Most of Devon operates in a three-tier system of local government with services provided by Devon County Council, the local District Council and over 400 Town and Parish Councils.
The County Council and the unitary authorities share responsibility for
All of these authorities are increasingly working together in a wide range of partnerships to deliver real improvements to service delivery in local communities through local area agreements, partnerships with health authorities, eGovernment projects and many others.
The table below shows which services are provided by the County Council only, which are provided by the County and District councils working together and which are provided by District and or Parish/Town councils only.
County Council Only | County Council Joint responsibility with Districts | District and/or Parish/Town Councils Only |
| Adult Education | Canals and Waterways | Allotments |
| Concessionary Fares | Community Transport | Car Parks |
| Consumer Protection | Country Parks | Cemeteries |
| Education | Economic Development | Electoral Administration |
| Highways | Emergency Planning | Environmental Health |
| Libraries and Archives | Environmental Protection | Housing |
| Public Transport | Financial Support for Voluntary Organisations | Leisure |
| Registration - Births, Deaths & Marriages | Industrial Units | Licensing |
| Road Safety | Museums and Arts | Litter |
| School Transport | Public Rights of Way | Parks and open spaces |
| Social Services | Recycling | Planning Applications |
| Strategic Planning | Street Lighting | Revenue Collection |
| Trading Standards | Tourism | Public Toilets |
| Traffic Management | Waste Collection | |
| Transport Planning | ||
| Waste Disposal |