Height Limits: Honolulu vs Urban Honolulu
How do height limits rules compare between Honolulu, HI and Urban Honolulu, HI?
Honolulu and Urban Honolulu 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 →Urban Honolulu, HI
Honolulu County
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.
View full Urban Honolulu rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Honolulu | Urban Honolulu |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Urban Honolulu FAQ
How tall can my fence be in Urban Honolulu?
Most residential and apartment districts in the Honolulu CDP allow 6-foot side and rear fences and 4-foot front fences under ROH 21-4.60. Special districts like Waikiki have stricter view-corridor rules.
Does Waikiki have extra fence rules?
Yes. The Waikiki Special District adds design and view-corridor controls layered on top of ROH 21-4.60. Fences along street frontages over 36 inches may require landscape screening to preserve sight lines.
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