In 1598 the “toun and lands of South Ferry of Port-on-Craig were erected into a burgh of barony , in favour of Robert Durie”, as Laird of Scotscraig. It was earlier however, following the summer of 1560, that saw parishes develop into legal units of civil government as well as ecclesiastical organisations. South Ferrietoun was referred to as part of the Lordship and Barony of Scotscraig & Regality of St. Andrews and remained part of Leuchars parish until disjoined in 1602, shortly before the union of the crowns, when the separate parish of Ferry-Port-On-Craig was established and in 1606 was erected by the Parliament.

The local governance, existing since the 12th Century reign of David I, largely evolved into its modern form of services provision following the urban growth after the industrial revolution. By 1886 the town had grown to a population of 2,238 from that of 621 in 1755 and there was a great agitation for the supply of good water to replace the use of wells. Whilst both Johnnie Doig’s and Bishop’s Well had the reputation for constant water provision, a high death rate was also influenced by lack of provision for carrying drainage to the sea. Tayport Town Council was formed as a police burgh in Dec. 1887, and changes over the next 40 years saw the establishment of Fife County Council and the displacement of both the Parochial Board and Parish Council. Further reforms in 1975 with the creation of North East Fife District Council determined that the civil parish ceased to have any legal or administrative existence and brought the termination of  the Town Council itself and in 1977 the formation of Tayport Community Council.  Further transformation to Unitary Councils in 1994 saw Tayport included within the Tay Bridgehead Ward of Fife Council.

Improvements were required for the significant industrial growth which followed the arrival of the railway in 1848, which also coincided with the General Post Office constituting  Ferry-Port-on-Craig as a Post Town. The growth in population also placed great demands upon the infrastructure of the old town. The newly formed Town Council set about transforming the public utility of the burgh and by 1890 had brought a water supply from over the river via the Tay Rail Bridge as well as completing a drainage system for the town. The Sheriff in Cupar granted a transfer of maintenance powers from the St. Andrews District Road Board and the concreting of footpaths began in 1892. This, along with the widening of some of the narrow old ferry town streets, reduced the frequent disagreements in Tay Street between carters trying to pass each other through the narrow muddy confines. 1909 saw both the infectious disease hospital open near St. Michaels and the Council’s purchase of the private Gas Works, which resulted in extensive improvements of both the street mains distribution and street lighting  system. 1911 saw the footbridge removed at the west end of the Mill Dam and that section was filled-in to enable the completion of Ogilvy Street. It was 1929, however before electric current was first made available.