The administrative centre is the village of Batnfjordsøra, which lies along the Batnfjorden and it is a former steamship landing place.

The official blazon is "Vert, a deer head cabossed Or" (Norwegian: I grønt et gull hjortehode, sett forfra).

This means the arms have a green field (background) and the charge is the head and antlers of a red deer.

The charge has a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used.

The arms were designed by Jarle Skuseth who based it off an original idea by Birger A. Eikrem.

The municipality also includes the island of Bergsøya which is located at the junction of the fjords near the village of Gjemnes.

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

The Freifjord Tunnel (part of Norwegian National Road 70) runs from Bergsøya to the nearby island of Frei (and ultimately Kristiansund).