Pool Permit in Hawaii County, Hawaii
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before installing a pool or water feature 24 inches or deeper; any pump wiring or plumbing also needs electrical and plumbing permits.
Issued byCounty of Hawaiʻi Department of Public Works, Building Division
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Water features and swimming pools less than twenty-four inches deep at one and two-family dwellings are exempt from a building permit in Hawaiʻi County, provided no electrical or plumbing work is proposed. A pool 24 inches or deeper needs a building permit, and its electrical and plumbing work need separate permits from licensed contractors.
Typical threshold: water features and swimming pools at one and two-family dwellings.
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When a permit is usually needed
Before installing a pool or water feature 24 inches or deeper; any pump wiring or plumbing also needs electrical and plumbing permits.
What a pool permit costs in Hawaii County
How to apply in Hawaii County
In Hawaii County, a residential pool permit application covers both construction and safety: a scaled site plan, structural plans for the pool, a barrier plan showing how the pool will be enclosed, and an electrical plan covering bonding and the equipment disconnect.
What most pool permit applications include:
- Pool and spa design and construction fall under the residential code chapter that folds in the swimming pool and spa code, and permit review checks plans against that chapter (IRC R326).
- For Hawaii County, the site plan must show pool equipment such as pumps, filters, and heaters set back at least 36 inches from the outside of the required barrier (ISPSC 305.2.9).
- For an in-ground pool, engineered structural plans covering the shell and reinforcing steel, with the responsible structural engineer's license information, are a standard part of the submittal (per official pool submittal checklists).
- For Hawaii County, a barrier plan identifying the fence, pool structure, or dwelling wall that will enclose the pool must be submitted and must comply with the code's barrier chapter (ISPSC 305).
- Electrical plans must show the pool's equipotential bonding design, since the shell, perimeter surfaces, and metal fittings within 5 feet of the water must all tie into a common bonding grid (NEC 680.26).
- For Hawaii County, the electrical plan must also show a disconnecting means for the pool equipment that is readily accessible and within sight of the equipment (NEC 680.13).
General submittal guidance from 2021 IRC R326 (adopting the ISPSC), ISPSC 2021 Section 305, and NEC 2020 Article 680. 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
Pool Permit in Hawaii County compared with nearby Hawaii localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Hawaii schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii County | 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... | |
| Honolulu | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not published |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Hawaii County, pool inspections track the concrete pour: the steel and bonding grid are checked before gunite or shotcrete goes in, bonding is checked again before decking is poured, and the permanent barrier and remaining electrical work are checked at final before the pool can be filled and used.
- In Hawaii County: before gunite or shotcrete is sprayed, the inspector checks the rebar against the engineered plans and confirms the equipotential bonding wire is stubbed out and tied into the steel, since it will be buried in concrete afterward (NEC 680.26).
- In Hawaii County: a bonding inspection separately confirms coping, decking, ladders, handrail cups, and any other metal within 5 feet of the water are tied to the bonding grid, and it must pass before coping is installed (NEC 680.26).
- In Hawaii County: a temporary barrier at least 4 feet high must enclose the site from the moment excavation starts until the permanent barrier is finished, and inspectors check for it throughout construction (ISPSC 305.1.1).
- In Hawaii County: a pre-plaster inspection confirms the circulation equipment's electrical work is installed and all bonding is complete before the pool's interior finish goes on (NEC 680.26).
- In Hawaii County: at final inspection the permanent barrier is checked against the code's requirements and the equipment and cover-mechanism bonding must be complete before the pool can be filled and used (ISPSC 305, NEC 680.26).
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 NEC 2020 Article 680.26 (equipotential bonding) and ISPSC 2021 Section 305 (barriers). Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Pool Permit checklist for Hawaii County
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: water features and swimming pools at one and two-family dwellings. Usually needed: Before installing a pool or water feature 24 inches or deeper; any pump wiring or plumbing also needs electrical and plumbing permits.
- 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, a residential pool permit application covers both construction and safety: a scaled site plan, structural plans for the pool, a barrier plan showing how the pool will be enclosed, and an electrical plan covering bonding and the equipment disconnect. 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, pool inspections track the concrete pour: the steel and bonding grid are checked before gunite or shotcrete goes in, bonding is checked again before decking is poured, and the permanent barrier and remaining electrical work are checked at final before the pool can be filled and used.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a pool permit in Hawaii County?
- Water features and swimming pools less than twenty-four inches deep at one and two-family dwellings are exempt from a building permit in Hawaiʻi County, provided no electrical or plumbing work is proposed. A pool 24 inches or deeper needs a building permit, and its electrical and plumbing work need separate permits from licensed contractors. Water features and swimming pools at one and two-family dwellings. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a pool 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 pool 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 pool 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... |
| 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... |
| 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... |
Pool 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 pool 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