On 1 January 1868, a small area in the municipality of Finnaas (population: 10) was transferred to Fitje.

On 1 January 1964, the area of Fitjar located north of the Selbjørnsfjorden on the islands of Huftarøy and Selbjørn (population: 696) was transferred to the neighboring Austevoll Municipality.

These islands had recently been connected to Bømlo by road bridges which precipitated the municipal transfer.

In 2018, the municipal council of Fitjar formally approved the arms after a change to a national law.

This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a Viking helmet with a thin border around the edge of the shield.

The charge has a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used.

His death and reception in Valhalla are described in the skaldic poem Hákonarmál, composed by the Eyvindr skáldaspillir.

Traditionally, important shipping routes have passed through the area, and the municipality contains several trading posts dating as far back as 1648.

The majority of the residents live on the island of Stord, the northern portion of which is in Fitjar.

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Fitjar is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms.