[1] After changes in the Norwegian football pyramid, no teams were promoted from the 3. divisjon after the 2016 season.
Like in the rest of the Norwegian Football league system, all the teams play each other twice, once at home and once away.
Travel times have also been considered occasionally; Bjørnevatn IL in the outskirts of Kirkenes was placed in a group dedicated to the greater Oslo area in the 2017 and 2018 seasons, as commuting by plane between Kirkenes Airport and Gardermoen Airport was deemed easier than travelling westwards through northern Norway by road.
Reserve teams of clubs from the two top divisions can participate in the 3. divisjon.
[4] From 2017, 3. divisjon has its title sponsorship rights sold to Norsk Tipping.