In 1839, the southern district of Meldal (population: 2,368) was separated to form the new Rennebu Municipality.

[8] The municipality (originally the parish) is named Meldal (Old Norse: Meðaldalr) after its location in the Orkdalen valley.

On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Meldal, removing the definite form ending -en.

The official blazon is "Gules, an ear of corn in a roundel voided embattled Or" (Norwegian: I rød, et gull kornaks i tannhjul).

This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is the top of an ear of corn inside a gear-shaped circular ring.

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.

Meldal Municipality was located along the Orkla River in the middle of the Orkdalen valley.

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Meldal is made up of 19 representatives that are elected to four year terms.