The Paris Observatory is a research institution depending from the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, with a status of public institution of scientific, cultural and professional nature.

The Paris Observatory is directed by an elected president and administrated by an Administrative Council. They are assisted by a Scientific Council. The activities of the Observatory are avaluated on a regular basis by the High Scientific Council, consisting of independent experts.

The Observatory consists of five Departments, an institute, a scientific service at Nançay (radio astronomy station), central and common services, and a Formation and Teaching Unit. All scientific components are associated with CNRS, under a specific convention.

A Committee of Security and Health (CHS) makes all useful propositions to the Administrative Council, in order to improve security and health conditions in the Observatory.

The annual budget of the Observatory, salaries excluded, amounts to about 20 million Euros, provided by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, and by contracts and grants from government or European agencies or private institutions, as well as by its own resources.