The state archives host the administrative records of the Canton of Zürich, as it was established in 1803 in its current form.

The 4 February 1837 marked the beginning of a new era in Zürich's archives, when Hans Jakob Ammann was elected by the cantonal authorities as the director of the Staatsarchiv.

The archives are supplemented by documents stocks of private origin, among them companies, associations, guilds, families and individuals.

In addition, it operates as a public reference library with the focus on "History of the Canton of Zurich" and "archival science".

Every year, the archives records approximately 800 metres (2,625 ft) linear meters of new content in paper.

It also includes younger state objects such as the Zürich standard weight, a dog measuring device from 1909, or the ballot box of the cantonal council of 1831, which was used to vote on petitions for pardon.

Other responsibilities include assisting in the genealogy, the edition of primary sources, the inventory of monuments, the creation of archival aids for authorities and communities, and the maintenance of various collections, among them maps, charts and pamphlets.

[7] Because the capacities are expected to be exhausted again in 2019, a further extension was approved by the parliament of the Canton of Zürich in March 2016; 25 million Swiss Francs for the construction of Bau 3 (stage 3).

Adjacent to the present building (stage 2), a cafeteria and conference rooms will be built, including a solar power plant.