East Honolulu, HI Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)
ADU rules in East Honolulu, HI, also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances, cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Key Facts
- Code Section
- ROH 21-5.720 (Ord. 15-41)
- Jurisdiction
- City and County of Honolulu (LUO, ROH Ch. 21)
- Permitted districts
- Residential (R-3.5 to R-20) and Country
- Minimum lot size
- 3,500 sq ft
- Max ADU size
- 400 sq ft (lots 3,500-4,999); 800 sq ft (lots 5,000+)
- Number allowed
- 1 ADU per lot
- Parking
- 1 extra off-street space; waived within 1/2 mile of rail station
- Infrastructure
- Written agency confirmation of water, sewer, roadway capacity required
- Covenant
- Recorded with Bureau of Conveyances / Land Court; long-term rental only
Summary
East Honolulu (City and County of Honolulu) permits one accessory dwelling unit on residential and country lots of 3,500 square feet or more under the Land Use Ordinance, capping the ADU at 400 square feet on lots up to 4,999 square feet and 800 square feet on lots of 5,000 square feet or more, with one extra off-street parking space and a recorded covenant.
Covenant for Accessory Dwelling Units: The owner or owners of the lot must record covenants running with the land with the Bureau of Conveyances or the Land Court of the State of Hawaii, or both, as is appropriate. The covenant must be recorded on a form approved by or provided by the Director and may contain such terms as the Director deems necessary to ensure its enforceability. The failure of an owner or of an owner's heir, successor or assign to abide by such covenant will be deemed a violation of Chapter 21 and will be grounds for enforcement by the Director pursuant to Section 21-2.150. The covenant must state: ... "Neither the owner or owners, nor the heirs, successors or assigns of the owner or owners will submit the lot or any portion thereof to a condominium property regime under the provisions of the HRS to separate the ownership of an accessory dwelling unit from the ownership of its principal dwelling unit."
Full Breakdown
East Honolulu has no separate city government; it is part of the City and County of Honolulu, whose Land Use Ordinance (LUO), Revised Ordinances of Honolulu (ROH) Chapter 21, governs accessory dwelling units (ADUs) island-wide on Oahu. 5, R-10, R-20) and country zoning districts. An ADU is a second dwelling unit with its own kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom, attached to or detached from the principal dwelling. An ADU is allowed only on a zoning lot of 3,500 square feet or more with a single existing or proposed principal dwelling unit, subject to adequate infrastructure and all other LUO requirements, and only one ADU is allowed per lot.
The maximum floor area is 400 square feet on lots from 3,500 to 4,999 square feet, and 800 square feet on lots of 5,000 square feet or more. One additional off-street parking space must be provided for the ADU on top of the parking required for the principal dwelling, except for ADUs within one-half mile of a rail transit station, and the ADU space may be a compact stall. Before a building permit issues, the applicant must obtain written confirmation from the responsible agencies that wastewater treatment and disposal, water supply, and access roadways are adequate.
The owner must record a covenant running with the land with the State Bureau of Conveyances or Land Court (or both) on a form approved by the Director; the covenant bars renting the ADU for less than long-term use and bars separating ADU ownership from the principal dwelling under a condominium property regime. The comprehensive LUO rewrite adopted as Ordinance 25-2 (in effect September 30, 2025) raises the small-lot maximum to 500 square feet and carries forward the single-ADU, infrastructure, and covenant requirements.
Violations & Fines
An ADU built or used in violation of Chapter 21, including failure of the owner or the owner's heir, successor, or assign to abide by the recorded covenant, is a violation of the Land Use Ordinance and is grounds for enforcement by the Director of the Department of Planning and Permitting under ROH Section 21-2.150, which authorizes notices of violation, orders to correct, and civil fines for continued noncompliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What lot size do I need for an ADU in East Honolulu?
Do I have to record anything to build an ADU?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in East Honolulu
How East Honolulu compares: Easiest Cities to Build an ADU·Compare East Honolulu to another location·View the Hawaii accessory structures overview
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