Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Honolulu County, HI (2026)

2 rules for unincorporated Honolulu County, Hawaii.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Honolulu County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Density Bonus Law

In Honolulu's B-2 community business district, ROH § 21-3.110-1(c)(5) lets developers build more floor area than the base zoning allows by dedicating land to public open space or covered arcades, at a rate of 5 extra square feet of floor area per square foot of open space and 3 extra square feet per square foot of arcade, capped by the district's maximum floor area ratio.

Honolulu B-2 District Open Space Density Bonus

Light Restrictions

ROH § 21-3.110-1(c)(5)

(5) Open space bonus. Within the B-2 district: (A) For each square foot of public open space provided, 5 square feet of floor area may be added, exclusive of required yards; (B) For each square foot of arcade area provided, 3 square feet of floor area may be added, exclusive of required yards; and (C) Maximum density with open space bonuses cannot exceed the FAR as provided under Table 21-3.4.

Downtown Design Guide

New construction and renovation in Honolulu's Hawaii Capital Special District, the downtown civic core around the State Capitol, Iolani Palace and King/Beretania Streets, must follow set design guidelines.

Honolulu Capital District Design Rules

Significant Restrictions

Revised Ordinances of Honolulu § 21-9.30-4

(b) Design guidelines for the historic precinct. The following design guidelines shall be used in the design and review of new construction and renovation in the historic precinct. They are intended to promote the concept of “contextualism,” wherein new developments are sensitive to the existing historic and other significant structures;

All Honolulu County ordinances

See every category we cover for Honolulu County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.

Honolulu County Ordinance Hub →