Kannoor district came into existence as an administrative unit on 1st January 1957, when the erstwhile Malabar district and Kasargod taluk of Madras state were reconstituted into three revenue districts, viz; Kannur, Kozhikode and Palakkad. At the time of its formation, the district consisted of seven taluks, viz, Kasaragod, Hosdurg, Thaliparamba, Kannur, Thalassery, North Wayanad and South Wayanad. Subsequently, the south Waynad talk was included in Kozhikode district with effect from 15th March 1957. Later, on 1st November 1980, Wayanad district was formed carving out South Wayanad taluks. Two northern talks of Kannoor ditrict, viz., Kasaragod and Hosdurg were separated on 24th may 1984 for the formation of Kasaragod district. Now Kannoor district has three taluks, viz, Kannoor, Taliparamba and Thalassery. The taluks are subdivided into eight firkas and 129 villages.

There are three Parliamentary constituencies - Kannoor, Vadakara and Kasaragod. The district has ten State legislative constituences viz; Irikkur, Payyannur, Thaliparamba, Azhikode, Kannoor, Edakkad, Thalassery, Peringalam, Kuthuoaramba and Peravoor. The municipal towns in the district are Thliparamba, Kannoor, Thalassery, Peringalam, Kuthuparamba and Payyannur. There is also a cantonment in Kannoor. There are nine development blocks comprising of 82 panchyats (including Mattannur Panchayat). The development blocks are Kannoor, Edakkad, Irikkur, Iritty, Kuthuparamba, Payyannur, Peravoor, Thaliparamba and Thalassery.