Kauai County, HI Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Covered lots
- vacant, unimproved land in R-4+ zones
- Trigger
- written complaint to Maintenance Superintendent
- Notice period
- 60 calendar days to clean up
- Fine range
- $25 to $500 per day
- Continuing violation
- each day after notice period, separate offense
- Prosecuting agency
- Public Prosecutor's Office
Summary
On Kaua'i (Kaua'i County), owners of vacant lots in R-4-or-higher residential zones must keep the property free of weeds, garbage, trash and waste under County Code Article 9. After a written complaint and inspection confirm a violation, the County Attorney gives the owner 60 days' notice to clean up before fines of $25 to $500 per day begin.
The owner of vacant property shall at all times maintain the property free of weeds, garbage, trash and waste that contribute to nuisance or hazard to health, safety or welfare of the neighborhood. ... The owner of such property shall be given sixty (60) calendar days after receiving notice to complete the cutting and removal of said weeds, garbage, trash or waste as described in the notice. ... Any person convicted of violating any provision of this Article shall be subject to a fine not less than twentyfive dollars ($25.00) and not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00). Each day after the lapse of the sixty (60) day notice period that the hazard remains uncorrected shall constitute a separate violation.
Full Breakdown
Kaua'i County Code Article 9 (Sections 22-9.1 to 22-9.6) responds to what the County Council calls a "continuing and recurring problem": vacant lots overrun with weeds, trash and litter once a subdivision is finished and sold, since the Subdivision and Grading Ordinances only control the site while it's under construction. The duty applies to "property" defined narrowly as vacant lots, meaning unimproved and unoccupied land, in residentially zoned areas of R-4 or higher density (Section 22-9.2). "Weeds" covers any vegetation grown thick enough to become a fire hazard when dry, to shelter rats, mice, mosquitoes or other vermin, or to spread onto a neighbor's property.
Enforcement starts with a written complaint to the Maintenance Superintendent of the Public Works Department's Maintenance Division, whose personal or staff inspection is prima facie evidence that a violation exists (Section 22-9.3). The County Attorney then mails the owner a certified notice, also posted on the property, describing the required work and giving 60 calendar days to cut and remove the weeds, garbage, trash or waste before facing prosecution and a fine (Section 22-9.4). The Maintenance Superintendent keeps a permanent record of every notice, the owner's name, and the mailing and posting dates.
This Article does not replace any other remedy available at law, so the County can still pursue nuisance abatement or other civil claims alongside a Section 22-9.5 prosecution.
Violations & Fines
Once the 60-day notice period lapses without cleanup, a conviction under Section 22-9.5 carries a fine of not less than $25 and not more than $500. Each additional day the uncorrected hazard remains is a separate violation, so daily fines can accumulate quickly. The Public Prosecutor's Office handles prosecution, and Section 22-9.6 preserves any other legal remedy the County or a neighbor may have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which vacant lots on Kaua'i must be kept weed-free?
How much notice does an owner get before being fined?
What fine applies if the vacant lot isn't cleaned up in time?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kauai County
Compare Kauai County to another location·View the Hawaii property maintenance overview
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