Elections to Waltham Forest Council were held in May 2002. The whole council was up for election for the first time since the 1998 election. These elections were the first held on new ward boundaries which increased the total number of Councillors by 3, from 57 to 60.
Waltham Forest local elections are held every four years, with the next due in 2006.
Despite losing their majority, Labour were able to continue in administration, in a minority.
As part of a major redistricting, Waltham Forest council along with every other Londo Borough Council created new wards, eliminated some and expanded others. The results of this redistricting were as follows:
In between the this election and the 1998 election, there was only one by-election held, however this did not result in the seat changing parties. In addition to this there was also a seat that became vacant without enough time to hold a by-election to fill it before the local elections. This meant that the council composition just before the election was as follows:
After the election the composition of the council was as follows:
(*) - Indicates an incumbent candidate
(â ) - Indicates an incumbent candidate standing in a different ward