As parts of the department Seine-et-Oise, the arrondissement of Pontoise was established in 1800, the arrondissement of Montmorency in 1962 and the arrondissement of Argenteuil in 1966.[2] In 1968 the department Val-d'Oise was created from part of the former department Seine-et-Oise, and the arrondissements of Pontoise, Argenteuil and Montmorency became part of it.[3] In March 2000 Sarcelles replaced Montmorency as subprefecture.[3][4]
The borders of the arrondissements of Val-d'Oise were modified in January 2017:[5]
10 communes from the arrondissement of Pontoise to the arrondissement of Argenteuil
two communes from the arrondissement of Pontoise to the arrondissement of Sarcelles
one commune from the arrondissement of Sarcelles to the arrondissement of Pontoise