On that date, the Nedre Maudal area of Bjerkreim (population: 40) was transferred to the neighboring municipality of Gjesdal.

The official blazon is "Vert, a birch branch with six leaves and four catkins argent" (Norwegian: På grøn grunn ein opprett sølv bjørkekvist med sju blad og fire raklar).

This means the arms have a green field (background) and the charge is a vertical branch from a birch tree which has six leaves and four catkins.

The charge has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used.

The design was chosen since the name of the municipality is derived from the Norwegian word for birch, bjørk, thus the arms are canting.

A notable local politician is Olaf Gjedrem, mayor from 1979 to 1993 and later a member of the national parliament.

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Bjerkreim is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms.

The main means of transportation to Bjerkreim is via the European route E39 highway which passes through the municipality from south to north.