[6] Elected county councils were created in 1889 under the Local Government Act 1888, taking over many administrative functions which had been performed by unelected magistrates at the quarter sessions.

In Surrey's case, most such functions in the north-east of the county had already passed to the Metropolitan Board of Works, which had been established in 1856 to administer the urban area of London.

District-level services are provided by the eleven district councils: Much of the county is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.

[17] Prior to 1997, the chair of the main policy committee was sometimes informally referred to as the leader in the media.

[18] The leaders since 1997 have been: Following the 2021 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to January 2024, the composition of the council was: The various residents' associations and three of the four independent councillors sit together as a group.

The main building there was built in 1999 as the headquarters of Canon (UK) Limited; the complex also includes a large Georgian house.

Despite it no longer being in their administrative area, the council continued to be based at County Hall for another 56 years.

[34] The escutcheon is described as 'Per pale Azure and Sable two Keys in bend wards upwards and outwards bows interlaced Or between in dexter base a Woolpack and in sinister chief a Sprig of Oak fructed Argent', with the badge 'On a Roundel per pale Azure and Sable in chief a Sprig of Oak fructed Argent and in base two Keys [in saltire] wards upwards and outwards Or'.