HOA Restrictions: East Honolulu vs Urban Honolulu
How do hoa restrictions rules compare between East Honolulu, HI and Urban Honolulu, HI?
East Honolulu and Urban Honolulu have similar restriction levels.
East Honolulu, HI
Honolulu County
East Honolulu HOAs, including Hawaii Kai master associations, cannot prevent solar installation on single-family dwellings or townhouses under HRS Sec. 196-7 state preemption.
View full East Honolulu rules →Urban Honolulu, HI
Honolulu County
Urban Honolulu follows HRS Sec. 196-7, which voids HOA or townhouse-association bans on solar devices for single-family dwellings and townhouses in neighborhoods like Hawaii Kai, Kahala, and Salt Lake.
View full Urban Honolulu rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | East Honolulu | Urban Honolulu |
|---|---|---|
| Statute | HRS Sec. 196-7 | HRS Sec. 196-7 |
| Efficiency limit | No more than 25 percent loss | Max 25% reduction |
| Cost limit | No more than 15 percent increase | Max 15% increase |
| Scope | Single-family and townhouse | - |
| Covered | - | Single-family and townhouse |
| Condo carve-out | - | AOAO controls rooftops |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
East Honolulu FAQ
Can my Hawaii Kai HOA deny my solar panels?
No. HRS Sec. 196-7 voids any HOA provision preventing solar device installation on a single-family home or townhouse you own.
Can the HOA charge me a fee to install solar?
No. Hawaii state law prohibits HOAs from charging placement fees for solar devices or imposing substantial efficiency or cost penalties.
Urban Honolulu FAQ
Can a townhouse HOA in Salt Lake ban solar panels?
No. HRS Sec. 196-7 voids HOA bans for single-family and townhouse owners. Fees tied to solar device installation are also prohibited by state statute.
Does the statute cover my Waikiki condo?
Not in the same way. Condo rooftops are AOAO-controlled common elements; installation requires association approval. HRS Sec. 196-7 squarely covers single-family and townhouse owners.
Compare other topics
See how East Honolulu and Urban Honolulu compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool