"Even if it was only one woman, we're really proud of that. Honestly, we weren't expecting anyone to win," said Sahar Hassan Nasief, a women's rights activist in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.
But with 2,106 seats up for election, the 13 women will comprise less than one percent of Saudi Arabia's elected council membership.
"We need more than nine," said Aljazi al-Hossaini, who was defeated in Diriyah on the edge of Riyadh, where three women won seats, according to Saudi news channel Al-Ekhbaria.
Khadra al-Mubarak in the Gulf coast city of Qatif confirmed to AFP that she was among the victors.
"I will be in contact with society, especially women, to deliver their voices and demands to the council. I promise I will represent her by all means," she said.
In the first announcement of a female winner, Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi was elected in the holy city of Mecca, the official SPA news agency reported.
Another woman, Hanouf bint Mufrih bin Ayid al-Hazmi, won in the northwestern region of Jawf, SPA said, adding that neighbouring Tabuk elected two women.
Winners came from the south as well, with one woman elected in Jazan region, while two others including Lama al-Suleiman will join councils in Jeddah, the kingdom's second city, local election officials cited by SPA said.
The duties of municipal councils are limited to local affairs including streets, public gardens and garbage collection.
Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy with some of the world's tightest restrictions on women, including a ban on driving.
It was the last country to allow only men to vote, and polling stations were segregated during the ballot.
They had to overcome a number of obstacles to participate in the landmark poll.
Female candidates could not meet face-to-face with male voters during campaigning, while neither men nor women could publish their pictures.
Women voters said registration was hindered by factors including bureaucratic obstacles and a lack of transportation.
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