Skjold is a former municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1965. The area is now divided between Tysvær Municipality and Vindafjord Municipality in the traditional district of Haugaland. The administrative centre was the village of Skjold.
Prior to its dissolution in 1965, the municipality was the 357th largest by area out of the 525 municipalities in Norway. Skjold Municipality was the 353rd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about . The municipality's population density was and its population had increased by 0.9% over the previous 10-year period.
The parish of Skjold was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). In 1849, Skjold Municipality was divided as follows: the southwestern half (population: 2,058) became the new Tysvær Municipality and the northeastern half (population: 3,439) remained as a smaller Skjold Municipality.
In 1891, Skjold Municipality was divided again: the eastern district (population: 1,095) became the new Vats Municipality and the western district (population: 1,961) remained as a smaller Skjold Municipality.
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee, including some changes to Skjold Municipality. On 1 January 1964, a small part of Skjold Municipality located north of the ÃÂ lfjorden (population: 24) was transferred to Sveio Municipality in Hordaland county. Then on 1 January 1965, Skjold Municipality was dissolved and its lands were divided as follows:
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Skjold farm () since the first Skjold Church was built there. The name is identical to the word which means "shield".
The Church of Norway had one parish () within Skjold Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Skjold prestegjeld and the Karmsund prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Stavanger.
The municipality encompassed all the area surrounding the Grindafjorden and Skjoldafjorden. The highest point in the municipality was the tall mountain Lammanuten, located on the border with Nedstrand Municipality. ÃÂlen Municipality (in Hordaland county) was located to the north, Vats Municipality was located to the east, Nedstrand Municipality was located to the southeast, Tysvær Municipality was located to the southwest, Avaldsnes Municipality was located to the west, Haugesund Municipality was located to the west-northwest, and Vikebygd Municipality (in Hordaland county) was located to the northwest.
While it existed, Skjold Municipality was responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, welfare and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads and utilities. The municipality was governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor was indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council. The municipality was under the jurisdiction of the Karmsund District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.
The municipal council of Skjold Municipality was made up of 17representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.
The mayor () of Skjold Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position: