Building permits in Honolulu, Hawaii
Of the 12 common home projects we have verified in Honolulu, 7 need a permit outright and 5 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
By Mario Bailey Last checked · 2 official sources
Verified against official sources- Project types verified
- 13
- in Honolulu
City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP), Building Division
- 650 South King Street, 7th Floor, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
- Phone: (808) 768-8000
- Email: dpp@honolulu.gov
- Official permit page
- Permit portal
- Official fee schedule
Look up a permit in Honolulu
Honolulu runs an online permit portal. Many local portals let you check application status, search permit records, and view inspection results without calling the office.
What needs a permit in Honolulu
Of the 12 common home projects we have verified in Honolulu, 7 need a permit outright and 5 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom Remodel Permit | It depends | interior remodeling that changes no room count, wall, window location, or electrical, plumbing or mechanical installation | ...and materials, plus a plan review fee of 20% of the permit fee (maximum $25,000)... |
| Deck Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...under ROH 18-6.2, plus a plan review fee of 20% of the permit fee (maximum $25,000)... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...and materials, plus a plan review fee of 20% of the permit fee (maximum $25,000)... |
| EV Charger Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...and materials, plus a plan review fee of 20% of the permit fee (maximum $25,000)... |
| Fence Permit | 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)... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...and materials, plus a plan review fee of 20% of the permit fee (maximum $25,000)... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | uncovered walkways and outside paving within private property, not on a street corner or in a flood zone | ...and materials, plus a plan review fee of 20% of the permit fee (maximum $25,000)... |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...and materials, plus a plan review fee of 20% of the permit fee (maximum $25,000)... |
| Pool Permit | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not published |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | reroofing that does not adversely affect structural components, Group R-3 and U occupancies | ...and materials, plus a plan review fee of 20% of the permit fee (maximum $25,000)... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | aggregate floor area of one-story detached accessory storage buildings, tool sheds and playhouses | ...are valuation-based under ROH 18-6.2 (plus a 20% plan review fee, maximum $25,000... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...and materials, plus a plan review fee of 20% of the permit fee (maximum $25,000)... |
| Water Heater Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...and materials, plus a plan review fee of 20% of the permit fee (maximum $25,000)... |
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Honolulu permit fees compared with nearby Hawaii localities
| Hawaii locality | Deck Permit | HVAC Permit | Electrical Permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | ...review fee of 20% of the permit fee (maximum $25,000)... | ...review fee of 20% of the permit fee (maximum $25,000)... | ...review fee of 20% of the permit fee (maximum $25,000)... |
| Hawaii County | $10 per 100 sq. ft. or fraction thereof." Plan review fee... | ...are valuation-based under "General Construction": "$0... | ...are valuation-based under "General Construction": "$0... |
Each cell is the opening clause of that Hawaii jurisdiction's own fee schedule; the full wording and source sit on each permit page.
Honolulu permit questions, answered from the data
- Do you need a permit in Honolulu?
- For most projects, yes. Of the 13 permit types we have verified for Honolulu, 7 always require a permit (for example a deck permit), 5 depend on size or scope (a bathroom remodel permit, for instance). Each Honolulu permit type's page states the exact rule and its source.
- How much does a permit cost in Honolulu?
- Honolulu publishes a fee for 12 of the 13 permit types we cover, each quoted on its page from the jurisdiction's own schedule (linked on every page that carries one). Fees are set by City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP), Building Division; we do not estimate or mark them up.
- Where do you apply for a permit in Honolulu?
- City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP), Building Division issues permits in Honolulu, with an online portal for applications, plan uploads and status checks, and takes questions at (808) 768-8000. The Honolulu official page and portal are linked in the office section above.
How the Honolulu pages were verified. 13 permit types, 5 distinct official sources, most recently checked . Every rule is read from City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP), Building Division or the applicable code and cited on its page; anything we could not confirm for Honolulu is marked rather than estimated. How we verify.