The official blazon is "Vert, a birch branch with three leaves argent issuant from the base" (Norwegian: I grønt en oppvoksende sølv bjørkekvist med tre blader).

This means the arms have a green field (background) and the charge is a birch tree branch with three leaves.

The branch and leaves have a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used.

The three leaves symbolize the three main areas in the municipality: Birkenes in the south, Herefoss in the northeast, and Vegusdal in the northwest.

[10] Starting in the 1960s, Norway enacted many municipal reforms such as mergers and border adjustments stemming from the work of the Schei Committee.

Later, on 1 January 1986, the Lislevand farm area (population: 8) was transferred from Birkenes to the neighboring municipality of Evje og Hornnes.

Then on 1 January 1991, the Dalen area of Birkenes (population: 60) was transferred to the neighboring municipality of Froland.

The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Birkenes (incomplete list): Agriculture and logging are important sources of employment, but the municipality also has a small industrial base with about 400 different work sites.

Other larger businesses include Uldal Vinduer og Dører, Foss Bad, Scanflex, KOAB Industrier, and Birkeland Trykkeri.