Fence Regulations in Hawaii County, HI (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Hawaii County, Hawaii.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
On Hawaii Island a perimeter fence or wall six feet or less needs no yard setback and is not a structure. See-through strand fencing (barbed wire, hog wire, chain link) may reach eight feet. Corner-lot sight triangles cap fences at three feet.
Big Island Fence Height Limits (HCC 25-4-43)
Some RestrictionsHCC 25-4-43(a)
A perimeter boundary fence, wall or similar feature, six feet or less in height shall not be considered a structure and shall be permitted without any front, side or rear yard requirements. In addition, a fence which is constructed of strand material, such as barbed wire, hog wire, or chain link, which allows "see-through" visibility is permitted to a height of eight feet without any front, sid...
Fence Permit Requirements
A fence up to six feet on the Big Island isn't legally a 'structure' at all, so Hawai'i County Code section 25-4-43(a) lets you build one right up to your property line with no yard setback and no site-development review. Cross six feet and the fence becomes an accessory structure subject to the yard and building requirements that apply to any other structure.
When Big Island Fences Need a Permit
Some RestrictionsHawai'i County Code § 25-4-43(a), (c)
(a) A perimeter boundary fence, wall or similar feature, six feet or less in height shall not be considered a structure and shall be permitted without any front, side or rear yard requirements. In addition, a fence which is constructed of strand material, such as barbed wire, hog wire, or chain link, which allows "see-through" visibility is permitted to a height of eight feet without any front,...
Neighbor Fence Rules
Hawaii County zoning lets a shared boundary fence up to six feet sit on the line without setback. The County sets no cost-sharing or spite-fence rule; boundary disputes are civil matters handled between owners under Hawaii state law.
Boundary Fences and Neighbor Rules on the Big Island
Some RestrictionsHCC 25-4-43(b)
No fence, wall, architectural feature, or other obstruction shall be placed or be without gates or openings so as to prohibit complete access around any main building at all times.
Retaining Walls
Any retaining wall four feet or higher on the Big Island needs a building permit under Hawaii County Code Section 5-3-1(b)(3), and its plans must be prepared, designed, and stamped by a licensed architect or professional structural engineer under section 5-4-3(d) once the wall exceeds four feet. Stepped or terraced walls within eight feet of each other count as one wall for that threshold.
Retaining Wall Permits on the Big Island
Some RestrictionsHawaii County Code § 5-3-1(b)(3); § 5-4-3(d)
(b) A permit shall be required for, but not limited to, the following: ... (3) Retaining walls. Erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, conversion, or demolition of retaining walls four feet and higher. Stepped or terraced retaining walls within eight feet of each other are considered to be one wall when determining wall height. ... (d) All plans and specifications for ...
Material Restrictions
Hawai'i County's fence rule treats materials differently by how much they block sightlines: a solid perimeter fence tops out at six feet with no yard setback under section 25-4-43(a), but barbed wire, hog wire, or chain link built to allow 'see-through' visibility can go two feet higher, to eight feet, under the same subsection.
Allowed Fence Materials on the Big Island
Some RestrictionsHawai'i County Code § 25-4-43(a), (b)
(a) A perimeter boundary fence, wall or similar feature, six feet or less in height shall not be considered a structure and shall be permitted without any front, side or rear yard requirements. In addition, a fence which is constructed of strand material, such as barbed wire, hog wire, or chain link, which allows "see-through" visibility is permitted to a height of eight feet without any front,...
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