Mexhid Syla was born on November 15, 1948 in the village of Shakovicë, municipality of Podujevo. A law graduate from the University of Prishtina, he was a judge at the district court of Prishtina; held different leadership positions in the Prishtina municipality, including Head of Urban Planning; was Director of Transportation at the Elektro-Ekomic company; and Director of the Football Club of Prishtina. After the war, he was appointed Head of the Municipality of Prishtina by the Provisional Government, before the first local election in 2001.