The City of Newport News is an independent city with a council-manager form of government. The City Council is composed of seven non-partisan members elected from three wards. Newport News also has an elected school board that does not have independent taxing powers. Among the boards and commissions that are appointed by the Newport News City Council are the Planning Commission, the Economic/Industrial Development Authority and the Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

Being an independent city, there is no overlapping county government structure. For businesses located in Newport News that means there is no dual local taxation, no dual bureaucracies and one single, efficient public service provider. This is only one reason why a Newport News location minimizes the overall cost of doing business.

While there is no regional government, Newport News cooperates regionally to deliver public services efficiently, using economies of scale where appropriate. Cooperation ranges from public safety communication and coordination to non-taxing regional agencies and service providers. The latter include the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, the Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance (the regional marketing agency), the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (collecting and processing the region's wastewater) and the Newport News Waterworks (which provides water to five jurisdictions on the Virginia Peninsula.

The City's development services are coordinated by an Assistant City Manager responsible for the Departments of Development, Codes Compliance, Engineering and Planning. The Development Department provides site selection and ombudsman services to new and existing businesses and also manages several low-interest loan programs, the Enterprise Zone program (operational in four areas throughout the City) and other incentive programs. The Department of Engineering coordinates a one-stop site plan review process that involves the departments of Development, Planning, Waterworks, Police and Fire, as well as the transportation, stormwater, site plan and sanitary sewer divisions within the Engineering Department. After site plan approval is received, the Department of Codes Compliance reviews building plans, issues building permits and performs construction inspections. If a change of zoning or a conditional use permit should be required, the Planning Department takes this request before the Planning Commission and City Council.

The City’s Public Works Department centrally provides street maintenance, stormwater maintenance, public building and grounds maintenance, sanitation services and recycling. Newport News has one of the most active Parks and Recreation Departments in Virginia. Parks and Recreation also houses the tourism and historic attractions divisions. Local taxation is administered by the City Assessor (for real estate taxes) and Commissioner of the Revenue (for other business taxes). Local tax rates are determined by the City Council, within the parameters of state law. Police, Fire and Social Services are all coordinated by an Assistant City Manager. The Sheriff, who manages the City Jail, Juvenile Detention and the City Farm, is an elected official. Other City Departments include those providing administrative services.