FEMA flood zone rules in Urban Honolulu, HI — also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules — determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Urban Honolulu's Mapunapuna, Waikiki fringe, and Kakaako makai properties lie in FEMA special flood hazard areas adopted under ROH Sec. 21A-1.5, with elevation and floodproofing required under Sec. 21A-1.8.
Chapter 21A governs floodplain development in Urban Honolulu, adopting FEMA FIRMs under Sec. 21A-1.5. Mapunapuna is one of the most flood-prone industrial and mixed-use neighborhoods in Hawaii, with repeated tidal flooding. Waikiki's streets and Kakaako's makai blocks include significant flood zones as sea levels rise. Sec. 21A-1.8 requires elevation to or above base flood elevation for new construction or substantial improvement, with dry floodproofing allowed for non-residential buildings. Sec. 21A-1.12 limits variances to cases of exceptional hardship, which are rare in these dense urban settings.
Construction below BFE without approval can result in notices of violation, loss of NFIP coverage eligibility for the building, daily civil penalties, and mandatory elevation or relocation of non-compliant improvements.
Urban Honolulu, HI
ROH 15-14.5 drives Schedule XXII no-parking signs throughout Urban Honolulu, while ROH 15-13.5 sets how close to the curb vehicles must park.
Urban Honolulu, HI
LUO 21-6.60 requires EV-ready stalls in new multi-family (8+ stalls) and commercial (12+ stalls) parking across Urban Honolulu, with compact resizing allowed...
Urban Honolulu, HI
ROH 15-16.6 prohibits storage parking of commercial vehicles on Urban Honolulu streets without posted signs; LUO 21-6.20 sets the companion off-street parkin...
Urban Honolulu, HI
Urban Honolulu has no blanket overnight parking ban; ROH 15-14.6 enforces parking prohibited during certain hours only on sign-posted routes.
Urban Honolulu, HI
ROH 15-14.1 prohibits stopping, standing, or parking in front of any public or private driveway or within 4 feet of either side across dense Urban Honolulu n...
Urban Honolulu, HI
Urban Honolulu property owners obtain fence and wall permits from the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting under ROH 18-3.1, which exempts retainin...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Honolulu County.
See how other cities in Honolulu County handle flood zones.
See how Urban Honolulu's flood zones rules stack up against other locations.
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