Díaz.

Council meetings are televised live on TOTV-Channel 10, a government access television channel providing Thousand Oaks' citizens a window on government.

Council members appoint individuals to serve on the Planning Commission, Arts Commission, Youth Commission, Council on Aging, Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center Board of Governors, Traffic and Transportation Advisory Commission, Business Roundtable, as well as other boards and committees.

Since incorporation in 1964, the City of Thousand Oaks has earned well-deserved accolades:
One of the safest cities of its size in the nation Trail City National Hall of Fame l996 Tree City USA Among Top Communities for statewide academic achievement County and State Government Information