The Lumber River Council of Governments serves as an administrative and service delivery arm for federal, state, regional, and local programs of its member governments. A Council of local elected officials (County Commissioners, Mayors, and Town Council Members) serves as the governing body. The COG represents a multi-county planning and service area. The counties of Bladen, Hoke, Richmond, Robeson and Scotland, along with 27 municipalities within these counties, make up the current membership of the Lumber River Council of Governments.

The Lumber River Council of Governments is part of a system of 17 regional councils covering the entire state of North Carolina.