The Savelugu Municipal Assembly, which until 15th March 2017 when Nanton District was created was called Savelugu-Nanton Municipal Assembly. It was carved out of the then Western Dagomba District in 1988 under PNDC Law 207. In March 2012, the Assembly was upgraded to a Municipal status under L.I 2071.

The Municipality is located at the northern part of the Northern Region of Ghana. It shares boundaries with West Mamprusi District to the North, Karaga and Nanton Districts to the East, Kumbungu District to the West and Sagnerigu District Assembly to the South. The Municipality has about 81 communities with a lot of the communities concentrated at the southern part. The Municipality also has a total land area of about 2022.6 sq. km.