| Election Name: | 1981 Cumbria County Council election[1] |
| Country: | Cumbria |
| Type: | Parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Party Colour: | yes |
| Previous Election: | 1977 Cumbria County Council election |
| Previous Year: | 1977 |
| Next Election: | 1985 Cumbria County Council election |
| Next Year: | 1985 |
| Seats For Election: | All 83 seats of Cumbria County Council |
| Majority Seats: | 42 |
| Election Date: | 7 May 1981 |
| Party1: | Labour Party (UK) |
| Last Election1: | 23 seats, 36.7% |
| Seats1: | 42 |
| Seat Change1: | 19 |
| Popular Vote1: | 74,286 |
| Percentage1: | 49.0% |
| Swing1: | 12.3% |
| Party2: | Conservative Party (UK) |
| Last Election2: | 52 seats, 52.1% |
| Seats2: | 35 |
| Seat Change2: | 17 |
| Popular Vote2: | 61,242 |
| Percentage2: | 40.4% |
| Swing2: | 11.7% |
| Party4: | Liberal Party (UK) |
| Last Election4: | 0 seats, 2.0% |
| Seats4: | 3 |
| Seat Change4: | 3 |
| Popular Vote4: | 13,053 |
| Percentage4: | 8.6% |
| Swing4: | 6.6% |
| Party5: | Independent (politician) |
| Last Election5: | 7 seats, 9.2% |
| Seats5: | 3 |
| Seat Change5: | 4 |
| Popular Vote5: | 2,242 |
| Percentage5: | 1.5% |
| Swing5: | 7.7% |
| Council control | |
| Posttitle: | Council control after election |
| Before Party: | Conservative Party |
| After Party: | Labour Party |
Elections to Cumbria County Council were held on 7 May 1981. This was on the same day as other UK county council elections. The council size was increased to 83 members following a boundary review.[2] The Labour Party gained control of the council from the Conservative Party.