Hawaii · Penalties if you skip one

What you can build without a permit in Hawaii

By Mario Bailey Last checked · 7 official sources

Quick answer

Across the 2 Hawaii jurisdictions we have verified, 0 of 24 project rules need no permit at all, 14 turn on a size or scope condition the jurisdiction publishes, and 10 require a permit regardless. Bathroom remodel work is where the answer most often comes with a published condition rather than a flat yes: 2 of the 2 jurisdictions that answer publish one. The numbers are not statewide: shed thresholds alone run from 120 to 200 sq ft depending on the jurisdiction.

How to read this page

"No permit" means the jurisdiction publishes that the work needs no building permit. "Depends" means it publishes a size, height, depth, cost or scope condition that decides the answer, quoted in its own words in the last column; the number beside it is the figure that condition turns on, and which side of the number is exempt is stated by the condition, not by us. Exempt from a building permit is not exempt from zoning, setbacks, height limits, flood rules, an HOA, or a separate electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit, and several of the conditions below say exactly that.

Bathroom Remodel

All 2 make the bathroom remodel answer turn on a size or scope condition the jurisdiction publishes.

Jurisdiction Permit Published figure What the rule says
Hawaii County Depends Hawaiʻi County publishes no bathroom-specific rule, so the trade and building exemptions decide it.
Honolulu Depends interior remodeling that changes no room count, wall, window location, or electrical, plumbing or mechanical installation.

Fence

All 2 make the fence answer turn on a size or scope condition the jurisdiction publishes, and the 2 that state a number all publish 6 feet.

Jurisdiction Permit Published figure What the rule says
Hawaii County Depends 6 feet height of a fence; retaining walls follow a separate four foot rule.
Honolulu Depends 6 feet fence height at which a building permit is required; the exemption does not apply on a street corner or in a flood zone.

Roof Replacement

All 2 make the roof replacement answer turn on a size or scope condition the jurisdiction publishes.

Jurisdiction Permit Published figure What the rule says
Hawaii County Depends Re-roofing with like material on a house (Group R-3) or accessory building (Group U) is exempt from a building permit in Hawaiʻi County, as long as no electrical or plumbing work is proposed.
Honolulu Depends reroofing that does not adversely affect structural components, Group R-3 and U occupancies.

Shed

All 2 make the shed answer turn on a size or scope condition the jurisdiction publishes, and the 2 that state a number publish figures from 120 to 200 sq ft.

Jurisdiction Permit Published figure What the rule says
Hawaii County Depends 200 sq ft 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.
Honolulu Depends 120 sq ft aggregate floor area of one-story detached accessory storage buildings, tool sheds and playhouses.

Deck

1 of 2 makes the deck answer turn on a size or scope condition the jurisdiction publishes. Honolulu requires a permit for deck work regardless of size.

Jurisdiction Permit Published figure What the rule says
Hawaii County Depends 30 inches height of a detached deck or platform; an attached deck is not exempt.
Honolulu Permit required DPP's FAQ answers flatly that a deck needs a building permit under ROH Chapter 18, with no size or height exemption stated.

Electrical

1 of 2 makes the electrical answer turn on a size or scope condition the jurisdiction publishes. Honolulu requires a permit for electrical work regardless of size.

Jurisdiction Permit Published figure What the rule says
Hawaii County Depends Hawaiʻi County's Building Division issues electrical permits itself (there is no state electrical permit in Hawaiʻi), and a permit is required to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any electrical work.
Honolulu Permit required ROH 18-3.1(a)(2) requires a building permit for 'Any electrical work', issued and inspected by DPP's own Building Division (no state electrical permit).

HVAC

1 of 2 makes the HVAC answer turn on a size or scope condition the jurisdiction publishes. Honolulu requires a permit for HVAC work regardless of size.

Jurisdiction Permit Published figure What the rule says
Hawaii County Depends Hawaiʻi County requires a permit for the installation, removal, alteration, repair, or conversion of any heating, ventilation, or air conditioning system.
Honolulu Permit required Honolulu has no separate mechanical permit: air-conditioning work is permitted as a building permit under ROH 18-3.1, which covers 'Any electrical work' and any gas appliance.

Plumbing

1 of 2 makes the plumbing answer turn on a size or scope condition the jurisdiction publishes. Honolulu requires a permit for plumbing work regardless of size.

Jurisdiction Permit Published figure What the rule says
Hawaii County Depends Hawaiʻi County requires a permit for any plumbing, fire sprinkler, gas or drainage piping work, fixture, gas appliance, water heating or water treating equipment.
Honolulu Permit required ROH 18-3.1(a)(3) requires a building permit to install, remove, alter, repair or replace any plumbing, fire sprinkler, gas or drainage piping work, or any fixture, gas appliance, or water heating or treating equipment.

Patio

All 1 makes the patio answer turn on a size or scope condition the jurisdiction publishes. 1 publishes no answer we could verify.

Jurisdiction Permit Published figure What the rule says
Honolulu Depends uncovered walkways and outside paving within private property, not on a street corner or in a flood zone.

Pool

All 1 makes the pool answer turn on a size or scope condition the jurisdiction publishes. 1 publishes no answer we could verify.

Jurisdiction Permit Published figure What the rule says
Hawaii County Depends 24 inches water features and swimming pools at one and two-family dwellings.

If the work is already built

Hawaii has no statewide crime or fine for building without a permit. Building permits are issued and enforced by the four counties, and state law gives each county the power to make and enforce ordinances on the inspection of buildings and to fix the penalty for breaking them as a misdemeanor, petty misdemeanor, or violation.

Hawaii penalties, the after-the-fact path, and what the statute actually says

2 of the 26 rules we hold for Hawaii are unresolved because the jurisdiction publishes no answer; they are counted nowhere above. The 24 answered rules come from 7 official sources, each linked from the permit page behind every jurisdiction name. See the full picture for the state on the Hawaii permit requirements page, or the national view of which projects need a permit at all on Do you need a building permit?

This page compiles what each Hawaii jurisdiction publishes, with a last checked date. It is not legal advice, and a project that is exempt from a building permit can still need zoning approval or a trade permit. Confirm with the office linked from the jurisdiction's page before you build.