Maui County, HI Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- MCC § 16.25.115
- Time to start work
- 48 hours after notice
- Time to finish work
- 90 days from notice date
- Enforcement remedy
- Lien on property for costs
- Posting requirement
- "DO NOT ENTER" sign at entrances
Summary
Maui County declares any structurally unsafe, dilapidated or abandoned building a public nuisance and empowers the building official to order it repaired, rehabilitated or demolished. An owner who receives notice has only 48 hours to start the required work and 90 days to finish it.
115.1 General. Buildings or structures which are structurally unsafe, or are otherwise dangerous to human life, or which in relation to existing use constitute a hazard to safety, health or public welfare by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, obsolescence, or abandonment ... are unsafe buildings. All such unsafe buildings or structures are hereby declared to be public nuisances and shall be abated by repair, rehabilitation, demolition, removal, or other methods approved by the building official ... 115.2 Notice to owner. ... This notice may require the owner, tenant or person in charge of the building or premises, within 48 hours, to commence either the required repairs or improvements or demolition and removal of the building or structure or portions thereof, and all such work shall be completed within 90 days from date of notice, unless otherwise required by the building official.
Full Breakdown
1, defines an unsafe building as one that is structurally unsafe, otherwise dangerous to human life, or that constitutes a hazard to safety, health or public welfare because of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, obsolescence or abandonment, and it declares every such building a public nuisance to be abated by repair, rehabilitation, demolition, removal or another method the building official approves. 2 sets the enforcement timeline: after examining a reported building, the building official gives the owner or tenant written notice of the defects, and that notice can require the owner to commence repairs or demolition within 48 hours of the notice and complete all of the work within 90 days, unless the building official sets a different deadline.
The notice can also require the building to be vacated immediately if conditions warrant. Service is by personal service, registered or certified mail, or by posting on the property, and if mailed, the compliance clock starts on the mailing date. 3 requires the building official to post a "DO NOT ENTER. UNSAFE TO OCCUPY" sign at every entrance to a vacated building, which stays up until repairs or demolition are complete and cannot be removed without the building official's written permission.
Violations & Fines
If an owner fails, neglects or refuses to comply with the repair or demolition notice, section 16.25.115.4 authorizes the building official to initiate enforcement proceedings, including legal or equitable action to recover the cost of the work from the owner or to attach a lien to the property. Removing a posted "UNSAFE TO OCCUPY" placard without written permission, or entering a posted building for any purpose other than making the required repairs, is itself a violation under section 16.25.115.3.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a building "unsafe" under Maui County Code?
How much time do I get to fix an unsafe building on Maui?
Can the County put a lien on my property for an unsafe building?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Maui County
Compare Maui County to another location·View the Hawaii property maintenance overview
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