The administrative centre was the village of Otnes where Ytre Rendal Church is located.

This municipality spanned 4,201 square kilometres (1,622 sq mi) from the Østerdalen valley to the border with Sweden.

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

[9] The municipal council (Herredsstyre) of Ytre Rendal was made up of representatives that were elected to four year terms.

The party breakdown of the final municipal council was as follows: The mayors of Ytre Rendal:[17]