The categorization of Cali as a special district has led to intricate debates in different fields, including the legal, political-administrative, and social spheres. However, primarily, the issues revolve around governance guarantees. It is argued that this pivotal concept contributes to understanding efficient and effective public management. This article aims to analyze the effects of the Special District of Santiago de Cali political-administrative division on governance in the territories. The employed methodology combines social science hermeneutics and normative analysis inherent in legal hermeneutics. This article presents two major challenges to governance: the social, political, environmental, and economic heterogeneity of the territories, and their ability to adapt to institutional change. The new district localities must consider the socio-economic and environmental characteristics, as well as the capacity for coordination and organization, in terms of public management, within the city.