Tiny home rules in Honolulu County, HI — covering tiny houses on wheels (THOWs), park model RVs, and tiny home on foundation builds — determine where they are legal and how they get permitted.
Honolulu has no dedicated tiny-home ordinance. Permanent tiny homes on foundations are regulated as ADUs under ROH Sec. 21-5.720, while movable tiny homes on wheels are not permitted as permanent dwellings in residential districts.
The Revised Ordinances of Honolulu do not create a separate tiny-home category. A permanent tiny house on a foundation is treated as an accessory dwelling unit under ROH Sec. 21-5.720 and must meet ADU size caps, parking, setback, and occupancy requirements. Building code adoption at ROH Sec. 16-1.1 applies, so the structure must also comply with the adopted International Residential Code. Tiny homes on wheels are classified as recreational vehicles under state and county rules and generally cannot serve as a primary or accessory dwelling in residential zoning districts. Short-term rental restrictions in Sec. 21-5.720 still apply.
Living in an unpermitted tiny home, placing a recreational vehicle as a residence in a residential zone, or exceeding the one-ADU limit can result in civil fines and removal orders.
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See how Honolulu County's tiny homes rules stack up against other locations.
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