Home Business in East Honolulu, HI

If you live in East Honolulu or are thinking about moving there, home business are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. East Honolulu has 4 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of home business, and some of them might surprise you.

Zoning & Home Occupation Permits

Under the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu Land Use Ordinance (Section 21-5.50(c)(3), formerly 21-5.350), a home occupation is an accessory use providing a service or product for compensation in a dwelling that must keep the exterior appearance and character of a dwelling, allow no outdoor storage, and not adversely impact the neighborhood through traffic, noise, or odors.

Key details: Code Section: ROH 21-5.50(c)(3) (formerly 21-5.350). Status: Permitted accessory use (P*). Outdoor storage: Prohibited. Indoor storage cap: 250 cu ft or 20% of floor area.

Land Use Ordinance violations are enforced by the Department of Planning and Permitting through notices of violation and civil fines under ROH Chapter 21; continued noncompliance can result in escalating daily penalties and orders to cease the unpermitted use.

Signage Rules

The Revised Ordinances of Honolulu prohibit any exterior sign, display, or advertisement that shows a dwelling is used for a home occupation; under Section 21-5.350(c) there must be no exterior sign that shows the building is used for anything but residential use, and the Land Use Ordinance requires the exterior to remain that of a dwelling.

Key details: Code Section: ROH 21-5.350(c); 21-5.50(c)(3)(B)(i). Exterior business sign: Prohibited. Displays/advertisements: Prohibited. Required appearance: Must remain that of a dwelling.

Posting a prohibited exterior business sign or advertisement is a Land Use Ordinance violation enforced by the Department of Planning and Permitting via notices of violation and civil fines under ROH Chapter 21, with abatement (removal) of the sign required.

Compared to other cities, East Honolulu takes a harder line on signage rules. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Customer Traffic Restrictions

Home occupations that depend on client visits, including group instruction, must provide one off-street parking space per five clients on the premises at any one time, in addition to the dwelling's required parking, and commercial vehicles associated with the home occupation may not be parked on the street.

Key details: Code Section: ROH 21-6.30(d); 21-5.50(c)(3). Client parking: 1 off-street space per 5 clients. Added to: Dwelling's required parking. Commercial vehicle: No on-street parking.

Failure to provide required client parking or unlawful on-street parking of commercial vehicles is a Land Use Ordinance violation enforced by the Department of Planning and Permitting through notices of violation and civil fines under ROH Chapter 21.

Home Daycare

A family child care home is a permitted accessory use in East Honolulu under the Land Use Ordinance, allowing care for up to 6 unrelated children at any given time with no exterior alterations inconsistent with the residential character of the building, in addition to State of Hawaii child-care licensing.

Key details: Code Section: ROH 21-5.50(c)(2). Child limit: Up to 6 unrelated children at once. Alterations: No exterior changes inconsistent with home. State oversight: DHS licensing (HRS Chapter 346).

Operating a family child care home that exceeds the 6-child limit or makes prohibited alterations is a Land Use Ordinance violation enforced by the Department of Planning and Permitting; operating without required State registration is separately enforced by the Department of Human Services.

The Bottom Line

East Honolulu's home business rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming East Honolulu is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that East Honolulu can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, which shows when its source was last checked.