Hawai'i County has no single statewide defensible-space setback like California, but leeward and Kona wildfire risk is severe. Fire officials and DLNR urge clearing invasive grasses and creating defensible space around homes; several island communities are Firewise-certified.
The Big Island's leeward and Kona-Kohala side is dominated by invasive guinea grass, haole koa, and kiawe that dry out during the May-October fire season, driving intense wildfire risk. Rather than a fixed clearance ordinance, Hawai'i relies on the State Fire Code plus voluntary defensible space and Firewise programs. Creating defensible space, reducing fuel loads, and building firebreaks are the most effective home-protection steps. Communities including Waikoloa Village, Puako, Kohala Waterfront, Waiki'i Ranch, and Pu'ukapu Pastoral have achieved Firewise USA status, and DLNR's Hawai'i Urban Interface grant program funds hazardous-fuels reduction and firebreaks on the island.
There is no fixed county clearance citation for most parcels; unmanaged overgrown lots may be addressed as a nuisance, and fire officials can order fuel reduction on high-risk properties during elevated fire danger.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Hawaii County, HI
Hawai'i County has no separate hoarding ordinance; the matter is handled under state cruelty law. Depriving pet animals of necessary sustenance is cruelty in...
Hawaii County, HI
Ordinance No. 25-63 (Bill 51, 2025) makes it illegal to feed feral animals, including cats, chickens, pigs and goats, on County of Hawai'i property, to prote...
Hawaii County, HI
Home composting is allowed and encouraged in Hawai'i County. The county runs green-waste diversion at its transfer stations and recycling programs, but there...
Hawaii County, HI
The County of Hawai'i has no ordinance banning or specifically regulating artificial turf on residential yards. Installation must still meet zoning setbacks,...
Hawaii County, HI
There is no county rule requiring native landscaping, but the Big Island is ground-zero for invasive-species control. Planting or spreading state-listed noxi...
Hawaii County, HI
Rainwater catchment is legal and common on the Big Island — many Puna and off-grid homes rely on it. The County Department of Water Supply does not recognize...
See how Hawaii County's brush clearance rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.