Height Limits: Honolulu vs Pearl City
How do height limits rules compare between Honolulu, HI and Pearl City, HI?
Honolulu and Pearl City have similar restriction levels.
Honolulu, HI
Honolulu County
Honolulu's Land Use Ordinance limits residential fences to 6 feet in side and rear yards and 4 feet in front yards. Fences over 6 feet require a Department of Planning and Permitting building permit.
View full Honolulu rules →Pearl City, HI
Honolulu County
Pearl City neighborhoods including Manana, Pearl City Highlands, and Waiau follow the islandwide ROH 21-4.60 fence height rules, with military-family rentals near Pearl Harbor subject to the same caps.
View full Pearl City rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Honolulu | Pearl City |
|---|---|---|
| Side/rear yard max height | 6 feet (no permit) | - |
| Front yard max height | 4 feet residential | - |
| Permit-free threshold | 30 inches or under | - |
| Permit required above | 6 feet | - |
| Enforcing agency | Dept. of Planning and Permitting | - |
| Front yard max | - | 4 feet |
| Side/rear max | - | 6 feet |
| Frontage trigger | - | 36 inches |
| Code section | - | ROH 21-4.60 |
| Enforcement | - | Honolulu DPP |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Honolulu FAQ
Do I need a permit for a 6-foot privacy fence in a residential area?
A fence between 30 inches and 6 feet may qualify for Honolulu's instant online permit. Fences over 6 feet require a full building permit with structural review from DPP.
Are there different rules for corner lots?
Yes. Corner lots must comply with sight-triangle requirements to preserve driver and pedestrian visibility, potentially limiting fence height and placement near intersections.
Pearl City FAQ
How tall can my Pearl City fence be?
ROH 21-4.60 caps most Pearl City front-yard fences at 4 feet and side and rear fences at 6 feet. Street frontages with fences over 36 inches need additional landscape screening for sight-line preservation.
Do military rental homes follow the same rules?
Yes. Off-base rentals in Pearl City Highlands and Manana follow ROH 21-4.60 like every other residential property. Only homes inside Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam fall outside city jurisdiction.
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