Changes proposed by the Local Government Boundary Commission (LGBC) for England would see the loss of 28 councillors in County Durham.
The commission recommended reducing the number of Durham County councillors from 126 to 98.
Councillors would serve 51, rather than 63, divisions and the boundaries for most divisions would be changed.
The LGBC for England, which is accountable to Parliament, aims to ensure that each councillor represents a similar number of electors and that boundaries reflect community ties and identities.
It made its final recommendations for County Durham following a consultation on the new divisions, which received responses from 371 people and organisations.
Commission chair Professor Colin Mellors said: ‘We are very grateful to people in County Durham. We looked at all the views they gave us. They helped us improve our earlier proposals.
‘We believe the new arrangements will deliver electoral fairness while maintaining local ties.’
Durham County Council's democratic services manager, Michael Turnbull, said: 'We will review the final recommendations from the LGBC for England and, provided they are approved by Parliament, will ensure that they are implemented in time for the local elections in 2025.'
