Councillor and former Maribyrnong mayor Sarah Carter found dead in her home in Melbourne's west

Tributes are being paid to former Maribyrnong mayor Sarah Carter who was found dead in her home in Melbourne's inner west on Tuesday.

Victoria Police said emergency services attended an address in Village Way, Maribyrnong, about 3:45pm on Tuesday and found the body of a 45-year-old woman.

The death is not being treated as suspicious and police are preparing a report for the coroner.

The City of Maribyrnong said the council was "shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden passing" of Cr Carter, who was Maribyrnong's first three-time female mayor.

"Councillor Carter was a trusted and valued colleague and her passing is an enormous loss to our community who she has worked tirelessly to support over her 16 years on Council," the council said in a statement.