What Honolulu Regulates: A Complete Ordinance Overview

Honolulu is a mid-sized city in Honolulu County, Hawaii, with about 351000 residents. Like most cities its size, it has a set of local rules that may differ significantly from neighboring municipalities. Here is an overview of 126 ordinances across 30 categories that affect daily life in Honolulu.

Animal Ordinances

Exotic Pets: Hawaii bans most exotic pets statewide to protect fragile island ecosystems. Honolulu residents cannot keep snakes, ferrets, hamsters, gerbils, or most reptiles.

Also covered: Wildlife Feeding (moderate), Cat Rules (moderate), Pet Limits (permissive). See the full animal ordinances guide for Honolulu for details.

Fire Regulations

Fireworks: Honolulu bans virtually all consumer fireworks including sparklers, fountains, and aerial devices. Only licensed firecrackers with a permit are allowed on designated holidays.

Also covered: Wildfire Zones (strict), Propane Storage (moderate), Fire Pit Rules (strict). See the full fire regulations guide for Honolulu for details.

Building Safety

Elevator Maintenance: Hawaii's Department of Labor Boiler and Elevator Branch regulates all passenger elevators, escalators, and lifts statewide. Honolulu condos and commercial buildings must obtain annual inspection certificates, posted in the cab, with violations triggering shutdown orders..

Also covered: Pest Control (moderate), Lead Paint (strict), Childcare Center Rules (strict). See the full building safety guide for Honolulu for details.

Short-Term Rentals

Insurance Requirements: Honolulu requires every owner or operator of a transient vacation unit (TVU) or bed-and-breakfast home to maintain at least $1,000,000 per occurrence in commercial general liability coverage, or homeowner's insurance with business liability coverage (umbrella policies may be combined to reach the limit), under Revised Ordinances of Honolulu (ROH) §21-5.730 as amended by Ordinance 22-7 (Bill 41, CD2). Proof of coverage must be filed with the Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) at registration and at every annual renewal, and a hosting-platform policy may satisfy the requirement only if it meets the minimum..

Also covered: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (strict), Host Presence Rule (strict), Occupancy Limits (strict). See the full short-term rentals guide for Honolulu for details.

Rental Property Rules

Rent Control: Hawaii Revised Statutes section 521-12 partially preempts local rent control, leaving Honolulu without authority to cap residential rent increases except on county-administered affordable housing units and Hawaiian Home Lands..

Also covered: Security Deposit Rules (moderate), Just Cause Eviction (permissive), Rental Registration (permissive). See the full rental property rules guide for Honolulu for details.

Homelessness & Encampment Rules

Sit-Lie Rules: Honolulu's Sit-Lie Ordinance, Bill 6 (2014) codified at ROH section 29-16, prohibits sitting or lying on public sidewalks in Waikiki and other designated business districts between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m..

Also covered: Encampment Sanitation (strict), Bridge Housing Siting (moderate). See the full homelessness & encampment rules guide for Honolulu for details.

Single-Use Items

Plastic Bag Rules: Honolulu's 2015 bag ordinance, dramatically tightened in 2017, prohibits all plastic checkout bags at retailers islandwide on Oʻahu, including compostable plastics, making it one of the strongest US bag laws..

Also covered: Polystyrene Foam Rules (strict), Utensils-On-Request (moderate), Plastic Straw Rules (moderate). See the full single-use items guide for Honolulu for details.

Public Health Rules

Restaurant Grade Cards: The Hawaiʻi Department of Health posts color-coded placards at every food establishment on Oʻahu after inspection: green (pass), yellow (conditional), or red (closed) — visible at the entrance..

Also covered: Rodent Control (moderate), Syringe Disposal (permissive), Food Handler Certification (moderate). See the full public health rules guide for Honolulu for details.

Cannabis Regulations

Dispensary Zoning: Hawaiʻi authorizes only medical cannabis (HRS §329-121 et seq., 2000). Honolulu permits state-licensed dispensaries in commercial and industrial zones, with strict buffers from schools, parks, and playgrounds..

Also covered: Personal Cultivation Limits (moderate), Cannabis Delivery Rules (moderate), Buffer Zones (strict). See the full cannabis regulations guide for Honolulu for details.

Tobacco & Vaping

Tobacco Age Restrictions: Hawaiʻi was the first US state to raise the tobacco purchase age to 21, effective January 2016 under HRS §709-908. The law covers cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, vapes, and all nicotine products..

Also covered: Vape Retail Rules (moderate), Flavored Tobacco Bans (moderate). See the full tobacco & vaping guide for Honolulu for details.

Environmental Rules

Coastal Development: Most development within Honolulu's Special Management Area (SMA) along Oahu's shoreline requires a special permit reviewed by DPP under HRS chapter 205A and ROH chapter 25..

Also covered: Flood Zones (strict), Stormwater Management (moderate), Climate Emergency Mobilization (moderate). See the full environmental rules guide for Honolulu for details.

Water Use Rules

Lawn Watering Restrictions: The Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) sets island-wide conservation targets and can declare mandatory restrictions on lawn irrigation under ROH chapter 17 during droughts..

Also covered: Turf Replacement Rebates (permissive), Recycled Water Rules (permissive), Leak Reporting Duty (moderate). See the full water use rules guide for Honolulu for details.

Zoning Overlays & Bonuses

Coastal Zone Permits: Building near Oahu's shoreline requires both a certified shoreline survey and compliance with the 60-foot (or larger) setback under ROH chapter 23 plus state coastal review..

Also covered: Density Bonus Law (moderate). See the full zoning overlays & bonuses guide for Honolulu for details.

Mobility & Curb Rules

Shared E-Scooter Rules: Stand-up electric scooters above 15 mph remain restricted on Oahu under HRS chapter 291C, while shared mopeds and e-bikes fall under city right-of-way and parking rules..

Also covered: Bike Lane Rules (moderate). See the full mobility & curb rules guide for Honolulu for details.

Hotels & Lodging

Transient Occupancy Tax: Hotels and short-term rentals on Oʻahu charge guests a county TAT (3%) layered atop the state TAT (10.25%) and General Excise Tax (4.712%), totaling roughly 18% on lodging — among the highest combined lodging taxes in the United States..

Also covered: Hotel Worker Retention (moderate), Hotel Living Wage (moderate). See the full hotels & lodging guide for Honolulu for details.

Tree Protection

Heritage & Protected Trees: Honolulu's Exceptional Tree Ordinance (ROH Chapter 41) protects individually designated specimens for age, rarity, size, historic, or aesthetic value. Designation is by City Council resolution after Outdoor Circle and Arborist Advisory Committee review.

Also covered: Tree Removal Permits (moderate). See the full tree protection guide for Honolulu for details.

Employment Preemption

Minimum Wage Preemption: Hawaiʻi sets a single statewide minimum wage and bars Honolulu and the other counties from enacting higher local floors, with the rate scheduled to climb from $14.00 in 2026 to $18.00 by January 1, 2028..

Also covered: Paid Leave Preemption (permissive), Worker Scheduling Preemption (permissive). See the full employment preemption guide for Honolulu for details.

Immigration Policy

Sanctuary Policy Preemption: Honolulu adopted Resolution 17-78 declaring itself a Welcoming City and Hawaiʻi limits state and local cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement under HRS §28-12, though the framework stops short of a full sanctuary statute..

Also covered: E-Verify Mandates (permissive). See the full immigration policy guide for Honolulu for details.

Public Conduct

Outdoor Smoking Restrictions: Revised Ordinances of Honolulu Chapter 42 prohibits smoking, vaping, and tobacco use at all city and county beaches, parks, and adjacent sidewalks, building on Hawaiʻi's broad indoor smoking ban under HRS Chapter 328J..

Also covered: Skateboarding Rules (moderate), Aggressive Panhandling (strict), Public Marijuana Use (strict). See the full public conduct guide for Honolulu for details.

Local Taxes & Fees

Vacancy Tax: Honolulu has no enacted vacancy tax as of 2026, but the City Council has repeatedly considered Bill 9 (2022) and successor measures imposing an Empty Homes Tax of up to 3% on residential properties left vacant more than six months annually..

Business Licensing & Operations

Tobacco Retail License: Hawaiʻi requires every retailer of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and other tobacco products to obtain a state Department of Taxation Cigarette and Tobacco Retail Permit under HRS §245-2.5, and Honolulu enforces a minimum sales age of 21 statewide..

Also covered: Massage Establishments (moderate). See the full business licensing & operations guide for Honolulu for details.

Accessory Structures

ADU Rental Restrictions: Honolulu prohibits short-term rentals (under 90 days outside resort districts, under 30 days in resort districts) of Bill 7 ADUs under both the recorded long-term rental covenant in LUO Sec. 21-5.730 and Bill 89 (2019) / Bill 41 (2022) STR enforcement.

Also covered: Carport Rules (moderate), Shed Rules (permissive), Garage Conversions (moderate). See the full accessory structures guide for Honolulu for details.

Home Business

Signage Rules: Honolulu's Land Use Ordinance prohibits any exterior signage indicating a home is used for a business. Under ROH § 21-5.350, home occupations must be invisible from the street — no signs, displays, or advertising may be mounted on or near the dwelling..

Also covered: Zoning Restrictions (moderate), Customer Traffic Restrictions (moderate). See the full home business guide for Honolulu for details.

Noise Ordinances

Quiet Hours: Honolulu prohibits excessive noise under ROH Chapter 41, Article 6. Quiet hours run 10 PM–7 AM on weekdays and 10 PM–9 AM on weekends and holidays.

Also covered: Construction Hours (moderate), Barking Dogs (moderate), Amplified Music & Events (moderate). See the full noise ordinances guide for Honolulu for details.

Swimming Pools & Spas

Fencing Requirements: Honolulu ROH § 16-6.2 requires all residential swimming pools to be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates. The building code adopts ISPSC standards for gap clearance and non-climbable design..

Also covered: Pool Permits (moderate), Safety Rules (strict), Above-Ground Pools (moderate). See the full swimming pools & spas guide for Honolulu for details.

Parking Rules

Commercial Vehicle Restrictions: Honolulu prohibits buses, trucks, vans, trailers, and other commercial vehicles with a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or more, or longer than 20 feet, from being stored or parked on any public street citywide without a permit or exception..

Also covered: Driveway Rules (moderate), Street Parking Limits (moderate), RV & Boat Parking (moderate). See the full parking rules guide for Honolulu for details.

Landscaping Rules

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees: Honolulu protects designated 'exceptional trees' under Revised Ordinances of Honolulu (ROH) Chapter 40, Article 8. Removing or destroying any exceptional tree without City Council approval is unlawful (ROH § 40-8.8).

Also covered: Grass Height Limits (moderate), Water Restrictions (moderate), Weed Ordinances (moderate). See the full landscaping rules guide for Honolulu for details.

Fence Regulations

Height Limits: Honolulu's Land Use Ordinance limits residential fences to 6 feet in side and rear yards and 4 feet in front yards. Fences over 6 feet require a Department of Planning and Permitting building permit..

Also covered: Permit Requirements (moderate), Neighbor Fence Rules (moderate), Material Restrictions (moderate). See the full fence regulations guide for Honolulu for details.

Holiday Decorations

Lawn Ornament Rules: Honolulu has no city ordinance restricting lawn ornaments on residential property. HOA and condo covenants under HRS 421J and 514B commonly regulate ornaments through CC&Rs and architectural review.

Also covered: Inflatable Display Rules (permissive), Holiday Light Rules (permissive). See the full holiday decorations guide for Honolulu for details.

Outdoor Cooking

Smoker Rules: Honolulu has no smoker-specific ordinance. Hawaii Department of Health air pollution rules under HAR Chapter 11-60.1 apply to large commercial sources, not residential smokers.

Also covered: BBQ & Propane Rules (moderate), Outdoor Kitchen Permits (moderate). See the full outdoor cooking guide for Honolulu for details.

What to Do With This Information

If you are moving to Honolulu, buying a home, or starting a project, use this as a starting point. Each category links to detailed pages with the full text, penalties, and FAQs. Verify anything time-sensitive with Honolulu's city hall or code enforcement office.