Maui County, HI Hurricane Preparedness: Hurricane Shutters (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Maui County Code § 16.08A.R301.2.1.2
- Standard required
- ASTM E 1996 / E 1886 impact glazing
- Alternative
- 7/16-inch wood panels, max 8-ft span
- Wind design basis
- Up to 130 mph, 33-ft roof height
- Safe-room exception
- R-3 buildings with an R325 safe room
Summary
Maui County's residential building code requires windows in windborne-debris regions to have impact-resistant glazing protection meeting ASTM E 1996 and E 1886 standards, under section R301.2.1.2. As an alternative, code-compliant 7/16-inch wood structural panels, precut and fastened per a set spacing schedule, satisfy the requirement on one- and two-story buildings.
R301.2.1.2 Protection of openings. Windows in buildings located in windborne debris regions shall have glazed openings protected from windborne debris. Glazed opening protection for windborne debris shall meet the requirements of the Large Missile Test of an approved impact resisting standard or ASTM E 1996 and ASTM E 1886 referenced therein. ... 1. Wood structural panels with a minimum thickness of 7/16 inch (11.1 mm) and a maximum panel span of 8 feet (2438 mm) shall be permitted for opening protection in one- and two-story buildings. Panels shall be precut so that they shall be attached to the framing surrounding the opening containing the product with the glazed opening. Panels shall be secured with the attachment hardware provided.
Full Breakdown
2 of the Maui County Code amends section R301 of the International Residential Code. The rule requires that windows in buildings located in windborne debris regions have glazed openings protected from windborne debris, meeting the Large Missile Test of an approved impact-resisting standard, or ASTM E 1996 and ASTM E 1886. 5, qualify as opening protection on one- and two-story buildings. 2 in the same amendment sets a specific fastening schedule for those wood panels, keyed to panel span and fastener type, using No. 6 or No.
8 wood screws spaced from 9 to 16 inches depending on the span. Attachment under the table is permitted for buildings with a mean roof height of 33 feet or less where design wind speeds don't exceed 130 mph. A second exception lets Occupancy R-3 buildings designed as a partially enclosed structure skip the glazing protection if the building instead has a residential safe room built to section R325 standards, capable of resisting a 160 mph three-second gust.
Violations & Fines
Skipping required opening protection in a windborne-debris region is a building-code violation enforced by the Department of Public Works' Development Services Administration through the standard building-permit and inspection process; noncompliant construction can be red-tagged, denied a certificate of occupancy, or ordered corrected before final inspection, and reconstruction after a storm without meeting section R301.2.1.2 exposes the owner to the same permit enforcement and stop-work authority applied to any other building-code violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Maui homes need hurricane shutters or impact windows?
Can plywood panels substitute for impact windows in Maui County?
What wind speed do Maui's window protection standards design for?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Maui County
Compare Maui County to another location·View the Hawaii hurricane preparedness overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.