The council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity and culture, and environment.

The county administration is headed by a chief executive, John Mulholland.

After the courthouse became inadequate, a purpose-built facility, known as County Hall was built in May 1982.

[7] Members of Laois County Council are elected for a five-year term of office on the electoral system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV) from multi-member local electoral areas (LEAs).

County Laois is divided into municipal districts and LEAs, defined by electoral divisions.