The administration in Darjeeling district includes the management of subdivisions of Darjeeling Sadar, Kurseong, Kalimpong, and Siliguri.

Darjeeling Sadar consists of Darjeeling city and three community development blocks, namely the Darjeeling Pulbazar, Rangli Rangliot and Jorebunglow Sukiapokhri. Kalimpong subdivision comprises Kalimpong city and three community development blocks of Kalimpong - I, Kalimpong - II and Gorubathan. Kurseong subdivision includes Kurseong city and two community development blocks, namely Mirik and Kurseong. Siliguri subdivision consists of Siliguri city and four community development blocks, namely Naxalbari, Matigara, Phansidewa and Kharibari.

Darjeeling is the district headquarters. There are 17 police stations, 12 development blocks, 3 municipalities, 1 Municipal Corporation and also 134 gram Panchayats in Darjeeling district. Each subdivision contains one municipality each (Siliguri has a municipal corporation instead) along with community development blocks, which in turn are divided into rural areas with gram panchayats, and census towns. In total there are 9 urban units, including 3 municipalities, 1 Municipal Corporation, 1 notified area and 4 census towns. Also, Darjeeling city and Pattabong Tea Garden are part of the urban agglomeration.

The Darjeeling Sadar subdivision is made of Darjeeling municipality, Darjeeling Pulbazar community, Rangli Rangliot community and Jorebunglow Sukiapokhri community. Darjeeling Pulbazar community development block consists of rural areas with 23-gram panchayats and one census town of Pattabong Tea Garden. Jorebunglow Sukiapokhri community development block comprises rural areas only with 16-gram panchayats. Rangli Rangliot community development block consists of rural areas only with 11-gram Panchayats.

The Kalimpong subdivision of Darjeeling district includes Kalimpong municipality, Kalimpong - I community, Kalimpong - II community and Gorubathan community. Kalimpong - I community development block consists of rural areas only with 18 gram Panchayats; while Kalimpong - II community development block consists of rural areas only with 13 gram Panchayats. Gorubathan community development block consists of rural areas only with 11-gram Panchayats. In the Kurseong subdivision, Kurseong municipality, Mirik, Kurseong community and Mirik community is included. The latter development block consists of rural areas only with 6-gram Panchayats; while Kurseong community development block consists of rural areas with 14 gram Panchayats and one census town, Cart Road.

Siliguri subdivision in Darjeeling district is made up of Siliguri Municipal Corporation and community development blocks of Matigara, Naxalbari, Phansidewa and Kharibari. The Matigara community development block consists of rural areas with 5-gram Panchayats and one census town, Bairatisal. Phansidewa community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 7-gram Panchayats. Naxalbari community development block is made up of rural areas with 6-gram Panchayats and one census town, Uttar Bagdogra and finally, the Kharibari community development block consist of rural areas only with 4-gram Panchayats.

The district is divided into 5 assembly constituencies, namely Kalimpong, Phansidewa, Kurseong, Siliguri and Darjeeling. Phansidewa constituency is reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates. Along with two-assembly constituency hailing from North Dinajpur district, the five assembly constituencies of this district form the Darjeeling (Lok Sabha constituency). According to the order of the delimitation commission in respect of the delimitation of constituencies in the West Bengal, the district has been divided into 6 assembly constituencies, namely Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Matigara-Naxalbari, Phansidewa, Siliguri and Kurseong. Phansidewa constituency and Matigara-Naxalbari constituency are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) candidates. Along with one assembly electorate from North Dinajpur district, the six assembly communities of this district have formed the Darjeeling (Lok Sabha constituency).