The arrondissement of Clermont-Ferrand was created in 1800.[4] At the January 2017 reorganisation of the arrondissements of Puy-de-Dôme, it gained one commune from the arrondissement of Riom, and it lost three communes to the arrondissement of Ambert, 21 communes to the arrondissement of Issoire, 17 communes to the arrondissement of Riom and four communes to the arrondissement of Thiers.[5] In January 2021 it lost the commune of Saulzet-le-Froid to the arrondissement of Issoire.[6]
As a result of the reorganisation of the cantons of France which came into effect in 2015, the borders of the cantons are no longer related to the borders of the arrondissements. The cantons of the arrondissement of Clermont-Ferrand were, as of January 2015:[7]