East Honolulu, HI Accessory Structures: Shed Rules (2026)

East Honolulu falls under the City and County of Honolulu, so sheds are governed by the Honolulu Building Code (ROH Chapter 18, adopting the International Building/Residential Code) and the Land Use Ordinance (ROH Chapter 21). The Department of Planning and Permitting confirms that one-story detached buildings accessory to Group R-3 (one- and two-family) occupancies, used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses, do not require a building permit when the aggregate floor area of such structures does not exceed 120 square feet. A permit-exempt shed is not exempt from zoning: under LUO Section 21-4.30 (Yards and street setbacks), no structures may be located within a required yard or street setback except the listed exceptions (such as customary yard accessories, unroofed trash enclosures not exceeding six feet, and other structures not more than 30 inches in height), so a larger or taller shed must observe the residential yard requirements. In the residential districts, those required yards are generally a 10-foot front yard and a 5-foot side and rear yard for dwellings (LUO Table 21-3.2), and the maximum building area is 50 percent of the zoning lot. Sheds over 120 square feet, or sheds with electrical or plumbing work, require a building permit and full code review.