Mayotte is divided into 17 communes, which serve as the sole level of local administration in this French overseas department. These communes function similarly to their counterparts in metropolitan France, holding responsibility for essential municipal services including urban planning, local infrastructure maintenance, primary education facilities, social housing, and waste management. Each commune is governed by a municipal council elected through direct suffrage, headed by a mayor who serves as both the executive authority for local matters and a representative of the French state at the municipal level. The communes manage local budgets, implement national policies at the community level, and address the specific needs of their populations. Given Mayotte's unique status as France's youngest department and its geographical isolation in the Indian Ocean, these communes also play a crucial role in balancing traditional Mahoran customs with French administrative requirements while delivering public services across both urban centers and rural villages.