During the Xia, Shang, and Western Zhou dynasties, Linhai was a part of Ou region, which, in turn, was a part of Yangzhou.

During the Spring and Autumn period, Linhai was a part of Ou region, which, in turn, was a part of Yue Kingdom.

During the Warring States period, in 306 B.C(or 333 B.C), with the perdition of Yue Kingdom by Chu Kingdom, Linhai became a part of Chu and was put under the reign of Ouyue autonomous region.

The Qin Kingdom unified the whole China and practiced the administrative system of prefecture and county. Linhai was a part of Ouyue region, which, in turn, was a part of Minzhong Prefecture.

In the early years of the Han dynasty, Linhai was a part of Minyue region. In 192 B.C, Yao was conferred as Donghai King by Emperor Hui. Consequently, Linhai became a part of Donghai Kingdom. From 135 B.C to the perdition of the Eastern Yue in 110 B.C, Linhai was a part of the Eastern Yue. In 109 B.C, citizens of the Eastern Yue moved inland, and the region of the Eastern Yue was set as Huipu Town, which was a part of Yin County, and which, in turn, was a part of Kuaiji Prefecture.

In 85 B.C, Huipu County was accommodated on the basis of Huipu Town. The seat of the county was in Huipu(currently Zhang’an), which was the seat of Eastern Military Command as well. Hui County was a part of Kuaiji Prefecture, which, in turn, fell under the administration of Yangzhou. In June, 87 A.D, Huipu County was renamed Zhang’an County.

During the rule of Wu Kingdom in the Kingdoms Period, a part of Zhang’an County was separated and on the basis of the part separated, Linhai County was accommodated. Linhai County was a part of Kuaiji Prefecture the time. In 257 A.D, the eastern part of Kuaiji Prefecture was separated and on the basis of the part separated, Linhai Prefecture was accommodated. Linhai Prefecture, which was governed by Yangzhou, administered seven counties, viz., Zhang’an, Linhai, Shifeng, Yongning, Songyang, Luoyang, and Luojiang.

In 280 A.D, the northern part of Linhai was separated and on the basis of the part separated, Ninghai County was accommodated.

In 323 A.D, four counties located in the southern part of Linhai Prefecture were separated and on the basis of the part separated, Yongjia Prefecture was accommodated. Linhai Prefecture then administered four counties, viz., Zhang’an, Linhai, Ninghai, and Shifeng.

In 589 A.D, Linhai Prefecture was repealed and renamed as Linhai County. Zhang’an, Shifeng, Ninghai, and Le’an were administered by Linhai County, which was governed by Chuzhou. In 591 A.D, Linhai Town was accommodated at Dagu Mountain area. The seat of Linhai County was moved to Linhai Town. In 592 A.D, Chuzhou was renamed Kuozhou. In 605 A.D, Chuzhou was renamed Yongjia Prefecture.

In November 621 A.D, Du Fuwei, a general of the Tang dynasty, vanquished the rebels led by Li Zitong. On the former land of Linhai Prefecture, Taizhou was accommodated. Linhai was the seat of Taizhou. In 625 A.D, Shifeng, Le’an, Zhang’an(Ninghai was merged with Zhang’an in 624 A.D ) was put under the administration of Linhai. In 634 A.D, a part of Linhai was separated and on the basis of the part separated, Shifeng County was accommodated. In 675 A.D, a part of Linhai was separated and on the basis of the part separated, Yongning County(currently Huangyan) was accommodated. In 689 A.D, a part of Linhai was separated and on the basis of the part separated, Ninghai County was accommodated. In 742 A.D, Taizhou was renamed Linhai Prefecture. In 758 A.D, Linhai Prefecture was renamed Taizhou. In 887 A.D, Dehua Military Command was accommodated.

    During the Five Dynasties period, Taizhou was under the administration of Wuyue Kingdom. The administrative system was the same as the previous period. Linhai was governed by Taizhou. In the Song dynasty, Linhai was a part of Taizhou and governed by Liangzhe East Road.

In 1277 A.D, Taizhou was renamed Taizhou Road. Official residence of general affairs was accommodated. The seat was in Linhai. Linhai was a part of it.

During the reign of Taizu Emperor of the Ming dynasty, Taizhou Road was renamed Taizhou Prefecture. The seat was in Linhai. Linhai was a part of it.

The Qing dynasty followed the practice of the Ming dynasty. In 1668 A.D, Ningshaotai Circuit was accommodated. Its seat was in Linhai. In 1685 A.D, the seat of the circuit was moved to Ningbo.

In 1912, old administrative system was abolished but the administrative unit circuit was retained. Linhai was governed by Kuaiji Circuit. In 1927, the administrative unit circuit was abolished. Linhai County was governed directly by province. In June 1932, Taizhou was set as the 6^th Administrative Inspection Region. Its seat was in Linhai. In September, it was renamed the 5^th Administrative Inspection Region. In 1933, it was renamed the 4^th Administrative Inspection Region. Its seat was in Haimen. In 1935, Taizhou was renamed Linhai Region. Its seat was in Linhai. In 1936, Taizhou was renamed the 7^th Administrative Inspection Region. Its seat was in Linhai. In 1937, its seat was moved to Haimen. In 1940, its seat was moved back to Linhai. In July, Nantian County was repealed, and Sanmen County was accommodated based on the mountain areas in north-east of Linhai, together with Xiaoxiong, Lipu, Yanjiang, and some parts of Ninghai. In 1941, the seat of the Administrative Inspection Region was moved to Haimen. In 1942, the seat was moved back to Linhai again. In May 1948, Taizhou was renamed the 6^th Administrative Inspection Region. Its seat was in Linhai. Linhai County was a part of the region.

On May 29, 1949, Linhai was liberated. Linhai People’s Government was set up. It was under the administration of Taizhou Prefecture. In June 1954, Taizhou Prefecture was repealed. Linhai was put under the administration of Ningbo Prefecture. On July 13, 1957, Taizhou Prefecture was restored. Its seat was in Linhai. On October 4, 1958, Taizhou Prefecture was repealed. Sanmen County was separated and merged with Linhai and Xiangshan counties. In December, Linhai County was put under the administration of Wenzhou Prefecture. On July 3, 1961, Shuanggang, a part of Linhai County, was put under the administration of Xianju County. In April 1962, Taizhou Prefecture was restored. Its seat was in Linhai. Linhai was under the administration of Taizhou Prefecture. Sanmen County was restored. On June 14, 1963, Shuanggang was given back to Linhai. In July 1980, Qiansuo People’s Commune was put under the administration of Haimen Special Region(later was changed to Jiaojiang City). In January 1982, Yanhai People’s Commune was put under the administration of Jiaojiang City. On December 19, 1984, four towns, viz., Zhang’an, Huangjiao, Zilin, Yangsi, together with four villages from Dafen Town, viz., Hengtian, Hengjiang, Wusi, Qinian, were put under the administration of Jiaojiang City. In March 1986, Linhai County was upgraded to Linhai City.