Moving to Honolulu, HI?

Honolulu prohibits construction noise in residential zones outside permitted daytime hours. Work is generally allowed weekdays 7 AM–6 PM and Saturdays 9 AM–6 PM; no construction on Sundays or holidays without a variance.

Honolulu prohibits animal noise that disturbs neighbors continuously for 10 minutes or intermittently for 30 minutes or more at any time of day or night, under ROH Chapter 12, Article 2.

Honolulu prohibits playing or operating any sound-reproducing device on public property or in motor vehicles on public streets if the sound is audible at 30 feet from the device. A separate permit is required for mobile sound vehicles.

Hawaii state law (HRS § 342F-30.8) restricts leaf blower use near residential zones. Honolulu has no stricter local ordinance; the state statute controls hours of operation and fines.

Honolulu prohibits excessive noise under ROH Chapter 41, Article 6. Quiet hours run 10 PM–7 AM on weekdays and 10 PM–9 AM on weekends and holidays. Construction noise is capped at 55 dBA in residential zones during daytime hours.

Honolulu Bill 41 (Ord. 22-7, effective October 2022) restricts short-term rentals under 90 days in residential zones to operators using the dwelling as their primary residence, outside the Waikiki resort district.

Bed-and-breakfast home registrations on Oahu require the operator to live on site during guest stays, distinguishing them from unhosted transient vacation units that demand a nonconforming use certificate.

Registered short-term rentals on Oahu cap overnight occupancy at two adults per bedroom plus two additional adults per dwelling, with infants under two not counted toward the limit.

Bill 41 imposes liability on Airbnb, VRBO, and similar booking platforms that list unpermitted Honolulu short-term rentals, requiring registration verification and quarterly data reporting to DPP.

Honolulu DPP escalates short-term rental enforcement through a three-strike framework, revoking registrations after repeat violations within a 24-month window and barring re-registration for two years.

Honolulu requires transient vacation unit operators to register and pay a 3% county transient accommodations tax on top of state GET and TAT, plus annual registration fees. Non-resort-zone STRs are banned entirely.

Honolulu's Land Use Ordinance requires short-term rental operators to submit a parking plan and prohibits guests of nonconforming-use TVUs and B&Bs in residential zones from parking on public streets near the unit.

Honolulu restricts short-term rentals (under 30 consecutive days) to resort-zoned areas and select apartment districts. All operators must obtain an annual registration certificate from the Department of Planning and Permitting before advertising or renting.

Honolulu requires registered short-term rental hosts to post and enforce quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM under Ordinance 22-007. Violations may result in permit revocation and steep per-day fines.

Honolulu requires every owner or operator of a transient vacation unit (TVU) or bed-and-breakfast home to maintain at least $1,000,000 per occurrence in commercial general liability coverage, or homeowner's insurance with business liability coverage (umbrella policies may be combined to reach the limit), under Revised Ordinances of Honolulu (ROH) §21-5.730 as amended by Ordinance 22-7 (Bill 41, CD2). Proof of coverage must be filed with the Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) at registration and at every annual renewal, and a hosting-platform policy may satisfy the requirement only if it meets the minimum.

Hawaii's 2023 Lahaina fire pushed Oahu to expand wildfire-hazard mapping, defensible-space outreach, and coordinated response between HFD, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and DPP for leeward and high-risk slopes.

Honolulu adopts the International Fire Code through ROH Chapter 11, capping residential propane container size and requiring placement that respects setbacks from buildings, ignition sources, and property lines, with HFD inspecting larger installations.

Honolulu regulates open burning under ROH Chapter 20 (Fire Code). Recreational, decorative, or ceremonial fires require prior written permission from the property owner and advance HFD approval; all fires must be reported to dispatch before ignition.

Honolulu bans virtually all consumer fireworks including sparklers, fountains, and aerial devices. Only licensed firecrackers with a permit are allowed on designated holidays. Violations carry heavy fines and potential imprisonment under ROH Chapter 20 and Hawaii state law.

Honolulu regulates open outdoor burning under ROH Chapter 20 (Fire Code). Most open burning requires prior notification or written AHJ approval, and is prohibited when deemed a fire hazard.

Honolulu's Fire Code requires property owners in hazardous fire areas to maintain a 30-foot defensible space around structures by removing flammable vegetation and combustible growth at all times.

Honolulu prohibits buses, trucks, vans, trailers, and other commercial vehicles with a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or more, or longer than 20 feet, from being stored or parked on any public street citywide without a permit or exception.

Honolulu's Traffic Code prohibits stopping, standing, or parking in front of, or within 4 feet of either side of, any public or private driveway. Violations bring mandatory citations and towing when access is blocked.

Honolulu's Traffic Code (ROH Ch. 15) prohibits parking in specified locations without signs and sets metered time limits and tow-away zones. Fines start at $35 with escalation for each additional hour of violation.

Honolulu ROH § 15-16.6 prohibits buses, trucks, trailers, house trailers, and oversized vehicles (10,000 lb GVW or 20 ft or longer) from parking on any public street for more than four consecutive hours.

In Honolulu, fences six feet or under are generally exempt from building permits unless on a street corner or in a flood zone. Fences taller than six feet require a permit and fire-department access approval.

Honolulu's Land Use Ordinance limits residential fences to 6 feet in side and rear yards and 4 feet in front yards. Fences over 6 feet require a Department of Planning and Permitting building permit.

Honolulu's Land Use Ordinance (ROH Chapter 21) limits fences and walls to 6 feet in required yards. Fences taller than 6 feet or new fences costing over $1,000 require a building permit; shared boundary-line fences involve mutual consent and state cost-sharing law.

Honolulu regulates fence materials through its Building Code (ROH Chapter 16) and Land Use Ordinance (ROH Chapter 21). Fences up to 6 feet using permanent materials are generally permit-exempt. Barbed and razor wire are prohibited on most residential and commercial fences.

Hawaii bans most exotic pets statewide to protect fragile island ecosystems. Honolulu residents cannot keep snakes, ferrets, hamsters, gerbils, or most reptiles. State quarantine and import permits are required for legal pets entering the islands.

Honolulu and Hawaii law restrict feeding feral cats, chickens, monk seals, sea turtles, and nene geese. Intentional feeding that harms protected species or creates nuisances on public property can trigger civil and criminal penalties.

Honolulu does not require cat licensing but enforces leash-or-confinement expectations through nuisance provisions. Cats damaging neighbor property or harming protected wildlife can trigger citations, and the Hawaiian Humane Society manages island-wide TNRM colony registration.

Honolulu does not impose a strict numeric pet limit but uses nuisance and zoning ordinances to address situations where multiple animals create complaints. Kennel-level operations require permits under ROH Chapter 21 zoning rules.

Honolulu does not legally mandate microchipping for owned pets, but the Hawaiian Humane Society chips every adopted animal and the state's quarantine program treats microchips as essential proof of identity for direct-airport-release dogs and cats.

Honolulu allows noncommercial beekeeping on any zoning lot of at least 5,000 sq ft. Hive numbers are capped by lot size, all colonies must be in movable-frame hives, and a 25-foot setback from property lines is required unless a flyway barrier is used.

Honolulu caps chickens and peafowl at two per household and prohibits farm animal enclosures within 300 feet of a property line, effectively barring most livestock in dense residential areas.

Honolulu has no breed-specific legislation. Dangerous-dog rules under ROH Chapter 12, Article 7 are based solely on individual dog behavior, not breed. Any dog that attacks without provocation may be declared dangerous.

Honolulu requires dogs to be on a leash no longer than 6 feet whenever off the owner's premises, under ROH Chapter 12, Article 4. Designated off-leash parks are permitted by the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Honolulu requires property owners to keep their land free of excessive weeds, overgrown grass, and waste. Uncultivated flammable weeds exceeding 18 inches within 30 feet of a building in residential or apartment zones are defined as a public nuisance.

Honolulu's Board of Water Supply (BWS) may declare mandatory water-conservation stages restricting outdoor irrigation timing and volume. The Land Use Ordinance also requires permanent irrigation systems for required landscaping on development sites.

Honolulu's ROH Chapter 41, Article 10 requires property owners to cut and remove weeds and waste that constitute a public nuisance. Owners have 30 days to comply before the city abates at owner's expense.

Honolulu requires permits for trimming, pruning, or removing street trees in the public right-of-way (ROH § 10-1.4) and for any work on city-designated exceptional trees under ROH Ch. 40, Art. 8. Fines up to $1,000 apply for violations.

Honolulu protects designated 'exceptional trees' under Revised Ordinances of Honolulu (ROH) Chapter 40, Article 8. Removing or destroying any exceptional tree without City Council approval is unlawful (ROH § 40-8.8). Any pruning of branches or alteration of an exceptional tree's characteristic shape requires a permit from the Department of Parks and Recreation (Division of Urban Forestry). Street trees in the public right-of-way are City property and always require a permit.

Honolulu's Land Use Ordinance prohibits any exterior signage indicating a home is used for a business. Under ROH § 21-5.350, home occupations must be invisible from the street — no signs, displays, or advertising may be mounted on or near the dwelling.

ROH Chapter 21, §21-5.350 permits home occupations as accessory residential uses, provided the business is incidental to the dwelling, employs only household members, has no exterior signage, and does not alter the home's residential character.

Honolulu allows home occupations with customer or client visits as an accessory residential use, but requires one off-street parking space per five clients and prohibits on-street commercial vehicle parking.

A building permit from the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting is required before constructing any residential swimming pool, under ROH Chapter 16, Article 6. Plans must be prepared by a licensed Hawaii engineer or architect.

Honolulu ROH § 16-6.2 requires all residential swimming pools to be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates. The building code adopts ISPSC standards for gap clearance and non-climbable design.

Honolulu requires all residential swimming pools to be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates. A building permit is required before construction. Non-compliant pools face penalties under ROH Chapter 16.

Honolulu treats above-ground pools the same as in-ground pools for safety. Under ROH Chapter 16, which adopts the Hawaii State Residential Code (IRC) and Hawaii Building Code Section 3109, any residential pool capable of holding more than 24 inches of water must be enclosed by a 48-inch barrier, with openings that block a 4-inch sphere, self-closing/self-latching gates, and only a 4-inch maximum gap between the pool wall and the barrier when the pool wall itself is used as the enclosure. Ladders or steps must be removable, lockable, or independently fenced. A building permit from DPP is required before installation of any pool deeper than 24 inches.

Honolulu allows one-story detached storage sheds of up to 120 square feet on residential lots without a building permit under ROH Ch. 18. Larger structures require a building permit and must conform to zoning setbacks under ROH Ch. 21.

Honolulu's LUO § 21-5.720 allows garage and accessory structure conversions into accessory dwelling units in residential zones, subject to floor area limits, parking requirements, and a building permit from DPP.

Honolulu allows one accessory dwelling unit on residential lots of 3,500 sq ft or more. Size is capped at 400–800 sq ft depending on lot size. Owner must live on the property and ADUs may only be rented long-term (six-month minimum).

Honolulu carports must meet the same Land Use Ordinance (LUO) yard setbacks as the main house unless the homeowner obtains a Zoning Adjustment under ROH §21-2.140-1. A one- or two-car carport may encroach into required front and side yards only if no other viable alternative exists relative to a dwelling legally built before October 22, 1986, or to lot topography, and the carport's horizontal footprint generally cannot exceed 20 feet by 20 feet. A DPP building permit under ROH Chapter 16 is required, and carports do not count as floor area for FAR purposes.

Honolulu prohibits short-term rentals (under 90 days outside resort districts, under 30 days in resort districts) of Bill 7 ADUs under both the recorded long-term rental covenant in LUO Sec. 21-5.730 and Bill 89 (2019) / Bill 41 (2022) STR enforcement. ADUs must be rented for 180 days or longer per the recorded covenant. Hawaii state General Excise Tax (GET) and Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) apply to rentals.

Honolulu City and County recognizes two distinct accessory residential units under the Land Use Ordinance (LUO) Chapter 21: the traditional Ohana Dwelling Unit (LUO Sec. 21-5.700) and the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) created by Bill 7 (2015) under LUO Sec. 21-5.730. Both require a building permit through the Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP). Lot size, infrastructure, and zoning eligibility differ between the two.

Honolulu does not impose a dedicated ADU impact fee, but Board of Water Supply (BWS) Water System Facilities Charges and Department of Facility Maintenance sewer assessment fees commonly add several thousand dollars per ADU. Standard DPP building permit fees scale to construction valuation. Bill 7 ADU applicants also pay a per-unit infrastructure assessment.

Bill 7 ADUs in Honolulu (LUO Sec. 21-5.730) require a recorded covenant restricting use to long-term residential rental (180+ day leases) but do not require owner occupancy of the principal dwelling. Traditional Ohana units (LUO Sec. 21-5.700) historically were intended for extended family but the LUO does not impose a formal owner-occupancy mandate on Ohana units either.

Honolulu has no smoker-specific ordinance. Hawaii Department of Health air pollution rules under HAR Chapter 11-60.1 apply to large commercial sources, not residential smokers. ROH Sec. 41-8 prohibits open burning without permit but enclosed pellet, electric, and offset smokers are exempt. HOA covenants under HRS 421J / 514B may restrict smokers. Dense leeward neighborhoods generate occasional nuisance smoke complaints.

Honolulu Fire Code (ROH Chapter 20) adopts the International Fire Code with Hawaii amendments. IFC Section 308.1.4 restricts open-flame cooking and LP-gas containers over 1 lb on combustible balconies of buildings with three or more units. Charcoal grills must be 10 feet from combustible buildings. Honolulu Fire Department enforces. Outdoor cooking is otherwise widely permitted in single-family yards.

Honolulu requires DPP building permits for outdoor kitchens with gas line plumbing, electrical wiring, plumbing fixtures, or structural roofs/pergolas. Standalone freestanding BBQs require no permit. Trade permits are filed through Honolulu ePlans. Special Management Area (SMA) coastal properties may require additional SMA approval under HRS Chapter 205A.

Honolulu has no city ordinance restricting lawn ornaments on residential property. HOA and condo covenants under HRS 421J and 514B commonly regulate ornaments through CC&Rs and architectural review. Historic district properties (Chinatown, Hawaii Capital) may have appearance review. Religious displays receive some federal Fair Housing Act protection. SMA shoreline properties may have additional review.

Honolulu has no city ordinance regulating residential inflatable holiday displays. Size and blower noise are governed by HOA and condo covenants under HRS 421J and 514B. Honolulu noise rules (HAR Chapter 11-46) regulate excessive noise but rarely target seasonal blowers. High-rise condos generally prohibit inflatables on lanais. Single-family lots in Mililani, Hawaii Kai, and Kaneohe commonly display inflatables.

Honolulu has no municipal ordinance regulating residential holiday lights. Display timing, brightness, and animation are governed by HOA and condo covenants under HRS Chapter 421J (community associations) and HRS Chapter 514B (condominiums). Many high-rise condos restrict lights on lanais visible from the exterior. Honolulu City Lights downtown display is a city program, not a regulation.

Most development within Honolulu's Special Management Area (SMA) along Oahu's shoreline requires a special permit reviewed by DPP under HRS chapter 205A and ROH chapter 25.

Honolulu enforces FEMA flood zone construction standards under ROH chapter 21A and uses the city's Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Viewer to guide permits in low-lying coastal neighborhoods.

Honolulu's storm drain system discharges directly to the ocean, so ROH chapter 14 article 12 prohibits non-stormwater discharges and requires best management practices on construction and industrial sites.

The Honolulu Climate Action Plan (CAP, 2020) and Climate Adaptation Strategy commit the city to net-zero emissions by 2045 and guide policies on buildings, transportation, and shoreline retreat.

The Honolulu Grading Ordinance (ROH chapter 14 article 13) requires permits and erosion controls for cuts, fills, and stockpiles, especially on Oahu's steep upland and coastal slopes.

Hawaiʻi medical cannabis patients and caregivers may cultivate up to 10 plants in a registered grow site under HRS §329-122. Honolulu requires the site to comply with residential zoning and screening rules.

Hawaiʻi authorizes licensed dispensaries to deliver medical cannabis directly to registered patients on Oʻahu under DOH rules, with manifest tracking, ID checks, and no recreational delivery permitted.

Hawaiʻi authorizes only medical cannabis (HRS §329-121 et seq., 2000). Honolulu permits state-licensed dispensaries in commercial and industrial zones, with strict buffers from schools, parks, and playgrounds.

Hawaiʻi state law sets a 750-foot buffer between any cannabis dispensary and schools, playgrounds, or public housing. Honolulu enforces this at the conditional-use permit stage under ROH Chapter 21.

Hawaii Revised Statutes section 521-12 partially preempts local rent control, leaving Honolulu without authority to cap residential rent increases except on county-administered affordable housing units and Hawaiian Home Lands.

Under HRS section 521-44, Hawaii landlords may collect a security deposit not exceeding one month's rent and must return the deposit with itemized deductions within 14 days of tenancy termination.

Honolulu has not enacted just-cause eviction protections; the Hawaii Landlord-Tenant Code allows month-to-month terminations with 45 days written notice from the landlord and 28 days from the tenant.

Honolulu does not operate a general residential rental registration program; only short-term rentals, condominium conversions, and affordable housing covenanted units must register with city departments.

Hawaii Revised Statutes section 515-3 prohibits Honolulu landlords from refusing tenants based on lawful source of income, including Section 8 housing choice vouchers, Social Security, and child support.

Honolulu landlords participating in the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program through the City and County housing office must follow HUD habitability standards and meet rent-reasonableness limits before payment begins.

Trees in the public right-of-way or in city parks belong to the City and County of Honolulu, and removal requires a permit and arborist review under ROH chapters 14 and 41.

Honolulu's Exceptional Tree Ordinance (ROH Chapter 41) protects individually designated specimens for age, rarity, size, historic, or aesthetic value. Designation is by City Council resolution after Outdoor Circle and Arborist Advisory Committee review. Removal or major pruning requires a permit and may require Council action; tax credits up to $3,000 incentivize care.

Hawaii's tropical climate makes termite, cockroach, and rodent control central to building safety. Honolulu landlords must keep rentals habitable under HRS §521-42, and DOH enforces statewide vector control for mosquitoes and rats.

Hawaii's Department of Labor Boiler and Elevator Branch regulates all passenger elevators, escalators, and lifts statewide. Honolulu condos and commercial buildings must obtain annual inspection certificates, posted in the cab, with violations triggering shutdown orders.

Federal Title X applies on Oahu, and Hawaii's Department of Health enforces RRP rules for renovations on pre-1978 homes. Honolulu landlords and contractors must follow disclosure, certified-firm, and lead-safe work practices on most older properties.

Childcare facilities on Oahu must meet HFD life-safety inspections, DPP zoning approval, and Department of Human Services licensing. Special occupancy rules cover egress, sprinklers, fencing, and outdoor play space, with stricter limits in residential zones.

Honolulu requires scaffolding to comply with HIOSH workplace standards and DPP building permits when scaffolds occupy public sidewalks or rights-of-way. High-rise tower work in Waikiki and downtown faces extra public-safety review.

Honolulu requires fire sprinklers in new high-rise buildings and many commercial structures under ROH Chapter 11 and the International Fire Code. After deadly Marco Polo fire of 2017, retrofit incentives and disclosure rules expanded for older condominium towers.

Honolulu's adopted IBC and IFC, layered on Hawaii landlord-tenant law, require functioning locks, single-action egress hardware, and accessible exits. Smart-lock and keyless retrofits must still meet emergency-exit and ADA requirements.

Honolulu adopts updated International Energy Conservation Code provisions and city sustainability ordinances tied to its Climate Action Plan. New construction and major remodels must meet insulation, cool-roof, and EV-ready standards alongside Hawaii's clean-energy mandates.

Hawaiʻi was the first US state to raise the tobacco purchase age to 21, effective January 2016 under HRS §709-908. The law covers cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, vapes, and all nicotine products.

Vape and e-cigarette retailers on Oʻahu must register with Hawaiʻi DOH, comply with Tobacco 21, and observe ROH Chapter 41 smoke-free rules prohibiting vaping in enclosed public places and workplaces.

Hawaiʻi has not yet enacted a comprehensive statewide flavored-tobacco ban, but Honolulu enforces FDA federal flavored-cigarette restrictions and state law prohibits flavored vape sales to minors aggressively.

Honolulu's 2015 bag ordinance, dramatically tightened in 2017, prohibits all plastic checkout bags at retailers islandwide on Oʻahu, including compostable plastics, making it one of the strongest US bag laws.

Honolulu's Bill 40 (2019) prohibits food vendors from selling, distributing, or using polystyrene foam containers, plates, cups, and trays. Full enforcement began January 2022 after pandemic delays.

Honolulu's disposable foodware ordinance requires food vendors to provide single-use utensils, straws, stirrers, and condiment packets only when the customer specifically requests them, reducing waste.

Plastic straws fall under Honolulu's disposable foodware ordinance: vendors may only provide them on request, and many establishments have transitioned to paper or compostable straws to comply.

Hawaiʻi sets a single statewide minimum wage and bars Honolulu and the other counties from enacting higher local floors, with the rate scheduled to climb from $14.00 in 2026 to $18.00 by January 1, 2028.

Hawaiʻi has no statewide paid family or sick leave statute; workers rely on the federal FMLA, the state Family Leave Law (unpaid), and Temporary Disability Insurance for short-term medical events under HRS §392.

Honolulu and Hawaiʻi do not require advance schedule notice, predictability pay, or fair workweek protections, so retail and fast-food employers may set or change shifts without the penalties imposed in Seattle, San Francisco, and New York.

Honolulu adopted Resolution 17-78 declaring itself a Welcoming City and Hawaiʻi limits state and local cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement under HRS §28-12, though the framework stops short of a full sanctuary statute.

Hawaiʻi does not require private employers to use the federal E-Verify system, and Honolulu has no city ordinance imposing electronic employment verification, leaving compliance with federal Form I-9 as the only universal hiring obligation.

Honolulu's Sit-Lie Ordinance, Bill 6 (2014) codified at ROH section 29-16, prohibits sitting or lying on public sidewalks in Waikiki and other designated business districts between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m.

Honolulu's Stored Property Ordinance and Sidewalk Nuisance Ordinance authorize the city to remove unattended personal property and clear encampments from sidewalks, parks, and rights-of-way after 24 hours notice.

Honolulu funds bridge housing through the HONU mobile navigation center, Punawai Rest Stop, and Joint Outreach Center, partnering with IHS and other Continuum of Care providers to transition unsheltered residents into permanent housing.

Stand-up electric scooters above 15 mph remain restricted on Oahu under HRS chapter 291C, while shared mopeds and e-bikes fall under city right-of-way and parking rules.

Honolulu's Complete Streets program (ROH chapter 14 article 33) builds protected bike lanes, while ROH chapter 15 limits adult bicycle riding on most urban sidewalks.

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) sets island-wide conservation targets and can declare mandatory restrictions on lawn irrigation under ROH chapter 17 during droughts.

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply offers rebates for replacing thirsty lawns with drought-tolerant landscaping and for installing high-efficiency irrigation controllers.

The Honouliuli Water Recycling Facility produces R-1 recycled water for irrigation in Ewa, and customers connecting to the recycled water system pay reduced rates under BWS rules.

BWS rules require customers to repair private-side leaks promptly and to report suspected water main breaks, with bill adjustments available for documented hidden leaks.

Honolulu's Land Use Ordinance (LUO, ROH chapter 21) allows extra floor area, height, or units when developers reserve a share of homes for income-qualified buyers or renters.

Building near Oahu's shoreline requires both a certified shoreline survey and compliance with the 60-foot (or larger) setback under ROH chapter 23 plus state coastal review.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health posts color-coded placards at every food establishment on Oʻahu after inspection: green (pass), yellow (conditional), or red (closed) — visible at the entrance.

Property owners on Oʻahu must control rats and mice on their premises under ROH Chapter 7. Hawaiʻi DOH oversees vector control and leptospirosis surveillance, especially after heavy rain events.

Hawaiʻi operates the nation's first statewide syringe exchange (since 1990) under HRS §325-114. Honolulu hosts multiple drop sites and pharmacy take-back locations for safe sharps disposal.

Anyone handling unpackaged food at Honolulu restaurants must obtain a Hawaiʻi DOH-approved food handler certificate within 30 days of hire and renew every three years under HAR Chapter 11-50.

Hotels and short-term rentals on Oʻahu charge guests a county TAT (3%) layered atop the state TAT (10.25%) and General Excise Tax (4.712%), totaling roughly 18% on lodging — among the highest combined lodging taxes in the United States.

Hawaiʻi enacted Act 1 (2021) requiring hotels and similar hospitality employers to recall laid-off workers by seniority when positions reopen, protecting Honolulu's tourism workforce from displacement after pandemic-era layoffs and ownership changes.

Honolulu hotel workers earn wages set primarily through collective bargaining with UNITE HERE Local 5 and the statewide minimum wage law, since Hawaiʻi preempts city-set living wages and county pay floors above the state minimum.

Hawaiʻi requires every retailer of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and other tobacco products to obtain a state Department of Taxation Cigarette and Tobacco Retail Permit under HRS §245-2.5, and Honolulu enforces a minimum sales age of 21 statewide.

Hawaiʻi licenses individual massage therapists and massage establishments through the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs under HRS Chapter 452, requiring 570 hours of training, a state exam, and posted licenses at every Honolulu storefront.

Revised Ordinances of Honolulu Chapter 42 prohibits smoking, vaping, and tobacco use at all city and county beaches, parks, and adjacent sidewalks, building on Hawaiʻi's broad indoor smoking ban under HRS Chapter 328J.

Revised Ordinances of Honolulu Chapter 43 regulates skateboarding, requiring helmets for riders under 16, banning skateboards on most downtown sidewalks and roadways, and prohibiting use on transit-oriented commercial corridors.

Honolulu's Sit-Lie Ban (Bill 6, 2014, ROH §29-16) prohibits sitting or lying on public sidewalks in Waikīkī and 17 other commercial districts during business hours, and ROH §29-7 separately bars aggressive panhandling near ATMs and bus stops.

Hawaiʻi has no recreational cannabis market, and even medical cannabis patients under HRS §329-122 are barred from consuming in public, in vehicles, on beaches, or anywhere smoking tobacco is prohibited under HRS §328J.

Honolulu has no enacted vacancy tax as of 2026, but the City Council has repeatedly considered Bill 9 (2022) and successor measures imposing an Empty Homes Tax of up to 3% on residential properties left vacant more than six months annually.