Kauai County, HI Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Max driveway width
- 40% of lot frontage
- Cul-de-sac exception
- Turn-around end exempt
- Paved parking setback
- 5 ft from right-of-way
- Off-street parking minimum
- 2 spaces per dwelling unit
- Screening requirement
- 4 ft fence/wall/planting, 3+ units
- Enforcing agencies
- Public Works & Planning Dept.
Summary
Kaua'i County limits residential driveway width to 40% of a lot's street frontage, except at a cul-de-sac turnaround, and requires driveway connections to meet Department of Public Works design standards, with paved parking areas set back at least 5 feet from the public right-of-way.
(6) No driveway shall be wider than 40% of the lot frontage on a public thoroughfare, except on the turn-around end of a cul-de-sac. (7) Driveway connections to public streets shall conform to standards of design and construction established by the Department of Public Works. ... (9) All paved parking areas shall be set back from public right-of-way lines a minimum of five feet.
Full Breakdown
Section 8-4.5(a) of the Kaua'i County Code 1987 sets the driveway and parking standards that apply to all residential development. Subsection (a)(6) caps driveway width at 40% of the lot's frontage on a public thoroughfare, with an exception for the turn-around end of a cul-de-sac. Subsection (a)(7) requires every driveway connection to a public street to conform to the design and construction standards the Department of Public Works establishes, meaning a homeowner cannot simply cut a new curb opening without Public Works sign-off. Subsection (a)(9) requires any paved parking area to be set back at least 5 feet from the public right-of-way line.
The same Section sets related standards: subsection (a)(5) requires a minimum of two off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit, one additional space per Guest House, and allows a reduced ratio of one space per three units for elderly housing projects. Subsection (a)(8) requires parking areas serving more than two dwelling units to be screened from public thoroughfares by a fence, wall, or planting at least four feet high, though that screening must be lowered at street corners and driveway intersections to meet County Traffic Code or Public Works standards.
Subsection (a)(2) lets the Director waive the private-street construction standard of subsection (a)(4) for existing Residential District access that predates the ordinance, provided it meets Fire Code access-road requirements instead.
Violations & Fines
A driveway or parking area built wider or closer to the right-of-way than § 8-4.5(a) allows is a CZO violation punishable as a misdemeanor under § 8-3.5(a)(3), with a fine up to $2,000 and each day treated as a separate offense. The Planning Director may also pursue civil fines up to $10,000 plus $10,000 per day of continuing noncompliance under § 8-3.5(b), backed by a lien against the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
How wide can my driveway be on Kaua'i?
Do I need Public Works approval to build a new driveway?
How far must my paved parking area be from the street?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kauai County
Compare Kauai County to another location·View the Hawaii parking rules overview
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