Hawaii County, HI Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- RS front/rear, small lot
- 15 feet (7,500–9,999 sq ft)
- RS side yard, small lot
- 8 feet
- RS large lot front/rear
- 25 feet (20,000+ sq ft)
- RS large lot side
- 15 feet
- Yard rule
- Open, unobstructed ground up
Summary
Setbacks vary by zoning district and lot size. In the common RS single-family district, front and rear yards run 15 to 25 feet and side yards 8 to 15 feet, increasing with lot area. Required yards must stay open and unobstructed from the ground up.
The minimum yards in the RS district shall be as follows: (1) On a building site with a required area of seven thousand five hundred square feet to and including nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine square feet: (A) Front and rear yards, fifteen feet; and (B) Side yards, eight feet.
Full Breakdown
The County Zoning Code calls setbacks "yards" and sets them per district. In the RS single-family district (25-5-7): lots of 7,500–9,999 sq ft need 15-foot front and rear yards and 8-foot side yards; lots of 10,000–19,999 sq ft need 20 feet front/rear and 10-foot sides; lots of 20,000 sq ft or more need 25 feet front/rear and 15-foot sides. Section 25-4-40 requires every yard to be open and unobstructed from the ground up. Each district (RD, RM, agricultural, commercial) has its own yard section, applied island-wide by the County.
Violations & Fines
Building into a required yard is a zoning violation; the Planning Department may deny permits, require a variance, or order correction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the setbacks for a single-family lot?
Are setbacks the same everywhere on the island?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hawaii County
Compare Hawaii County to another location·View the Hawaii building setbacks & zoning overview
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