The 1985 Nottinghamshire County Council election was held on Thursday, 2 May 1985. The whole council of eighty-eight members was up for election and the result was that the Labour Party retained control of the Council, winning forty-eight seats. The Conservatives won thirty-seven councillors and the SDP–Liberal Alliance made gains in terms of percentage vote share, but won just two seats. An Independent councillor was elected in the Retford North division.