Short-Term Rentals in Kauai County, HI (2026)

Permit Requirements

Kauai County regulates short-term rentals under Kauai County Code Title IV, Chapter 8, Article 17 (Time Sharing and Transient Vacation Rentals), originally enacted by Ordinance No. 864 (signed March 7, 2008) and amended by Ordinance No. 904 and subsequent acts. A Transient Vacation Rental (TVR) is a dwelling unit rented to transient occupants for a duration of 180 days or less. Single-family TVRs are permitted only inside designated Visitor Destination Areas (VDAs) — Princeville, Po'ipu, the Wailua/Kapa'a coastal tourism corridor, and Lihue resort districts — OR with a valid Nonconforming Use Certificate (NCU) issued for operation that pre-dated March 7, 2008. Kauai stopped accepting new NCU applications after March 30, 2009; the County is no longer issuing new single-family TVR rights outside VDAs. All operating TVRs must renew annually with the Kauai Planning Department (808-241-4050) and separately register with the Hawaii Department of Taxation for General Excise Tax (GET) and Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) under HRS Chapter 237 and HRS Chapter 237D.