Short answer: There is no universal limit for how many terms a mayor can serve; term length and term-limit rules vary by city, state, or country, and some places impose limits while others do not.
Details
- In the United States, mayoral term lengths most commonly are four years, but can be two or even other durations in some jurisdictions.
- Term limits, when they exist for mayors, typically cap the number of consecutive terms (for example, two or three consecutive four-year terms is common in many cities), but many cities do not impose any term limit at all.
- Specific local rules matter: some cities impose consecutive-term limits with breaks required before running again, others limit total terms regardless of breaks, and a few place limits on re-election only after certain conditions.
- For example, a 2006 ICMA-based snapshot cited by local government resources shows four-year terms as most common, with term limits relatively less common overall (and when present, two-term limits are frequent). Larger cities tend to be more likely to impose term limits.
If you have a particular city or country in mind, please share it and the time frame you care about, and the exact term length and any term-limit rules for that mayoral office can be specified.
