| Election Name: | 1981 South Yorkshire County Council election |
| Flag Image: | Unofficial County Flag of South Yorkshire.png |
| Type: | Parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Party Colour: | yes |
| Previous Election: | 1977 South Yorkshire County Council election |
| Previous Year: | 1977 |
| Next Year: | Abolished |
| Seats For Election: | All 100 seats to South Yorkshire County Council |
| Majority Seats: | 51 |
| Election Date: | 7 May 1981 |
| Party1: | Labour Party (UK) |
| Seats1: | 82 |
| Seat Change1: | 20 |
| Percentage1: | 58.8% |
| Swing1: | 13.9% |
| Party2: | Conservative Party (UK) |
| Seats2: | 14 |
| Seat Change2: | 17 |
| Percentage2: | 23.1% |
| Swing2: | 16.6% |
| Party3: | Liberal Party (UK) |
| Seats3: | 3 |
| Seat Change3: | 1 |
| Percentage3: | 13.3% |
| Swing3: | 7.1% |
| Council control | |
| Posttitle: | Council control after election |
| Before Election: | Labour |
| After Election: | Labour |
Elections to South Yorkshire County Council, a metropolitan county council of Yorkshire in England, were held on 7 May 1981, resulting in a council with Labour members forming a majority.
This was the last election to the South Yorkshire county council, as metropolitan county councils were abolished in 1986.