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Fence Regulations in Urban Honolulu, HI (2026)

7 verified fence regulations for Urban Honolulu, Hawaii, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Height Limits

Urban Honolulu enforces the islandwide Land Use Ordinance at ROH 21-4.60 to limit fence, wall, and hedge heights in Waikiki, Ala Moana, Manoa, and other CDP neighborhoods.

Honolulu Fence Height Rules

Some Restrictions

Permit Requirements

Urban Honolulu property owners obtain fence and wall permits from the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting under ROH 18-3.1, which exempts retaining or riprap walls up to 30 inches tall.

Honolulu Fence Permits

Some Restrictions

Neighbor Fence Rules

Urban Honolulu resolves neighbor boundary fence disputes under ROH 21-4.30 yard and setback rules combined with 21-4.60 height limits, since Hawaii has no dedicated spite fence statute.

Honolulu Neighbor Fence Rules

Some Restrictions

Retaining Walls

Urban Honolulu limits retaining walls that contain fill within required yards to 6 feet under ROH 21-4.40 and combines terraced wall heights to prevent stacking around hillside lots.

Honolulu Retaining Walls

Some Restrictions

Pool Barriers

Urban Honolulu homes with private swimming pools must install compliant fence barriers meeting ROH 16-6.2, a critical drowning-prevention rule in densely populated neighborhoods like Waikiki and Ala Moana.

Honolulu Pool Barriers

Heavy Restrictions

Fence Requirements

Honolulu fences must meet setback, height, sight-distance, and hurricane wind-load requirements under ROH Chapters 18 and 21, with coastal SMA review adding requirements near the shoreline.

Fences: Fence Requirements

Some Restrictions

Material Restrictions

Honolulu does not ban common fence materials but prohibits barbed wire in residential zones, electric fences without special approval, and non-compliant materials in historic and coastal districts.

Fences: Material Restrictions

Few Restrictions

Looking for Honolulu County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Urban Honolulu city rules.

Fence Regulations in Honolulu County