Elections to the Adur District Council were held on 5 May 1983, with one third of the council up for election. There was an additional vacancy in the Peverel ward and no elections for the Marine ward. Overall turnout climbed to 47.6%.
The election resulted in the Alliance losing control of the council to no overall control.
This resulted in the following composition of the council:
+/- figures represent changes from the last time these wards were contested.