The district headquarters is located at Pilibhit city. Pilibhit district is one of the 75 districts of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The Bareilly Division includes the Pilibhit district. In September 2008, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve was designated as a Tiger Reserve Area.

Past Events
A magistrate was stationed in Pilibhit, and the district of Pilibhit was initially formed in 1871 as a division of Bareilly district, encompassing the parganas of Jahanabad, Pilibhit, and Puranpur In November 1879, it was formally elevated to the status of a distinct district.