The main responsibilities of the county municipality included the running of 46 upper secondary schools, with 17,000 pupils.

The Hordaland county council (Norwegian: Fylkestinget) was made up of 57 representatives that were elected every four years.

The council essentially acted as a Parliament or legislative body for the county and it met several times each year.

The council was divided into standing committees and an executive board (fylkesutvalg) which met considerably more often.

The final County Mayor was Anne Gine Hestetun of the Labour Party, while her deputy was Rune Haugsdal.