Hawaii County, HI Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Hawaii County, HI, also referred to as storage shed, backyard shed, or accessory building regulations, set size limits, setbacks, and when a building permit is required.
Key Facts
- Permit-exempt shed size (residential)
- 200 sq ft max, 15 ft tall (§5-3-22)
- Permit-exempt shed size (agricultural)
- 1,000 sq ft max floor area
- Property line setback
- At least 10 feet from lines/structures
- Countywide height cap
- 20 feet for any accessory structure (§25-4-23)
- Exemption limits
- No electrical or plumbing work allowed
- Zoning violation penalty
- $500 first offense, $500-$1,000 repeat (§25-2-31)
- Governing sections
- HCC §§5-3-22, 25-4-23, 25-1-5
Summary
A tool shed, storage shed, greenhouse, or similar detached accessory building on Hawai'i Island skips the county building permit only if it sits on residential or agricultural land, stays under 200 square feet (residential) or 1,000 square feet (agricultural), stands no more than 15 feet tall, and sits at least 10 feet from the property line. Every accessory structure is separately capped at 20 feet countywide under the zoning code.
Section 25-4-23. Accessory structure height limitations. An accessory structure shall not exceed twenty feet in height, unless otherwise specified in this chapter. ... Section 5-3-22. Building work; exempt. (a) A permit shall not be required for any of the following building work, provided no electrical work or plumbing work is proposed: ... (D) Detached one-story accessory structures of U occupancy, used as a tool shed, storage shed, greenhouse, gazebo, playhouse, animal shed, or for a similar use, provided that: (i) The structures are located on residential or agricultural zoned land; (ii) In the case of accessory structures on residential zoned land, total floor area does not exceed two hundred square feet and is not greater than fifteen feet above finish grade; (iii) In the case of accessory structures on agricultural zoned land, the total floor area does not exceed one thousand square feet; and (iv) The building is not located less than ten feet from the property line or other structures; and does not violate the provisions for "yards" in chapter 25 (zoning).
Full Breakdown
Section 5-3-22(a)(1)(D) of the Hawai'i County Code exempts a detached, one-story accessory structure of U occupancy, used as a tool shed, storage shed, greenhouse, gazebo, playhouse, animal shed, or similar use, from the construction code's building-permit requirement, provided no electrical or plumbing work is involved. Four conditions all have to be met: the structure sits on residential or agricultural zoned land; on residential land its total floor area cannot exceed 200 square feet and it cannot rise more than 15 feet above finish grade; on agricultural land the floor-area cap is 1,000 square feet instead; and the building cannot sit closer than 10 feet to the property line or to other structures.
The exemption only covers the construction-code permit; it does not override the zoning code's own limits on "yards" (setbacks) in chapter 25, which the section cross-references directly, so a shed that clears the construction-code exemption can still need a zoning setback variance if it crowds a property line. Even where the exemption applies, Section 25-4-23 of the zoning code caps every accessory structure at 20 feet in height countywide "unless otherwise specified in this chapter," and chapter 25's own definitions section, 25-1-5, defines an "accessory building" as one no more than 20 feet in height, detached from and subordinate to a main building on the same site, and used for purposes incidental to the main use.
A shed that exceeds either the 15-foot residential cap in the permit exemption or the 20-foot zoning ceiling loses its exempt status and needs both a building permit under Section 5-3-1 and, if it also busts a required yard setback, zoning relief before it can be built. Violating chapter 25 exposes the owner to the zoning code's own enforcement track under Sections 25-2-30 and 25-2-31: a first conviction draws a fine up to $500, and a repeat violation within five years draws $500 to $1,000, with each additional day of continuing violation counted as a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
A shed that skips the Section 5-3-22 size, height, or setback conditions loses its permit exemption and must go through the standard Section 5-3-1 building-permit process, plus the Section 5-7-3(d) unpermitted-work penalty ($1,000 flat or the fee doubled, whichever is greater) if it was already built. A shed that also violates chapter 25's height or yard rules exposes the owner to a fine up to $500 for a first offense and $500 to $1,000 for a repeat conviction within five years under Sections 25-2-30 and 25-2-31, with each additional day of continuing violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a shed on the Big Island without a permit?
How tall can a shed or accessory building be in Hawaii County?
How far does a shed have to be from my property line?
What if my shed is bigger than the exemption allows?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hawaii County
How Hawaii County compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Hawaii County to another location·View the Hawaii accessory structures overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.