The Village Management Board of Bellville was established on 12 May 1922 under the provisions of Ordinance 10 of 1921.

The Municipality of Bellville was constituted on 10 July 1940 under Proclamation No 126 of 1940 in terms of the provisions of section 4(b) of Ordinance No 10 of 1921 and section 8(1) of Ordinance No 14 1938. The first election of councillors for the Municipality took place on 24 September 1940 in terms of Section 60 of Ordinance No 10 of 1912.

In terms of Proclamation No 27 of 28 May 1996 the Tygerburg Substructure was established on 29 May 1996 with the amalgamation of the municipalities of Parow, Bellville, Goodwood, Lingelethu West, Durbanville and Mfuleni and parts of Cape Town, Milnerton and the Cape Metropolitan Board (Province of the Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary, No 5051, 28 May 1996).

A magistrate's court was established at Bellville on 21 May 1926.

Previously the magistrate of Cape Town held a periodical court at Bellville.

The magistrate of Bellville held periodical courts at Durbanville and Philadelphia.