Fence Permit in Hawaii County, Hawaii
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before building a fence taller than six feet, or a retaining wall four feet or higher.
Issued byCounty of Hawaiʻi Department of Public Works, Building Division
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
The County of Hawaiʻi Department of Public Works, Building Division, issues building, electrical and plumbing permits for the whole island of Hawaiʻi: the state has no municipal governments below the county, so there are no incorporated cities to exclude, and Hilo, Kailua-Kona, Waimea and every other town follow the same county rules (Hawaiʻi County Code chapter 5 applies to "any building or structure in the County"). A fence six feet or less in height needs no building permit, provided no electrical or plumbing work is proposed. A taller fence needs a building permit, and retaining walls four feet and higher always need one, with stepped walls within eight feet of each other counted as one wall.
Typical threshold: height of a fence; retaining walls follow a separate four foot rule.
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When a permit is usually needed
Before building a fence taller than six feet, or a retaining wall four feet or higher.
What a fence permit costs in Hawaii County
How Hawaii County compares in Hawaii
Closest fence permit thresholds outside Hawaii
Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest Hawaii County's 6 feet in height.
- New York City, New York, fences accessory to one- and two-family dwellings, measured from the higher of the two adjoining grades
- Newark, New Jersey, fence height at which a construction permit becomes required; swimming pool barriers are excluded from the exemption at any height
- San Bernardino County, California, height of a fence or block wall
- Aurora, Colorado, fence height at which a building permit is required
How to apply in Hawaii County
In Hawaii County, most residential fences fall under the model code's 7-foot building-permit exemption, so the real approval step is a lightweight zoning or land-use permit built around a simple site plan showing the fence's location, height, and material, checked against setbacks and any corner-lot sight-triangle rule. A fence that will serve as a required swimming-pool barrier is the exception, since barrier fences carry life-safety requirements of their own.
What most fence permit applications include:
- For Hawaii County, a fence 7 feet or under is exempt from the model code's building permit, the same threshold the IRC uses for other small projects (IRC 2021 R105.2).
- That exemption only removes the building-code permit. It does not authorize skipping a jurisdiction's own zoning approval, which is why an exempt fence can still need its own land-use or zoning permit rather than a building permit (IRC 2021 R105.2).
- Whatever your jurisdiction calls that approval, the application centers on a basic site plan: a drawing of the property showing the fence's location, height, and material, and how it relates to the property lines (common local zoning practice).
- For Hawaii County, the same plan is checked against required setbacks and, on corner lots or near intersections, a sight-triangle rule that caps fence height so it does not block sightlines for drivers (common local zoning practice).
- For Hawaii County, a fence that will serve as a required swimming-pool barrier is handled as life-safety work rather than the light zoning process, and at least one state's adopted residential code requires a building permit for barrier fences regardless of the general fence exemption (Oregon Residential Specialty Code 2021, R101.2.2).
General submittal guidance from International Residential Code (IRC), 2021 edition, Section R105.2. Source. County of Hawaiʻi Department of Public Works, Building Division sets the exact checklist for Hawaii County.
Where to apply in Hawaii County:
County of Hawaiʻi Department of Public Works, Building Division
- 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 7 (Aupuni Center), Hilo, HI 96720; West Hawaii office: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Bldg E1 1st Floor, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, (808) 323-4720
- Phone: (808) 961-8331
- Email: cohbuild@hawaiicounty.gov
Fence Permit in Hawaii County compared with nearby Hawaii localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Hawaii schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii County | It depends | height of a fence; retaining walls follow a separate four foot rule | ...Code, 2020, ord 20-61): fees are valuation-based under "General Construction": "$0... | |
| Honolulu | It depends | fence height at which a building permit is required; the exemption does not apply on a street corner or in a flood zone | ...under ROH 18-6.2, with a plan review fee of 20% of the permit fee (maximum $25,000)... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Hawaii County, inspection follows the permit: a fence that never needed one gets no inspection at all under the model code, and a permitted fence typically gets a single final check rather than the staged inspections used for a house. The exception is a fence serving as a swimming-pool barrier, which gets its own dedicated barrier inspection covering height, gaps, and gate hardware.
- In Hawaii County: inspection duty attaches only to work for which a permit is required, so a fence that qualified for the permit exemption carries no inspection obligation under the model code (IRC 2021 R109.1).
- In Hawaii County: where a fence permit was issued, the process skips the staged foundation, frame, and rough-in inspections used for buildings and goes straight to one final inspection once the fence is finished (IRC 2021 R109.1.6).
- In Hawaii County: that single check is typically a zoning compliance inspection rather than a structural review, confirming the fence matches the approved height and site plan (common local practice).
- A fence built as a swimming-pool barrier breaks that light-touch pattern in Hawaii County: it is separately inspected for barrier compliance, commonly required before the pool itself can be signed off (ISPSC 305; local pool-barrier inspection programs).
- In Hawaii County: that barrier inspection checks dimensional rules from the swimming pool and spa code rather than ordinary fence rules, including the minimum 48 inch barrier height and limits on openings and gaps a young child could pass through (ISPSC 305).
- Gate hardware is inspected too in Hawaii County: a self-closing, self-latching gate is part of the barrier requirement, since an unlatched gate defeats the fence's purpose as a barrier (ISPSC 305).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Hawaii County permit portal or by phone at (808) 961-8331.
Inspection sequence from International Residential Code (IRC), 2021 edition, Section R109, and ISPSC 2021 Section 305 (barriers). Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Fence Permit checklist for Hawaii County
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: height of a fence; retaining walls follow a separate four foot rule. Usually needed: Before building a fence taller than six feet, or a retaining wall four feet or higher.
- Budget the fee. Hawaiʻi County Code section 5-7-3(b), "PERMIT FEES" table (Chapter 5 Construction Administrative Code, 2020, ord 20-61): fees are valuation-based under "General Construction": "$0 to $500 | $10"; $501 to $2,000 is $10 for the first $500 plus $1.50 for each additional $100; $2,001 to $25,000 is $32.50 for the first $2,000 plus $7.50 per additional $1,000; $25,001 to $50,000 is $205 for the first $25,000 plus $6 per additional $1,000; $50,001 and up is $355 for the first $50,000 plus $3 per additional $1,000. A plan review fee of twenty percent of the permit fee, minimum $50, is added (section 5-7-1). Work begun without a permit pays $1,000 plus the fee, or double the fee, whichever is greater (5-7-3(d)). Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Hawaii County, most residential fences fall under the model code's 7-foot building-permit exemption, so the real approval step is a lightweight zoning or land-use permit built around a simple site plan showing the fence's location, height, and material, checked against setbacks and any corner-lot sight-triangle rule. A fence that will serve as a required swimming-pool barrier is the exception, since barrier fences carry life-safety requirements of their own. Start at the Hawaii County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. County of Hawaiʻi Department of Public Works, Building Division. Phone: (808) 961-8331. Address: 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 7 (Aupuni Center), Hilo, HI 96720; West Hawaii office: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Bldg E1 1st Floor, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, (808) 323-4720.
- Plan for inspections. In Hawaii County, inspection follows the permit: a fence that never needed one gets no inspection at all under the model code, and a permitted fence typically gets a single final check rather than the staged inspections used for a house. The exception is a fence serving as a swimming-pool barrier, which gets its own dedicated barrier inspection covering height, gaps, and gate hardware.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a fence permit in Hawaii County?
- The County of Hawaiʻi Department of Public Works, Building Division, issues building, electrical and plumbing permits for the whole island of Hawaiʻi: the state has no municipal governments below the county, so there are no incorporated cities to exclude, and Hilo, Kailua-Kona, Waimea and every other town follow the same county rules (Hawaiʻi County Code chapter 5 applies to "any building or structure in the County"). A fence six feet or less in height needs no building permit, provided no electrical or plumbing work is proposed. A taller fence needs a building permit, and retaining walls four feet and higher always need one, with stepped walls within eight feet of each other counted as one wall. Height of a fence; retaining walls follow a separate four foot rule. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a fence permit cost in Hawaii County?
- Hawaiʻi County Code section 5-7-3(b), "PERMIT FEES" table (Chapter 5 Construction Administrative Code, 2020, ord 20-61): fees are valuation-based under "General Construction": "$0 to $500 | $10"; $501 to $2,000 is $10 for the first $500 plus $1.50 for each additional $100; $2,001 to $25,000 is $32.50 for the first $2,000 plus $7.50 per additional $1,000; $25,001 to $50,000 is $205 for the first $25,000 plus $6 per additional $1,000; $50,001 and up is $355 for the first $50,000 plus $3 per additional $1,000. A plan review fee of twenty percent of the permit fee, minimum $50, is added (section 5-7-1). Work begun without a permit pays $1,000 plus the fee, or double the fee, whichever is greater (5-7-3(d)). See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a fence permit in Hawaii County?
- You can apply through the Hawaii County permit portal or contact the County of Hawaiʻi Department of Public Works, Building Division directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a fence permit themselves in Hawaii County?
- Under Hawaii law (HRS 444-2(7), 444-2.5, 444-9.1, 444-23(e)): Hawaii lets owners or lessees build or improve residential or farm buildings for their own use, or for use by their grandparents, parents, siblings, or children, without a contractor's license, as long as the building is not offered for sale or lease. The owner must register for the exemption with the county when applying for the building permit, supervise the work, hire licensed subcontractors for any licensed work, and use licensed electricians and plumbers for electrical and plumbing work unless the owner holds that license. Selling or leasing the structure within one year after final county inspection is treated as evidence it was built for sale, unless the permit valuation was under $10,000, the buyer is the owner's employee, or the Contractors License Board finds an unforeseen hardship. A violation carries a fine of up to $5,000 or 50% of the permitted construction value, whichever is greater, for a first offense, and bars the owner from the exemption for three years. Confirm how Hawaii County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Hawaii County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom Remodel Permit | It depends | When the remodel moves or replaces pipes or valves, adds wiring, or alters walls or... | ...Code, 2020, ord 20-61): fees are valuation-based under "General Construction": "$0... |
| Deck Permit | It depends | height of a detached deck or platform; an attached deck is not exempt | $10 per 100 sq. ft. or fraction thereof." Plan review fee of twenty percent of the... |
| Electrical Permit | It depends | Before any new wiring, circuit, service change or rewiring | ...Code, 2020, ord 20-61): fees are valuation-based under "General Construction": "$0... |
| EV Charger Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...Code, 2020, ord 20-61): fees are valuation-based under "General Construction": "$0... |
| HVAC Permit | It depends | Before installing, removing, altering, repairing or converting any heating, ventilation... | ...Code, 2020, ord 20-61): fees are valuation-based under "General Construction": "$0... |
| Plumbing Permit | It depends | Before replacing or rearranging any pipe or valve, adding fixtures, or any gas, water... | ...Code, 2020, ord 20-61): fees are valuation-based under "General Construction": "$0... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | water features and swimming pools at one and two-family dwellings | ...Code, 2020, ord 20-61): fees are valuation-based under "General Construction": "$0... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | When the new roof uses a different material, or the work affects structural components | ...Code, 2020, ord 20-61): fees are valuation-based under "General Construction": "$0... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | floor area of a detached one-story accessory structure on residential zoned land; 1,000 sq ft on agricultural zoned land, 15 feet height limit, 10 feet from property line | $10 per 100 sq. ft. or fraction thereof." Plan review fee of twenty percent of the... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...Code, 2020, ord 20-61): fees are valuation-based under "General Construction": "$0... |
| Water Heater Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...Code, 2020, ord 20-61): fees are valuation-based under "General Construction": "$0... |
Fence Permit in other Hawaii localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Hawaii County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
How this fence permit page for Hawaii County was verified. 2 official sources: hawaii-county-public-works-hawaiicountygis.hub.arcgis.com, hawaii-county-public-works-hawaiicountygis.hub.arcgis.com; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with County of Hawaiʻi Department of Public Works, Building Division. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page