About Us

The Okaloosa Island Leaseholders Association (OILA) is an organization for all property owners and leaseholders of Okaloosa Island located in Okaloosa County, FL. 

The general purpose of OILA is to:

• Coordinate affairs between leaseholder members and the Board of County Commissioners

• Preserve the public lands on Okaloosa Island

• Advise and assist the county in the application of protective covenants

• Advise leaseholders and the public in their rights and obligations under the covenants

There are several resources on this website which provide information about OILA.  They are:

• A Brief History of Okaloosa Island - a one page, with pictures, that details the history and evolution of the Island

• The Bylaws of OILA which explain how OILA is organized and operates

• The Covenants and Restrictions that apply to the land and residents of the Island

• A Map of the Island showing the various "blocks" which are referenced in the Covenants and Restrictions

Below is the Certified Copy of the Protective Covenants and Restrictions for Okaloosa Island (Official Records Book 121, Pages 233 through 250) dated November 21, 1955 and recorded in 1955. This official certified copy is the governing document used for any legal cases as well as by the OILA ARC in their review process for any projects on Okaloosa Island.

“Certified Copy Protective Covenants and Restrictions 1955.pdf”

Provided below is a reference document of the Protective Covenants and Restrictions. This document is provided only as an index to facilitate a digital search of specific items that can then be verified in the Certified Copy. Please note that the digital copy contains modifications and amendments to the Certified/Recorded copy that have never been officially adopted. Modifying the Covenants requires a process, contained within the Covenants, which includes a majority vote of the leaseholders (with “leaseholders” referring to a majority of lessees of parcels on Okaloosa Island, not OILA or OILA members). These modifications are shown in italic print and are referenced on the last page. This document is provided as an index only and should not be used for project planning.

“Unofficial Searching Copy of Protective Covenants and Restrictions.pdf”

There have been recent discussions about short-term rentals in the B-1 residential areas.  The Covenants and Restrictions expressly prohibit this activity.  They state that " ...within any B-1 Private Residential Area no building, structure or premises shall be used or arranged or designed to be used, except for the following use:  A detached, vacation or permanent residence for only one family or for one housekeeping unit which shall not be operated as a group or rented to transients. (12)"

Footnote (12) refers to the original resolution dated June 13, 1968 as recorded in the Official  Records Book 490, pages 109 and 110.  That document can be accessed below.