It existed from 1933 to 1974 and was governed by the elected Esher Urban District Council which shared local government functions with Surrey County Council.
Its main building was the large town hall in Esher.
[1] It was created following the Local Government Act 1929 as part of a county review order from: The district had eight wards, electing 33 councillors to Esher Urban District Council.
It was proposed by the commission that Esher should form, with Walton and Weybridge, a borough in Greater London.
The urban district was abolished on 1 April 1974 and became, with Walton and Weybridge, Elmbridge.