Pool Permit in Honolulu, Hawaii
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Issued byCity and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP), Building Division
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
DPP publishes no pool-specific permit answer: its building permit FAQ, Quick Permit flowchart and Building Permits pages do not mention residential swimming pools, and ROH 18-3.1's exemption list names only ornamental ponds less than 24 inches deep. An in-ground pool plainly involves construction plus plumbing and electrical work, each of which ROH 18-3.1(a) puts under a building permit, but whether small prefabricated or above-ground pools are exempted through Honolulu's Chapter 16 building code amendments could not be read, so no verdict is recorded. Call DPP at (808) 768-8000.
Applying yourself? Start with the office.
What a pool permit costs in Honolulu
How to apply in Honolulu
In Honolulu, 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 Honolulu, 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 Honolulu, 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 Honolulu, 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. City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP), Building Division sets the exact checklist for Honolulu.
Where to apply 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
Pool Permit in Honolulu compared with nearby Hawaii localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Hawaii schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not published | |
| 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... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Honolulu, 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 Honolulu: 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 Honolulu: 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 Honolulu: 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 Honolulu: 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 Honolulu: 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 Honolulu permit portal or by phone at (808) 768-8000.
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 Honolulu
- Confirm the requirement. Not confirmed, contact the office.
- Budget the fee. Check the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Apply. In Honolulu, 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 Honolulu permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP), Building Division. Phone: (808) 768-8000. Address: 650 South King Street, 7th Floor, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.
- Plan for inspections. In Honolulu, 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 Honolulu?
- DPP publishes no pool-specific permit answer: its building permit FAQ, Quick Permit flowchart and Building Permits pages do not mention residential swimming pools, and ROH 18-3.1's exemption list names only ornamental ponds less than 24 inches deep. An in-ground pool plainly involves construction plus plumbing and electrical work, each of which ROH 18-3.1(a) puts under a building permit, but whether small prefabricated or above-ground pools are exempted through Honolulu's Chapter 16 building code amendments could not be read, so no verdict is recorded. Call DPP at (808) 768-8000. Always confirm with the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP), Building Division before starting.
- How much does a pool permit cost in Honolulu?
- Fees are set by Honolulu and are not published here. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a pool permit in Honolulu?
- You can apply through the Honolulu permit portal or contact the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP), Building Division directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a pool permit themselves in Honolulu?
- 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 Honolulu applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Honolulu
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 | 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)... |
| 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)... |
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 Honolulu documents; the office above sets the local rules.
How this pool permit page for Honolulu was verified. 1 official source: honolulu.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP), Building Division. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
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