The administration of Kodagu district in Karnataka is carried out by the revenue department. It deals with the implementation of agrarian reforms acts, like Land reform act and various related acts like Village Office Abolition Acts. It also deals with distribution of surplus land to poor tenants, agricultural labourers etc. The department is responsible for acquisition of land for public purposes like irrigation projects, Power projects etc. It also processes various requests for grant of land to individuals and organisations. The department also administers Department of Survey and settlement and Department of Stamps and registration. The Deputy Commissioner's Office comes under the Revenue department and looks after the overall administration of the district and maintains Law and Order.

Deputy Commissioner is head of the district administration. The collectorate consists of various branches headed by Srishtedars or Managers who are responsible for supervision, guidance and overall management of work in their branch. Every branch consists of First Division Assistants and Second Division Assistants among who all work of the branch is divided.

There are various officials both at the district level and at the taluk levels to assist the Deputy Commissioner. They include the Assistant Commissioners (Sub-Divisional Magistrate), Tahsildars, Shirstedars, Revenue Inspectors and Village Accountants. The Deputy Commissioner Court deals with cases pertaining to Revenue Appeals, Revenue Miscellaneous ( KLR Act, 1964 ), Prohibition of transfer of Certain Lands cases ( PTCL Act,1978 ) and inam cases( Inam Abolition Act ). Kodagu District has 3 taluk offices headed by the respective Tashildar. These are- Madikeri Taluk office, Somwarpet Taluk Office and Virajpet Taluk Office.

The Zilla Panchayat of Kodagu district sees to the purposes of rural administration. The members of the Zilla Panchayat Members are elected from geographically demarcated constituencies from within the rural areas of the district.

For smooth functioning and administration of the zilla panchayat office, an officer designated "Chief Executive Officer" is appointed by the state government to carry out administration of Zilla Panchayat. Chief Executive Officer is designated head of department for all the department offices within the Zilla panchayat. He is assisted in the discharge of his duties by Senior Officers in the Zilla Panchayat. These include the Deputy Secretary (administration), Deputy Secretary (Development), Chief Planning Officer, Chief Accounts Officer, Council Secretary. The Zilla Panchayat deals with a number of different functions such as execution of rural development schemes, minor irrigation works, road works, planning, monitoring and evaluating various schemes, receipts and release of funds relating to other departments etc. Broadly, the various functions of the Zilla Panchayat fall under the following categories- Development Section, Administration Section, Planning Section, Accounts Section and Council section.