It is an island municipality located in the traditional district of Midhordland, stretching along the west coast of the county.

Other villages in the municipality include Alveim, Blomvåg, Vikavågen, Ågotnes, Fjell, Foldnes, Knappskog, Knarrevik, Kolltveit, Landro, Sekkingstad, Skogsvåg, Klokkarvik, Tælavåg, Kausland, and Hammarsland.

The municipality consists of a chain of islands to the north and west of the city of Bergen.

Øygarden is connected to the mainland by a series of bridges and a single road running across the islands.

Some of the major islands include Litlesotra, Store Sotra, Bildøy, Bjorøy, Misje, Turøy, Seløyna, Alvøyna, Ona, Blomøyna, Rongøyna, and Toftøyna.

In 2020, the administrative centre was moved to the large village of Straume after the municipal merger with Fjell and Sund.

The wave and a small stripe on the buoy both have a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used.

The official blazon is "Argent, a lighthouse couped azure" (Norwegian: På sølv grunn ei blå fyrlykt).

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Øygarden is made up of 45 representatives that are elected to four year terms.

The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

The mayors (Nynorsk: ordførar) of Øygarden (incomplete list): The municipality has a significant aquaculture industry, primarily with salmon, cod, and shellfish.

Agriculture in Øygarden is dominated by raising livestock (sheep, cattle, and chickens).

In 2024 the company Norsk Kjernekraft signed an agreement with a landowner in the municipality to purchase 250 acres (100 ha), to accommodate up to five SMR nuclear power units.