Dorset is a non-metropolitan county and actually governs 6 non-metropolitan areas: Weymouth and Portland, West Dorset, and North Dorset Dorset, Purbeck, East Dorset, Christchurch; if treated as an honorary county, it nominally contains two more single management areas: Bournemouth, Poole (Poole).

1. Weymouth-Portland

2. West Dorset

3. North Dorset

4. Purbeck

5. East Dorset

6. Christchurch

7. Bournemouth (unitary authority area)

8. Poole ( Single management area)