In late Western Han, it administered a total of 38 counties and marquessates: Tan (郯), Lanling (蘭陵), Xiangben (襄賁), Xiapi (下邳), Liangcheng (良成), Pingqu (平曲), Qi (戚), Qu (朐), Kaiyang (開陽), Fei (費), Licheng (利成), Haiqu (海曲), Lanqi (蘭祺), Zeng (繒), Nancheng (南成), Shanxiang (山鄉), Jianxiang (建鄉), Jiqiu (即丘), Zhuqiu (祝其), Linyi (臨沂), Houqiu (厚丘), Rongqiu (容丘), Dong'an (東安), Hexiang (合鄉), Cheng (承), Jianyang (建陽), Quyang (曲陽), Siwu (司吾), Yuxiang (于鄉), Pingqu (平曲), Duyang (都陽), Yinping (陰平), Wuxiang (郚鄉), Wuyang (武陽), Xinyang (新陽), Jianling (建陵), Changlü (昌慮), Duping (都平).
The commandery constituted part of the Lu Kingdom during the reigns of Emperor Guangwu and Emperor Ming, until Liu Qiang (劉彊), the prince of Donghai, offered the territory back to the imperial government.
In 140, there were 13 counties, namely Tan, Lanling, Qi, Qu, Xiangben, Changlü, Cheng, Yinping, Licheng, Hexiang, Zhuqi, Houqiu, and Ganyu (赣榆).
In Sui and Tang dynasties, Donghai Commandery became an alternative name of Hai Prefecture.
[8] In 742, it administered 4 counties: Qushan (朐山), Donghai (東海), Shuyang (沭陽) and Huairen (懷仁).