Maui County, HI Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Maui County Code Chapter 9.32
- Trigger
- Unsanitary condition (weeds, trash, waste)
- Cure period
- 60 days after written notice
- Fine range
- $100-$1,000 (§ 9.32.100)
- Unpaid cleanup
- Becomes a lien on the property
- Exemption
- State agricultural district lots
Summary
Maui County makes it unlawful to leave weeds, trash or waste creating an "unsanitary condition" on any property, including vacant lots, once an owner ignores a written removal notice for sixty days; the county can then clear the lot itself and lien the cost under §§ 9.32.030 and 9.32.040.
A person commits the offense of unlawful maintenance of property if (1) the person's property is in an unsanitary condition; and (2) the person fails to commence removing weeds, trash or waste within sixty days after receiving a written notice as set forth in Section 9.32.040. ... The provisions of this subsection shall not be applicable to property in the state land use agricultural district.
Full Breakdown
010 that weeds, trash and uncultivated growth on property endanger residents' health, safety and welfare. 020 defines "vacant" as "unimproved and unoccupied," "unsanitary condition" as failing to keep property free from vermin, rodents, breeding mosquitoes, standing water or accumulating hazardous waste, trash or weeds, and "weeds" as vegetation that is a fire hazard when dry, shelters vermin, or obstructs a road, path or waterway. 040, but this rule does not apply to property in the state land use agricultural district. 040 spells out the notice-and-remove procedure: certified mail to the owner's last known address plus a posted copy, describing the required work; if the owner fails to start within sixty days, the director may enter and remove the weeds, trash or waste, then bill the owner the actual cost plus ten percent annual interest; unpaid bills become a lien recorded through the corporation counsel under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 507. 100 sets the criminal penalty separately from the county's cost-recovery lien.
Violations & Fines
A property owner who fails to start clearing weeds, trash or waste within sixty days of the county's written removal notice commits "unlawful maintenance of property" under § 9.32.030 and faces a fine of "not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars" under § 9.32.100, on top of the county's lien for any cleanup cost it advances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Maui County's vacant lot ordinance apply to agricultural land?
What happens if I ignore the county's notice to clear my vacant lot?
What is the fine for unlawful maintenance of property in Maui County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Maui County
Compare Maui County to another location·View the Hawaii property maintenance overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.