Pop. 350,964 Β· Honolulu County
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.
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 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) Β§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.
Honolulu's Land Use Ordinance prohibits any exterior signage indicating a home is used for a business. Under ROH Β§ 21-5.350, home occupations must be invisible from the street β no signs, displays, or advertising may be mounted on or near the dwelling.
ROH Chapter 21, Β§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.
Honolulu County defers cottage food regulation to the State Department of Health under HRS Chapter 321, with Hawaii's 2024 Acts 194 and 195 creating a statewide homemade food operation permit applicable to all Oahu home kitchens.
Honolulu County permits in-home child care as a home occupation under ROH 21-5.350, while the Hawaii Department of Human Services licenses family child care homes caring for three to six unrelated children under HRS 346-151.
Honolulu prohibits construction noise in residential zones outside permitted daytime hours. Work is generally allowed weekdays 7 AMβ6 PM and Saturdays 9 AMβ6 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 Β§ 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 PMβ7 AM on weekdays and 10 PMβ9 AM on weekends and holidays. Construction noise is capped at 55 dBA in residential zones during daytime hours.
Stationary-source industrial noise on Oahu is capped primarily by state rule HAR 11-46 with local backup from Honolulu's noise control article.
Aircraft noise is preempted federally; Hawaii addresses it through HRS 261-12 while Honolulu's noise ordinance expressly excludes aircraft in flight.
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 Β§ 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.
Oahu regulates hot tubs and spas under the residential swimming pool article, requiring barriers, permits, and code-compliant plumbing and electrical work once statutory thresholds are met.
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 Β§ 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.
LUO 21-6.60 requires minimum EV-ready stalls in new multi-family (8+ stalls) and commercial (12+ stalls) parking and allows compact resizing of pre-Dec 2020 stalls for charging equipment.
ROH 15-13.8 defines abandoned vehicles as unattended more than 24 hours and authorizes the police chief and director of customer services to remove them across Oahu.
The City and County of Honolulu has no islandwide overnight parking ban; ROH 15-14.6 enforces parking prohibited during certain hours only where signs are posted.
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 Β§ 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 Β§ 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 County has no specific ordinance on artificial turf; LUO Sec. 21-4.70 governs landscape area requirements countywide, and Planning and Permitting decides case-by-case whether synthetic turf satisfies landscape percentages.
Honolulu County has no ordinance restricting residential rainwater harvesting; the Board of Water Supply encourages it countywide through a rain barrel rebate program and CTAHR catchment guidelines.
Honolulu County permits native Hawaiian species as landscape substitutions under LUO Sec. 21-4.70 but does not mandate native-only planting; voluntary guidance comes from the Board of Water Supply Xeriscape Program.
Honolulu County mandates food waste recycling under ROH Sec. 42-3.5, with Ordinance 23-30 adding curbside food scrap collection island-wide by April 1, 2025 through the G.R.O.W. Program.
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 Β§ 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 400β800 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 Β§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 dedicated tiny-home ordinance. Permanent tiny homes on foundations are regulated as ADUs under ROH Sec. 21-5.720, while movable tiny homes on wheels are not permitted as permanent dwellings in residential districts.
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.
Honolulu's LUO Section 21-4.40 limits retaining wall heights in required yards to 6 feet when containing fill and combines terraced wall heights for measurement purposes island-wide.
Honolulu County's Building Code Section 16-6.2 requires residential swimming pools on Oahu to be enclosed by compliant fences or protective barriers to prevent unauthorized access and drownings.
Hawaii's tropical climate makes termite, cockroach, and rodent control central to building safety. Honolulu landlords must keep rentals habitable under HRS Β§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.
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.
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.
Honolulu's 2015 bag ordinance, dramatically tightened in 2017, prohibits all plastic checkout bags at retailers islandwide on OΚ»ahu, 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.
The HawaiΚ»i Department of Health posts color-coded placards at every food establishment on OΚ»ahu after inspection: green (pass), yellow (conditional), or red (closed) β visible at the entrance.
Property owners on OΚ»ahu must control rats and mice on their premises under ROH Chapter 7. HawaiΚ»i DOH oversees vector control and leptospirosis surveillance, especially after heavy rain events.
HawaiΚ»i operates the nation's first statewide syringe exchange (since 1990) under HRS Β§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 HawaiΚ»i DOH-approved food handler certificate within 30 days of hire and renew every three years under HAR Chapter 11-50.
HawaiΚ»i medical cannabis patients and caregivers may cultivate up to 10 plants in a registered grow site under HRS Β§329-122. Honolulu requires the site to comply with residential zoning and screening rules.
HawaiΚ»i authorizes licensed dispensaries to deliver medical cannabis directly to registered patients on OΚ»ahu under DOH rules, with manifest tracking, ID checks, and no recreational delivery permitted.
HawaiΚ»i authorizes only medical cannabis (HRS Β§329-121 et seq., 2000). Honolulu permits state-licensed dispensaries in commercial and industrial zones, with strict buffers from schools, parks, and playgrounds.
HawaiΚ»i 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.
Home cannabis cultivation in Honolulu County is governed solely by Hawaii state law HRS 329-122, which allows 329-card patients to grow up to ten plants at one registered residence with tagged plants; recreational cultivation is illegal.
HawaiΚ»i was the first US state to raise the tobacco purchase age to 21, effective January 2016 under HRS Β§709-908. The law covers cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, vapes, and all nicotine products.
Vape and e-cigarette retailers on OΚ»ahu must register with HawaiΚ»i DOH, comply with Tobacco 21, and observe ROH Chapter 41 smoke-free rules prohibiting vaping in enclosed public places and workplaces.
HawaiΚ»i 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.
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.
Honolulu County regulates grading and drainage under ROH Chapter 18A, requiring permits, bonds, and inspections for land alteration across Oahu to protect slopes, streams, and downstream properties.
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.
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.
Hotels and short-term rentals on OΚ»ahu charge guests a county TAT (3%) layered atop the state TAT (10.25%) and General Excise Tax (4.712%), totaling roughly 18% on lodging β among the highest combined lodging taxes in the United States.
HawaiΚ»i 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 HawaiΚ»i preempts city-set living wages and county pay floors above the state minimum.
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.
Replacement for lost or altered exceptional trees is imposed through Chapter 40 Article 8 regulations plus street tree permit conditions under ROH 10-1.4.
HawaiΚ»i 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.
HawaiΚ»i 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 Β§392.
Honolulu and HawaiΚ»i 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 HawaiΚ»i limits state and local cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement under HRS Β§28-12, though the framework stops short of a full sanctuary statute.
HawaiΚ»i 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.
Revised Ordinances of Honolulu Chapter 42 prohibits smoking, vaping, and tobacco use at all city and county beaches, parks, and adjacent sidewalks, building on HawaiΚ»i'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 Β§29-16) prohibits sitting or lying on public sidewalks in WaikΔ«kΔ« and 17 other commercial districts during business hours, and ROH Β§29-7 separately bars aggressive panhandling near ATMs and bus stops.
HawaiΚ»i has no recreational cannabis market, and even medical cannabis patients under HRS Β§329-122 are barred from consuming in public, in vehicles, on beaches, or anywhere smoking tobacco is prohibited under HRS Β§328J.
HawaiΚ»i 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 Β§245-2.5, and Honolulu enforces a minimum sales age of 21 statewide.
HawaiΚ»i 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.
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.
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 County provides expedited permitting for residential solar PV up to 20 kW under ROH Sec. 18-5.10, with solar readiness mandated island-wide for new single- and two-family dwellings.
Honolulu County defers to HRS Sec. 196-7, which preempts HOA bans on solar devices for single-family dwellings and townhouses across Oahu, voiding contrary lease or association provisions.
ROH Section 13-6.2 bars peddling on public streets, sidewalks, malls, parks, and beaches within Waikiki, Chinatown, and several named downtown malls across the City and County.
Mobile food vendors on Oahu need a ROH Chapter 13 Article 6 peddler's license alongside a state Mobile Food Establishment permit and a Hawaii general excise tax license.
No ROH section sets a numeric frequency cap on residential garage sales on Oahu; LUO 21-5.350 requires that sales remain occasional and accessory to residential use.
The City and County of Honolulu does not require a garage or yard sale permit; LUO 21-5.350 permits occasional garage sales as an accessory use to residential living.
ROH does not set specific hours for garage sales; limits flow from the LUO accessory-use framework at 21-5.350 and noise and public-nuisance rules in ROH Chapter 41.
Political campaign signs across Oahu are regulated as temporary signs under ROH Sec. 21-7.20, with size and placement limits that vary by zoning district.
Garage sale signs on Oahu are temporary announcing signs under ROH Sec. 21-7.20, exempt from permits but barred from the public right-of-way under Sec. 21-7.30.
Honolulu has no dedicated holiday display ordinance; seasonal decorations are treated as temporary signs under ROH Sec. 21-7.20 with district-specific limits in Sec. 21-7.40.
Honolulu has no standalone commercial drone ordinance; operations are governed by FAA Part 107 and ROH Chapter 40 Article 28 restrictions on aerial advertising.
Recreational drone and model aircraft flying on Oahu is restricted to designated parks under Honolulu's park rules at ROH Sec. 10-1.2, in addition to federal FAA rules.
Honolulu has no snow-clearing law because snow does not fall at sea level, but property owners must keep sidewalks free of debris, overgrowth, and obstructions under Chapter 13.
Owners of vacant or unoccupied lots on Oahu must keep properties clear of weeds, debris, and fire hazards, and must respond within 30 days to city cleanup notices under Section 40-7.4.
Property owners on Oahu must use approved refuse containers within 10-35 gallon capacity limits and follow curbside placement rules for pickup by city automated collection trucks.
Garage and yard sales are allowed in Oahu residential zones only as occasional accessory uses, not as regular retail activity or a home occupation, under the Land Use Ordinance.
Property owners on Oahu must remove weeds, garbage, trash, and waste within 30 days of a city notice, or the city will clear the property and place a lien for the cost plus 7 percent interest.
ROH Sec. 42-1.4 requires Oahu residents to place refuse and recycling carts at designated curbside locations with safe clearance, while Sec. 42-1.5 restricts unsafe or obstructive placements.
ROH Sec. 42-1.4 governs how and when Oahu residents prepare and set out refuse and recyclables for curbside collection, including size limits for green waste and bundled material in manual collection areas.
ROH Sec. 42-4.8 requires Oahu residents to schedule appointment-based curbside bulky-item pickup and authorizes cost recovery; bulky waste left more than 7 days after written notice is a public nuisance.
ROH Sec. 42-1.12 directs the Department of Environmental Services to operate an islandwide curbside recycling program collecting at least two recyclable materials, implemented in stages across Oahu.
Honolulu County's LUO 21-4.100 requires full cut-off shielded outdoor fixtures for commercial, industrial, and outdoor-recreational development to prevent direct illumination of nearby residential and resort districts, complementing state night sky policy.
Honolulu County addresses light trespass through LUO 21-4.100 shielding and full cut-off requirements rather than a standalone foot-candle standard, with public nuisance law under ROH Chapter 41 available as backup enforcement.
Honolulu County's LUO Section 21-4.30 sets front, side, and rear yard setbacks for every zoning district across Oahu, with companion residential standards in ROH 21-3.70-1.
Honolulu County's LUO Section 21-4.60 sets maximum structure heights and building envelope plane rules, with residential districts capped at 25 to 30 feet under ROH 21-3.70-1.
Honolulu County's LUO Section 21-3.70-1 caps impervious surface at 75 percent of lot area for residential dwellings permitted after May 1, 2019, to control runoff and preserve neighborhood character.
Honolulu County regulates door-to-door soliciting under ROH Section 13-6.2 but maintains no dedicated do-not-knock registry, relying on peddler licensing and state trespass law instead.
Honolulu County requires door-to-door peddlers and solicitors to hold a city-issued peddler's license under ROH Chapter 13, Article 6, with an annual fee set at $27.50 by Section 13-6.1.
Honolulu County has not enacted a local juvenile curfew, so HRS Sec. 577-16 applies islandwide: children under 16 may not be in public places unaccompanied between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.
ROH Sec. 10-1.2 prohibits entering or remaining in any Oahu public park during posted night closure hours, with an exception allowing direct traverse of beach parks to reach the shoreline.
HRS 134-9 governs Hawaii concealed carry licensing. Following the U.S. Supreme Court's Bruen decision, Hawaii revised standards but maintains stringent training, application, and sensitive-place requirements administered by county police chiefs.
Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 134 establishes statewide firearms regulations, but unlike many states, Hawaii does not broadly preempt counties from enacting local firearms ordinances on certain matters.
Hawaii prohibits open carry of firearms in public without a license issued under HRS 134-9. Unlicensed open carry is a felony, making Hawaii one of the most restrictive states for visible firearm carrying.
Hawaii imposes some of the nation's strictest rules on carrying firearms in vehicles. HRS 134-25 and HRS 134-26 prohibit carrying a loaded or unloaded pistol, revolver, or long gun in a motor vehicle except under narrow license and transport exceptions.
Hawaii uniquely classifies all land statewide into four state land use districts under HRS Chapter 205, with the Agricultural District protecting farmland and limiting non-agricultural uses across the state.
HRS Chapter 165, Hawaii's Right to Farm Act, protects farming operations from nuisance lawsuits when they have operated for at least one year and were not nuisances at their inception, supporting agricultural land use across the state.