diff --git a/src/ol/style/circlestyle.js b/src/ol/style/circlestyle.js
index e531716ec6..7f9c268541 100644
--- a/src/ol/style/circlestyle.js
+++ b/src/ol/style/circlestyle.js
@@ -172,21 +172,6 @@ ol.style.Circle.prototype.getStroke = function() {
 };
 
 
-/**
- * @protected
- * @param {boolean} mutable Mutable.
- */
-ol.style.Circle.prototype.setMutable = function(mutable) {
-  if (!goog.isNull(this.stroke_)) {
-    this.stroke_.setMutable(mutable);
-  }
-  if (!goog.isNull(this.fill_)) {
-    this.fill_.setMutable(mutable);
-  }
-  goog.base(this, 'setMutable', mutable);
-};
-
-
 /**
  * @inheritDoc
  */
diff --git a/src/ol/style/fillstyle.js b/src/ol/style/fillstyle.js
index 6b566deb96..f79e230b52 100644
--- a/src/ol/style/fillstyle.js
+++ b/src/ol/style/fillstyle.js
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 goog.provide('ol.style.Fill');
 
-goog.require('goog.asserts');
-
 
 
 /**
@@ -21,13 +19,6 @@ ol.style.Fill = function(opt_options) {
    * @type {ol.Color|string}
    */
   this.color_ = goog.isDef(options.color) ? options.color : null;
-
-  /**
-   * @private
-   * @type {boolean}
-   */
-  this.mutable_ = true;
-
 };
 
 
@@ -41,18 +32,12 @@ ol.style.Fill.prototype.getColor = function() {
 
 
 /**
+ * Set the color. Use `setStyle()` on the feature, layer or feature overlay
+ * for changes to take effect.
+ *
  * @param {ol.Color|string} color Color.
  * @api
  */
 ol.style.Fill.prototype.setColor = function(color) {
-  goog.asserts.assert(this.mutable_);
   this.color_ = color;
 };
-
-
-/**
- * @param {boolean} mutable Mutable.
- */
-ol.style.Fill.prototype.setMutable = function(mutable) {
-  this.mutable_ = mutable;
-};
diff --git a/src/ol/style/imagestyle.js b/src/ol/style/imagestyle.js
index e4db519d23..089bc9c447 100644
--- a/src/ol/style/imagestyle.js
+++ b/src/ol/style/imagestyle.js
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 goog.provide('ol.style.Image');
 goog.provide('ol.style.ImageState');
 
-goog.require('goog.asserts');
-
 
 /**
  * @enum {number}
@@ -65,12 +63,6 @@ ol.style.Image = function(options) {
    */
   this.snapToPixel_ = options.snapToPixel;
 
-  /**
-   * @private
-   * @type {boolean}
-   */
-  this.mutable_ = true;
-
 };
 
 
@@ -159,60 +151,62 @@ ol.style.Image.prototype.getSize = goog.abstractMethod;
 
 
 /**
+ * Set the zIndex. Use `setStyle()` on the feature, layer or feature overlay
+ * for changes to take effect.
+ *
  * @param {number} opacity Opacity.
  */
 ol.style.Image.prototype.setOpacity = function(opacity) {
-  goog.asserts.assert(this.mutable_);
   this.opacity_ = opacity;
 };
 
 
 /**
+ * Set whether to rotate the style with the view. Use `setStyle()` on the
+ * feature, layer or feature overlay for changes to take effect.
+ *
  * @param {boolean} rotateWithView Rotate with map.
  */
 ol.style.Image.prototype.setRotateWithView = function(rotateWithView) {
-  goog.asserts.assert(this.mutable_);
   this.rotateWithView_ = rotateWithView;
 };
 
 
 /**
+ * Set the rotation. Use `setStyle()` on the feature, layer or feature overlay
+ * for changes to take effect.
+ *
  * @param {number} rotation Rotation.
  * @api
  */
 ol.style.Image.prototype.setRotation = function(rotation) {
-  goog.asserts.assert(this.mutable_);
   this.rotation_ = rotation;
 };
 
 
 /**
+ * Set the scale. Use `setStyle()` on the feature, layer or feature overlay
+ * for changes to take effect.
+ *
  * @param {number} scale Scale.
  * @api
  */
 ol.style.Image.prototype.setScale = function(scale) {
-  goog.asserts.assert(this.mutable_);
   this.scale_ = scale;
 };
 
 
 /**
+ * Set whether to snap the image to the closest pixel. Use `setStyle()` on the
+ * feature, layer or feature overlay for changes to take effect.
+ *
  * @param {boolean} snapToPixel Snap to pixel?
  */
 ol.style.Image.prototype.setSnapToPixel = function(snapToPixel) {
-  goog.asserts.assert(this.mutable_);
   this.snapToPixel_ = snapToPixel;
 };
 
 
-/**
- * @param {boolean} mutable Mutable.
- */
-ol.style.Image.prototype.setMutable = function(mutable) {
-  this.mutable_ = mutable;
-};
-
-
 /**
  * @param {function(this: T, goog.events.Event)} listener Listener function.
  * @param {T} thisArg Value to use as `this` when executing `listener`.
diff --git a/src/ol/style/strokestyle.js b/src/ol/style/strokestyle.js
index 6e487f974e..4e687d3d15 100644
--- a/src/ol/style/strokestyle.js
+++ b/src/ol/style/strokestyle.js
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 goog.provide('ol.style.Stroke');
 
-goog.require('goog.asserts');
-
 
 
 /**
@@ -54,13 +52,6 @@ ol.style.Stroke = function(opt_options) {
    * @type {number|undefined}
    */
   this.width_ = options.width;
-
-  /**
-   * @private
-   * @type {boolean}
-   */
-  this.mutable_ = true;
-
 };
 
 
@@ -119,68 +110,72 @@ ol.style.Stroke.prototype.getWidth = function() {
 
 
 /**
+ * Set the color. Use `setStyle()` on the feature, layer or feature overlay
+ * for changes to take effect.
+ *
  * @param {ol.Color|string} color Color.
  * @api
  */
 ol.style.Stroke.prototype.setColor = function(color) {
-  goog.asserts.assert(this.mutable_);
   this.color_ = color;
 };
 
 
 /**
+ * Set the line cap. Use `setStyle()` on the feature, layer or feature overlay
+ * for changes to take effect.
+ *
  * @param {string|undefined} lineCap Line cap.
  * @api
  */
 ol.style.Stroke.prototype.setLineCap = function(lineCap) {
-  goog.asserts.assert(this.mutable_);
   this.lineCap_ = lineCap;
 };
 
 
 /**
+ * Set the line dash. Use `setStyle()` on the feature, layer or feature overlay
+ * for changes to take effect.
+ *
  * @param {Array.<number>} lineDash Line dash.
  * @api
  */
 ol.style.Stroke.prototype.setLineDash = function(lineDash) {
-  goog.asserts.assert(this.mutable_);
   this.lineDash_ = lineDash;
 };
 
 
 /**
+ * Set the line join. Use `setStyle()` on the feature, layer or feature overlay
+ * for changes to take effect.
+ *
  * @param {string|undefined} lineJoin Line join.
  * @api
  */
 ol.style.Stroke.prototype.setLineJoin = function(lineJoin) {
-  goog.asserts.assert(this.mutable_);
   this.lineJoin_ = lineJoin;
 };
 
 
 /**
+ * Set the miter limit. Use `setStyle()` on the feature, layer or feature
+ * overlay for changes to take effect.
+ *
  * @param {number|undefined} miterLimit Miter limit.
  * @api
  */
 ol.style.Stroke.prototype.setMiterLimit = function(miterLimit) {
-  goog.asserts.assert(this.mutable_);
   this.miterLimit_ = miterLimit;
 };
 
 
 /**
+ * Set the width. Use `setStyle()` on the feature, layer or feature overlay
+ * for changes to take effect.
+ *
  * @param {number|undefined} width Width.
  * @api
  */
 ol.style.Stroke.prototype.setWidth = function(width) {
-  goog.asserts.assert(this.mutable_);
   this.width_ = width;
 };
-
-
-/**
- * @param {boolean} mutable Mutable.
- */
-ol.style.Stroke.prototype.setMutable = function(mutable) {
-  this.mutable_ = mutable;
-};
diff --git a/src/ol/style/style.js b/src/ol/style/style.js
index 980ecbd9dd..cf4c2543c0 100644
--- a/src/ol/style/style.js
+++ b/src/ol/style/style.js
@@ -12,9 +12,7 @@ goog.require('ol.style.Stroke');
 
 /**
  * @classdesc
- * Container for vector feature rendering styles. Node that styles are only
- * mutable as long as they are not assigned to layers, feature overlays or
- * features using the respective `setStyle()` methods.
+ * Container for vector feature rendering styles.
  *
  * @constructor
  * @param {olx.style.StyleOptions=} opt_options Style options.
@@ -54,11 +52,6 @@ ol.style.Style = function(opt_options) {
    */
   this.zIndex_ = options.zIndex;
 
-  /**
-   * @private
-   * @type {boolean}
-   */
-  this.mutable_ = true;
 };
 
 
@@ -108,35 +101,17 @@ ol.style.Style.prototype.getZIndex = function() {
 
 
 /**
+ * Set the zIndex. Use `setStyle()` on the feature, layer or feature overlay
+ * for changes to take effect.
+ *
  * @param {number|undefined} zIndex ZIndex.
  * @api
  */
 ol.style.Style.prototype.setZIndex = function(zIndex) {
-  goog.asserts.assert(this.mutable_);
   this.zIndex_ = zIndex;
 };
 
 
-/**
- * @param {boolean} mutable Mutable.
- */
-ol.style.Style.prototype.setMutable = function(mutable) {
-  if (!goog.isNull(this.fill_)) {
-    this.fill_.setMutable(mutable);
-  }
-  if (!goog.isNull(this.image_)) {
-    this.image_.setMutable(mutable);
-  }
-  if (!goog.isNull(this.stroke_)) {
-    this.stroke_.setMutable(mutable);
-  }
-  if (!goog.isNull(this.text_)) {
-    this.text_.setMutable(mutable);
-  }
-  this.mutable_ = mutable;
-};
-
-
 /**
  * A function that takes an {@link ol.Feature} and a `{number}` representing
  * the view's resolution. The function should return an array of
@@ -175,9 +150,6 @@ ol.style.createStyleFunction = function(obj) {
       goog.asserts.assertInstanceof(obj, ol.style.Style);
       styles = [obj];
     }
-    for (var i = styles.length - 1; i >= 0; --i) {
-      styles[i].setMutable(false);
-    }
     styleFunction = goog.functions.constant(styles);
   }
   return styleFunction;
diff --git a/src/ol/style/textstyle.js b/src/ol/style/textstyle.js
index e2b8d6474d..84bc90b283 100644
--- a/src/ol/style/textstyle.js
+++ b/src/ol/style/textstyle.js
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 goog.provide('ol.style.Text');
 
-goog.require('goog.asserts');
-
 
 
 /**
@@ -75,13 +73,6 @@ ol.style.Text = function(opt_options) {
    * @type {number}
    */
   this.offsetY_ = goog.isDef(options.offsetY) ? options.offsetY : 0;
-
-  /**
-   * @private
-   * @type {boolean}
-   */
-  this.mutable_ = true;
-
 };
 
 
@@ -174,112 +165,118 @@ ol.style.Text.prototype.getTextBaseline = function() {
 
 
 /**
+ * Set the font. Use `setStyle()` on the feature, layer or feature overlay
+ * for changes to take effect.
+ *
  * @param {string|undefined} font Font.
  * @api
  */
 ol.style.Text.prototype.setFont = function(font) {
-  goog.asserts.assert(this.mutable_);
   this.font_ = font;
 };
 
 
 /**
+ * Set the x offset. Use `setStyle()` on the feature, layer or feature overlay
+ * for changes to take effect.
+ *
  * @param {number} offsetX Horizontal text offset.
  */
 ol.style.Text.prototype.setOffsetX = function(offsetX) {
-  goog.asserts.assert(this.mutable_);
   this.offsetX_ = offsetX;
 };
 
 
 /**
+ * Set the y offset. Use `setStyle()` on the feature, layer or feature overlay
+ * for changes to take effect.
+ *
  * @param {number} offsetY Vertical text offset.
  */
 ol.style.Text.prototype.setOffsetY = function(offsetY) {
-  goog.asserts.assert(this.mutable_);
   this.offsetY_ = offsetY;
 };
 
 
 /**
+ * Set the fill. Use `setStyle()` on the feature, layer or feature overlay
+ * for changes to take effect.
+ *
  * @param {ol.style.Fill} fill Fill style.
  * @api
  */
 ol.style.Text.prototype.setFill = function(fill) {
-  goog.asserts.assert(this.mutable_);
   this.fill_ = fill;
 };
 
 
 /**
+ * Set the rotation. Use `setStyle()` on the feature, layer or feature overlay
+ * for changes to take effect.
+ *
  * @param {number|undefined} rotation Rotation.
  * @api
  */
 ol.style.Text.prototype.setRotation = function(rotation) {
-  goog.asserts.assert(this.mutable_);
   this.rotation_ = rotation;
 };
 
 
 /**
+ * Set the scale. Use `setStyle()` on the feature, layer or feature overlay
+ * for changes to take effect.
+ *
  * @param {number|undefined} scale Scale.
  * @api
  */
 ol.style.Text.prototype.setScale = function(scale) {
-  goog.asserts.assert(this.mutable_);
   this.scale_ = scale;
 };
 
 
 /**
+ * Set the stroke. Use `setStyle()` on the feature, layer or feature overlay
+ * for changes to take effect.
+ *
  * @param {ol.style.Stroke} stroke Stroke style.
  * @api
  */
 ol.style.Text.prototype.setStroke = function(stroke) {
-  goog.asserts.assert(this.mutable_);
   this.stroke_ = stroke;
 };
 
 
 /**
+ * Set the text. Use `setStyle()` on the feature, layer or feature overlay
+ * for changes to take effect.
+ *
  * @param {string|undefined} text Text.
  * @api
  */
 ol.style.Text.prototype.setText = function(text) {
-  goog.asserts.assert(this.mutable_);
   this.text_ = text;
 };
 
 
 /**
+ * Set the text alignment. Use `setStyle()` on the feature, layer or feature
+ * overlay for changes to take effect.
+ *
  * @param {string|undefined} textAlign Text align.
  * @api
  */
 ol.style.Text.prototype.setTextAlign = function(textAlign) {
-  goog.asserts.assert(this.mutable_);
   this.textAlign_ = textAlign;
 };
 
 
 /**
+ * Set the text baseline. Use `setStyle()` on the feature, layer or feature
+ * overlay for changes to take effect.
+ *
  * @param {string|undefined} textBaseline Text baseline.
  * @api
  */
 ol.style.Text.prototype.setTextBaseline = function(textBaseline) {
-  goog.asserts.assert(this.mutable_);
   this.textBaseline_ = textBaseline;
 };
-
-
-/**
- * @param {boolean} mutable Mutable.
- */
-ol.style.Text.prototype.setMutable = function(mutable) {
-  if (!goog.isNull(this.stroke_)) {
-    this.stroke_.setMutable(mutable);
-  }
-  if (!goog.isNull(this.fill_)) {
-    this.fill_.setMutable(mutable);
-  }
-  this.mutable_ = mutable;
-};
diff --git a/test/spec/ol/featureoverlay.test.js b/test/spec/ol/featureoverlay.test.js
index 71f8bfc2d0..47aa06189a 100644
--- a/test/spec/ol/featureoverlay.test.js
+++ b/test/spec/ol/featureoverlay.test.js
@@ -16,12 +16,11 @@ describe('ol.FeatureOverlay', function() {
       expect(featureOverlay.getFeatures().getLength()).to.be(1);
     });
 
-    it('takes a style and makes it immutable', function() {
+    it('takes a style', function() {
       var style = [new ol.style.Style()];
       var featureOverlay = new ol.FeatureOverlay({
         style: [new ol.style.Style()]
       });
-      style[0].setMutable(false);
       expect(featureOverlay.getStyle()).to.eql(style);
       expect(featureOverlay.getStyleFunction()()).to.eql(style);
     });
diff --git a/test/spec/ol/style.test.js b/test/spec/ol/style.test.js
index 25710157a4..8c64cb0497 100644
--- a/test/spec/ol/style.test.js
+++ b/test/spec/ol/style.test.js
@@ -2,50 +2,13 @@ goog.provide('ol.test.style.Style');
 
 describe('ol.style.Style', function() {
 
-  describe('#setMutable', function() {
+  describe('#setZIndex', function() {
 
-    it('recursively sets the mutable flag', function() {
-      var style = new ol.style.Style({
-        fill: new ol.style.Fill({
-          color: 'rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.6)'
-        }),
-        stroke: new ol.style.Stroke({
-          color: '#319FD3',
-          width: 1
-        }),
-        text: new ol.style.Text({
-          font: '12px Calibri,sans-serif',
-          fill: new ol.style.Fill({
-            color: '#000'
-          }),
-          stroke: new ol.style.Stroke({
-            color: '#fff',
-            width: 3
-          })
-        })
-      });
+    it('sets the zIndex', function() {
+      var style = new ol.style.Style();
 
-      expect(function() {
-        style.setZIndex(1);
-      }).to.not.throwException();
-
-      expect(style.mutable_).to.be(true);
-      expect(style.getFill().mutable_).to.be(true);
-      expect(style.getStroke().mutable_).to.be(true);
-      expect(style.getText().mutable_).to.be(true);
-      expect(style.getText().getStroke().mutable_).to.be(true);
-
-      style.setMutable(false);
-
-      expect(function() {
-        style.setZIndex();
-      }).to.throwException();
-
-      expect(style.mutable_).to.be(false);
-      expect(style.getFill().mutable_).to.be(false);
-      expect(style.getStroke().mutable_).to.be(false);
-      expect(style.getText().mutable_).to.be(false);
-      expect(style.getText().getStroke().mutable_).to.be(false);
+      style.setZIndex(0.7);
+      expect(style.getZIndex()).to.be(0.7);
     });
   });
 });
@@ -77,41 +40,6 @@ describe('ol.style.createStyleFunction()', function() {
     }).to.throwException();
   });
 
-  it('makes styles immutable', function() {
-    var style = new ol.style.Style({
-      fill: new ol.style.Fill({
-        color: 'rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.6)'
-      }),
-      stroke: new ol.style.Stroke({
-        color: '#319FD3',
-        width: 1
-      }),
-      text: new ol.style.Text({
-        font: '12px Calibri,sans-serif',
-        fill: new ol.style.Fill({
-          color: '#000'
-        }),
-        stroke: new ol.style.Stroke({
-          color: '#fff',
-          width: 3
-        })
-      })
-    });
-
-    expect(function() {
-      style.getFill().setColor('white');
-    }).to.not.throwException();
-
-    ol.style.createStyleFunction(style);
-
-    expect(function() {
-      style.getFill().setColor('black');
-    }).to.throwException();
-
-  });
 });
 
-goog.require('ol.style.Fill');
-goog.require('ol.style.Stroke');
 goog.require('ol.style.Style');
-goog.require('ol.style.Text');