Landscaping Rules in Hawaii County, HI (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Hawaii County, Hawaii.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
HCC § 22-4.6(a) makes every owner of land abutting a County street responsible, at their own expense, for trimming, cutting, pruning and mowing landscape plants and clearing weeds, trash or debris in the sidewalk area so it does not damage the sidewalk or inconvenience pedestrians.
Trimming Sidewalk Trees on the Big Island
Some RestrictionsHawai'i County Code § 22-4.6(a)
Every owner of land abutting on or adjoining any County street shall, at their own expense, maintain the sidewalk area and the portions of their properties that adjoin the sidewalks by trimming, cutting, pruning, mowing, sweeping or using other methods to control landscape plants, weeds, noxious growths, trash, debris or other materials that would damage the sidewalk area or interfere with or i...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Hawai'i County protects designated "exceptional trees" under County Code Article 10 (Sections 14-56 to 14-64). It is unlawful to substantially damage, remove or destroy an exceptional tree, and before any building permit, grading permit or final subdivision approval the planning department can pull in the County arborist advisory committee to keep those trees from being cut down during development.
Exceptional Tree Removal Permits in Hawaii County
Significant RestrictionsHawai'i County Code §§ 14-61, 14-63
It shall be unlawful for any person, corporation, public agency or other entity to substantially damage, remove or destroy an exceptional tree in the County. Any person, corporation, public agency or other entity who violates this section shall be fined not more than $1,000 per tree or incident. ... Prior to the issuance of any building or grading permit or granting of final subdivision approva...
Weed Ordinances
Hawai'i Revised Statutes 46-1.5(12) gives Hawai'i County the power to order refuse and uncultivated undergrowth cleared from unoccupied lots, streets, sidewalks and public places, and to place a lien on the property for the cost if an owner ignores the order after reasonable notice. The county has acted on that authority by adopting its own weed and refuse ordinance in Hawai'i County Code Chapter 14, Article 25.
Weed & Undergrowth Nuisance Removal Authority
Some RestrictionsHRS 46-1.5(12)
Each county shall have the power to enact and enforce ordinances necessary to prevent or summarily remove public nuisances and to compel the clearing or removal of any public nuisance, refuse, and uncultivated undergrowth from streets, sidewalks, public places, and unoccupied lots. In connection with these powers, each county may impose and enforce liens upon the property for the cost to the co...
Water Restrictions
The County of Hawai'i Department of Water Supply can restrict water use during shortages, drought, or equipment problems, often ordering 25% cuts (50% for irrigation). Its Rules let it 'restrict the use of water by any reasonable method of control.'
Water Use Restrictions on the Big Island
Some RestrictionsDWS Rules & Regulations, Section 3-2(2)
Whenever, in the Department's opinion, special conservation measures are advisable in order to forestall water shortage and a consequent emergency, the Department may restrict the use of water by any reasonable method of control.
Rainwater Harvesting
Hawai'i County treats a catchment tank like any other plumbing fixture: Section 5-3-1(b)(7) requires a permit to install, alter, remove, or replace a water tank or catchment used for potable, household, or fire-protection water, no matter its size. The county's 2012 Uniform Plumbing Code amendment then opens a narrow no-permit lane for small exterior irrigation systems and single-family exterior components.
Rainwater Catchment Rules in Hawai'i County
Some RestrictionsHawaii County Code § 5F-2-1 (amending Uniform Plumbing Code § 1601.3)
1601.3 Permit or Approval. It shall be unlawful for any person to construct, install, alter, or cause to be constructed, installed, or altered any alternate water source system in a building or on a premises without first obtaining a permit or approval to do such work from the Authority Having Jurisdiction. Exceptions: (1) A permit is not required for exterior rainwater catchment systems used f...
Native Plants
Hawai'i County's zoning code encourages, but does not require, xeriscape and native Hawaiian plant species when landscaping. Code section 25-4-59.3(d) sits inside the parking-lot and loading-area landscaping standards, so it's the county's one explicit word in favor of native planting, layered onto real numeric requirements for shade trees and screening.
Native Plant Landscaping on the Big Island
Few RestrictionsHawai'i County Code § 25-4-59.3(a)-(e)
(a) To provide shade in open parking lots and minimize visibility of paved surfaces, parking lots with more than twelve parking stalls shall provide one canopy form tree with a minimum of two-inch caliper for every twelve parking stalls or major fraction thereof and having a planting area or tree well no less than thirty square feet in area. ... (b) Parking lots of five or more spaces shall be ...
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