Panel Permits: East Honolulu vs Kaneohe
How do panel permits rules compare between East Honolulu, HI and Kaneohe, HI?
East Honolulu and Kaneohe have similar restriction levels.
East Honolulu, HI
Honolulu County
East Honolulu homeowners in Hawaii Kai, Aina Haina, and Portlock can use ROH Sec. 18-5.10 expedited permitting for residential solar PV systems up to 20kW.
View full East Honolulu rules →Kaneohe, HI
Honolulu County
Kaneohe homeowners installing rooftop PV qualify for expedited permits under ROH Sec. 18-5.10; new homes must include solar-ready capacity for a 5kW AC array.
View full Kaneohe rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | East Honolulu | Kaneohe |
|---|---|---|
| Code | ROH Sec. 18-5.10 | ROH Sec. 18-5.10 |
| Expedited threshold | Up to 20kW residential | - |
| Solar readiness | Building Code Sec. R408 | - |
| State reference | HRS Sec. 269-101 to 111 | HRS Sec. 269-101 et seq. |
| Expedited | - | Clean energy projects |
| Solar-ready | - | Building Code Sec. R408 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
East Honolulu FAQ
Is solar permitting faster in East Honolulu?
Yes. Qualifying residential PV up to 20kW uses expedited review under ROH Sec. 18-5.10, typically reducing wait times for Hawaii Kai homeowners.
Does my new Hawaii Kai home need to be solar-ready?
Yes. Honolulu Building Code Sec. R408 reserves space for a 5kW AC PV array on new single- and two-family dwellings.
Kaneohe FAQ
Are Kaneohe homes near MCBH affected by solar rules?
Civilian homes follow ROH Sec. 18-5.10 normally. Projects within certain airfield glare zones may need additional analysis through the installer.
Do cloudy upper Kaneohe valleys still benefit from solar?
Yes. System sizing should account for shading. Installers model actual irradiance for Kaneohe microclimates rather than relying on citywide averages.
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