Plumbing Permit in Hawaii County, Hawaii
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before replacing or rearranging any pipe or valve, adding fixtures, or any gas, water heating or drainage piping work.
Issued byCounty of Hawaiʻi Department of Public Works, Building Division
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Hawaiʻi County requires a permit for any plumbing, fire sprinkler, gas or drainage piping work, fixture, gas appliance, water heating or water treating equipment. Clearing stoppages, repairing leaks without replacing pipes, valves or fixtures, and replacing disposals, faucets, sinks and water closets in a home are exempt, but that replacement work must still be done by a licensed plumber. Plumbing permits go only to a licensed plumbing contractor or a homeowner who holds a Hawaiʻi plumber license.
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When a permit is usually needed
Before replacing or rearranging any pipe or valve, adding fixtures, or any gas, water heating or drainage piping work.
What a plumbing permit costs in Hawaii County
How to apply in Hawaii County
In Hawaii County, you apply for a residential plumbing permit at your local building department by filing an application that describes the scope of work and site, along with construction documents, before any regulated plumbing installation, alteration, or repair begins. Minor repairs that do not touch piping or fixtures are generally exempt, and once issued the permit only stays valid if work is started within its time limit.
What most plumbing permit applications include:
- For Hawaii County, a permit is required before any owner or authorized agent constructs, alters, repairs, removes, converts, or replaces a plumbing system regulated by the code (IRC R105.1).
- For Hawaii County, the application must identify and describe the work, describe the site, state the intended use and occupancy, and be signed by the applicant or an authorized agent (IRC R105.3).
- Two or more sets of construction documents must accompany the application, drawn with enough clarity to show the location, nature, and extent of the proposed plumbing work and how it will conform to code (IRC R106.1, R106.1.1).
- Minor plumbing repairs, such as clearing a stoppage or removing and resetting a water closet without rearranging pipes or fixtures, are exempt from permit (IRC R105.2).
- Once issued, a permit is only valid for a limited window, commonly 180 days, and becomes invalid if the work is not started or is abandoned within that time, though extensions can be requested (IRC R105.3.2, R105.5).
General submittal guidance from 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), Chapter 1 Scope and Administration, Sections R105 Permits and R106 Construction Documents. 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
Plumbing Permit in Hawaii County compared with nearby Hawaii localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Hawaii schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii County | 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... | |
| Honolulu | Permit required | Any size | ...and materials, plus a plan review fee of 20% of the permit fee (maximum $25,000)... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Hawaii County, plumbing inspections are timed to whatever is about to hide the pipe: underground and under-slab piping is checked before concrete covers it, rough-in piping is pressure or water tested before walls close up, and a final inspection checks every fixture and backflow protection once the work is complete.
- In Hawaii County: piping and equipment placed under a slab or floor must be in place and inspected before any concrete is poured or floor sheathing is installed over it (IRC R109.1.1.1).
- In Hawaii County: rough plumbing, along with the mechanical, gas, and electrical rough-in, must be inspected prior to covering or concealment and before fixtures or appliances are set (IRC R109.1.2).
- In Hawaii County: rough drain, waste, and vent (DWV) piping is tested with water, air, or (for plastic piping) a vacuum, and must show no evidence of leakage before it is closed in (IRC P2503.5.1).
- In Hawaii County: the water-distribution piping is tested and must hold tight under the system's working pressure, or under a 50 psi air test for non-plastic piping, before it is concealed (IRC P2503.7).
- In Hawaii County: the framing inspection cannot proceed until the plumbing rough inspection, along with the mechanical and electrical rough inspections, has been approved (IRC R109.1.4).
- In Hawaii County: at the final drainage test, each fixture is filled and then drained, and its traps and fixture connections must prove watertight by visual inspection (IRC P2503.5.2).
- In Hawaii County: final inspection is made after all work required by the permit is complete, and includes confirming backflow protection, such as vacuum breakers on hose bibbs, is installed (IRC R109.1.6, P2902.4.3).
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 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), Section R109 Inspections and Section P2503 Inspection and Tests. Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Plumbing Permit checklist for Hawaii County
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Usually needed: Before replacing or rearranging any pipe or valve, adding fixtures, or any gas, water heating or drainage piping work.
- 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, you apply for a residential plumbing permit at your local building department by filing an application that describes the scope of work and site, along with construction documents, before any regulated plumbing installation, alteration, or repair begins. Minor repairs that do not touch piping or fixtures are generally exempt, and once issued the permit only stays valid if work is started within its time limit. 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, plumbing inspections are timed to whatever is about to hide the pipe: underground and under-slab piping is checked before concrete covers it, rough-in piping is pressure or water tested before walls close up, and a final inspection checks every fixture and backflow protection once the work is complete.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a plumbing permit in Hawaii County?
- Hawaiʻi County requires a permit for any plumbing, fire sprinkler, gas or drainage piping work, fixture, gas appliance, water heating or water treating equipment. Clearing stoppages, repairing leaks without replacing pipes, valves or fixtures, and replacing disposals, faucets, sinks and water closets in a home are exempt, but that replacement work must still be done by a licensed plumber. Plumbing permits go only to a licensed plumbing contractor or a homeowner who holds a Hawaiʻi plumber license. Always confirm with the County of Hawaiʻi Department of Public Works, Building Division before starting.
- How much does a plumbing 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 plumbing 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 plumbing 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... |
| Fence Permit | 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... |
| 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... |
| 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... |
Plumbing 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 plumbing 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
Compare Plumbing Permit requirements across Hawaii localities