Fence Regulations in Honolulu County, HI (2026)
4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Honolulu County, Hawaii.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Fences and walls in required yards across Oahu are capped at 6 feet, with front-yard fences banned in business and industrial districts and a 3-foot limit inside corner-lot visibility triangles.
Honolulu Fence Height Limit Is 6 Feet
Some RestrictionsROH § 21-4.30(c)
Other than retaining walls, walls and fences up to a height of 6 feet may project into or enclose any part of a required yard; provided that: (1) They shall be prohibited in front yards in business, business mixed-use, industrial, and industrial-commercial mixed-use districts; (2) Walls and fences constructed by public utilities may be up to 8 feet in height, and may be topped with security wir...
Fence Permit Requirements
A fence built anywhere on Oahu still needs a City and County of Honolulu building permit, but ROH § 18-6.1(b) exempts fence applications from the plan review fee charged on most construction. Fences installed alongside a new house can share one combined permit under ROH § 18-3.2(1), and building without a permit is a misdemeanor under Article 7.
Honolulu Fence Permits Skip Plan Review Fee
Some RestrictionsROH § 18-6.1(a)-(b)
(a) When a plan or other data is required to be submitted by § 18-4.2, a plan review fee must be paid when submitting plans and specifications for review. The plan review fee is 20 percent of the tentative building permit fee as set forth in Table No. 18-A... based upon a preliminary estimated valuation of work, but not greater than $25,000... (b) Exception. Plan review fees shall not be requir...
Retaining Walls
Honolulu caps retaining walls that hold back fill within a required yard at 6 feet, measured from grade to the top of the exposed wall face, under the Land Use Ordinance.
Honolulu Retaining Wall Height Limit
Some RestrictionsROH § 21-4.40(a)
Retaining walls containing a fill within required yards shall not exceed a height of 6 feet, measured from existing or finished grade, whichever is lower, to the top of the wall along the exposed face of the wall. Heights of terraced walls or combinations of retaining walls shall be measured combining all walls located in the required yard (see Figures 21-4.2(A) and (B)). (b) A retaining wall...
Material Restrictions
Honolulu's building code prohibits barbed or razor wire on any fence, with narrow exceptions for utilities, hazardous-material industrial sites, zoos, jails, government security sites, and livestock pasture fencing.
Honolulu Bans Barbed and Razor Wire Fences
Significant RestrictionsROH § 16-1.1 (Building Code § 431.2, Barbed or razor wire fences)
431.2 Barbed or razor wire fences. Barbed or razor wire must not be used for construction of any fence. Exceptions: 1. Barbed or razor wire may be used in fences enclosing the following premises; provided that barbed or razor wire must be placed along or above the height of 6 feet from the ground, subject to the approval of the fire department
Fence Regulations by City in Honolulu County
1 cities in Honolulu County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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