Honolulu County, HI Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard
- 10 ft (30 ft other uses)
- Side/rear yard
- 5 ft (15 ft other uses)
- Applies to
- R-3.5 through R-20 districts
- Enforced by
- Dept. of Planning and Permitting
Summary
The City and County of Honolulu requires a minimum 10-foot front yard and 5-foot side and rear yards for single-family homes across the R-3.5 through R-20 residential districts, per Table 21-3.2 of the Land Use Ordinance.
Front 10 for single-unit, two-unit, and duplex-unit dwellings, 30 for other uses Yards 5 for single-unit, (feet): Side and 5 for single-unit, two-unit, and two-unit, and
rear duplex-unit dwellings1, 15 for duplex-unit other uses dwellings1, 15 for other uses Maximum building area 50% of the zoning lot Maximum height (feet)2 25-30 Height setbacks per § 21-3.70-1(c)
1 For duplex-unit dwelling zoning lots, 5 feet for any portion of any structure not located on the common property line; the required side yard is zero feet for that portion of the lot containing the common wall. 2 Heights above the minima of the given range may require height setbacks or may be subject to other requirements. See the appropriate section for the zoning district for additional development standards concerning height.
(1990 Code, Ch. 21, Art. 3, § 21-3.70-1) (Added by Ord. 99-12; Am. Ords. 15-41, 25-2)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-10: Supplement 10, 12-2025 Ordinance No. 25-40 through Ordinance No. 25-56).
Full Breakdown
Table 21-3.2 in the Land Use Ordinance sets a 10-foot front yard for single-unit, two-unit, and duplex-unit dwellings (30 feet for other uses) and a 5-foot side and rear yard for the same dwelling types (15 feet for other uses) across every residential district, R-3.5 through R-20. Because Honolulu governs the whole island of Oahu, these dimensional standards apply the same way in Kailua, Kaneohe, Waipahu, Mililani, and every other Oahu community, not just the urban core.
Violations & Fines
Building within the required yard without department approval can result in permit denial or a stop-work order from the Department of Planning and Permitting, and an encroaching structure may have to be relocated or removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum front yard setback in Honolulu?
Do these setbacks apply outside downtown Honolulu?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Honolulu County
Compare Honolulu County to another location·View the Hawaii building setbacks & zoning overview
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