Friday Harbor is located midway along the eastern shore of San Juan Island, second largest in a chain of 172 islands in the northernmost stretch of Puget Sound, and situated between Canada's Vancouver Island and the Washington State mainland. The Town of Friday Harbor encompasses one square mile, or 640 acres. Friday Harbor is the seat of San Juan County government and is the only incorporated town in the county. As a municipal corporation of the fourth class, Friday Harbor operates as a fourth class municipal corporation under the Revised Code of Washington, Section 35.
Voters elect the mayor and five council members to four-year terms.
All represent the community at large rather than individual districts or areas of town. Sales tax and real estate and personal property tax monies are earmarked for the town's current fund which finances general government services. State-shared revenues are dedicated for a particular use or fund. User fees or rates support the operation of the town's utilities.