Animal Ordinances in Hawaii County, HI (2026)
10 rules for unincorporated Hawaii County, Hawaii.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Hawai'i County lets residential lots keep backyard hens as a 'household hennery' under Code section 25-4-18, but only up to a size-based headcount, with roosters and commercial egg or hen sales flatly banned. The rule applies in the RS, RD, RM, RCX, and RA zoning districts across the island.
Backyard Chicken Rules on the Big Island
Some RestrictionsHawai'i County Code § 25-4-18
Household henneries are permitted in the RS, RD, RM, RCX, and RA districts, subject to the following regulations: (1) Except as otherwise approved by the director, hens must be confined to a coop, cage, hutch, hen house, or fully enclosed area at all times: (A) No closer than twenty feet from any residential district other than RA; and (B) Complying with the yard requirements of the zoning dist...
Dog Leash Laws
In County of Hawai'i parks, school grounds and airports a dog must be on a leash no longer than six feet, and dogs are banned entirely from County beach parks. Letting a dog stray onto public or private land is separately finable.
Dog Leash Rules in Hawai'i County (Big Island)
Some RestrictionsHawai'i County Code Chapter 4 (Animals)
No person shall bring or permit any dog in any County park, public school ground, or airport unless it is held under control by a suitable leash, not more than six feet long; provided, however, that dogs even under control by a suitable leash shall not be allowed in any County beach park.
Breed Restrictions
Hawai'i County has no breed-specific ban; instead it declares a dog 'dangerous' by its conduct. HCC § 4-4-32 makes it a petty misdemeanor, or a felony if the attack causes substantial or serious bodily injury, for an owner to negligently let a dog attack without provocation, with fines up to $25,000 and up to ten years' imprisonment for the worst tier.
Dangerous Dog Rules on the Big Island
Significant RestrictionsHawai'i County Code § 4-4-32(a), (e)
(a) A dog owner commits the offense of negligent failure to control a dangerous dog, if the person negligently fails to take reasonable measures to prevent the dog from attacking, without provocation, a person or animal and such attack results in: (1) The maiming or causing of serious injury to or the destruction of an animal; (2) Bodily injury to a person; (3) Substantial bodily injury to a pe...
Beekeeping
Hawai'i County regulates beekeeping through 'generally accepted apiary management practices' rather than a permit. HCC § 4-5-4 lists a dozen required practices, from maintaining removable-frame hives to placing hive boxes 'as far away as feasible' from neighboring dwellings, and applies only within zoning districts that already permit apiaries.
Apiary and Beekeeping Rules on the Big Island
Light RestrictionsHawai'i County Code § 4-5-4
(a) Beekeepers shall, to the best of their ability, maintain a healthy colony of bees by adhering to generally accepted apiary management practices as set forth in this section. (b) These generally accepted apiary management practices encompass, but are not limited to, the following: ... (11) Be considerate of neighbors by placing hive boxes as far away as feasible from neighboring properties w...
Cat Rules
Hawai'i County issues no cat license: a loose cat is legally a 'stray' under HCC § 4-1-1, and the animal control and protection agency can seize and impound it under § 4-2-3. Feeding a stray or feral cat on County-owned or County-leased property is a separate offense under § 4-3-7, fined up to $500 for repeat violations.
Cat At-Large and Feral Feeding Rules, Big Island
Some RestrictionsHawai'i County Code § 4-3-7
(a) A person may not feed or attempt to feed a stray or feral animal on property owned, leased, rented, managed, or operated by the County. (b) Any person convicted of a violation of this section is subject to a fine not more than $50 for the first violation and not more than $500 for any subsequent violation. (c) For the purposes of this section: "Feed" means to deliberately introduce any food...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Hawai'i County does not mandate spaying or neutering. HCC § 4-4-1 sets a biennial dog license fee of $2 for a sterilized dog versus $6 for an unsterilized dog, and § 4-4-2 requires a veterinarian's certificate to claim the lower rate. Cats carry no license or sterilization requirement at all.
Big Island Dog License Fee for Sterilization
Light RestrictionsHawai'i County Code §§ 4-4-1, 4-4-2
Section 4-4-1. Fees. (a) The following fees are hereby established as biennial license fees for the privilege of owning, harboring or keeping of dogs in the County: (1) Sterilized dogs...$2.00 (2) Unsterilized dogs...$6.00 (b) For purpose of this section a sterilized dog means a spayed female dog and a neutered male dog. ... Section 4-4-2. Proof of sterilization. Any person seeking to have the ...
Microchipping
Hawai'i County has no general microchip mandate for pets. The one place chipping is required is HCC § 4-4-35(a)(5): a dog whose owner is convicted of negligently failing to control a dangerous dog under § 4-4-32 must be microchipped at the owner's expense unless already chipped, with the number reported to animal control.
Court-Ordered Dog Microchipping, Big Island
Some RestrictionsHawai'i County Code § 4-4-35(a)(5)
(5) Unless already identified by microchip, the dog shall be permanently identified, at the owner's expense, by injecting into the dog an identification microchip using standard veterinary procedures and practices. The microchip identification number of the dog shall be provided to the County animal control and protection agency.
Coyote Management
Hawai'i County has no coyotes, so its closest wildlife-management law targets axis deer, an invasive game animal overrunning ranch and forest land. It's unlawful to transport live axis deer into or within the County, or to harbor them on private property, with the Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo the sole exemption.
Axis Deer Harboring Ban in Hawaii County
Heavy RestrictionsHawai'i County Code §§ 14-106 to 14-110
Section 14-106: It is a violation of this article for any person to transport live axis deer into the County. Section 14-107: It is a violation of this article for any person to transport live axis deer within the County. Section 14-108: It is violation of this article for a person to give shelter or refuge to axis deer on private property. Section 14-109: The Pana`ewa Rainforest Zoo is exempt ...
Pet Groomer Rules
Hawaii County's zoning code has no separate category for pet groomers: a business that grooms animals for a fee falls under the § 25-1-5(b) definition of 'kennel,' the same zoning use as boarding or breeding operations. A storefront groomer has to sit in a district where kennels are a permitted use, not just any commercial district.
Pet Groomers Are Zoned as Kennels
Some RestrictionsHawaii County Code § 25-1-5(b); § 25-5-52(14)
"Kennel" means a commercial establishment in which dogs or domesticated animals are housed, groomed, bred, boarded, trained, or sold, all for a fee or compensation. The term includes animal quarantine stations. ... (14) Kennels, provided that the building site is a minimum of five acres in area and the structures are located at least one hundred feet away from any lot line. ... (27) Kennels in ...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Hawaii County Code Section 25-5-52 lists animal hospitals and veterinary establishments as permitted uses in the RA (Residential and Agricultural) district, no use permit needed. In the MCX (industrial commercial mixed) district, Section 25-5-132(a)(55) allows veterinary establishments only inside sound-attenuated buildings, the same noise condition the code applies to kennels there under Section 25-5-132(a)(27).
Veterinary Zoning Rules on the Big Island
Some RestrictionsHCC §§ 25-5-50; 25-5-52(a)(4),(22); 25-5-132(a)(27),(55)
Section 25-5-50. ... The RA district is intended to be only within areas designated as being in the State land use rural or urban districts. ... Section 25-5-52. Permitted uses. (a) The following uses shall be permitted in the RA district: ... (4) Animal hospitals. ... (22) Veterinary establishments. ... Section 25-5-132. Permitted uses. (a) The following uses shall be permitted in the MCX dist...
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