1997 Hertfordshire County Council election

Hertfordshire County Council elections was held on 1 May 1997, with all 77 seats contested. The Council remained under no overall control. The Conservatives formed the largest political group, but the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups formed a coalition to run the council.

Changes 1997–2001
A by-election was held in Hemel Hempstead South East division on 10 June 1999, triggered by the death of Labour councillor Philip Aldis in March 1999. The seat was won for the Conservatives by David Lloyd. The Conservatives then had 39 seats, giving them a majority on the council over the Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition. The Conservative leader, Robert Ellis, was formally confirmed as the new leader of the council at a meeting on 15 June 1999.