Short-term rental permit rules in Hawaii County, HI — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Every short-term vacation rental on Hawai'i Island must hold a County STVR Registration before operating. Rentals in unpermitted zoning districts also need a Nonconforming Use Certificate (NUC). Permits are issued by the County of Hawai'i Planning Department under Ordinance 18-114 (Bill 108).
Ordinance 18-114 ("Bill 108"), effective April 1, 2019, regulates STVRs island-wide. A rental in a permitted district (V Resort, CG/CV Commercial, resort-node, or condominium RM) needs only a STVR Registration. A rental in an unpermitted district (most residential/agricultural land) may register plus obtain a NUC only if it operated legally before April 1, 2019 and, on Ag land, the parcel existed before June 4, 1976. No new STVRs are allowed in unpermitted districts after April 1, 2019. Registration requires final building/electrical/plumbing approvals, GET/TAT licenses, a tax clearance certificate, site and floor plans, and a notarized affidavit of compliance.
Operating without a valid STVR Registration is prohibited; the Planning Director may deny, revoke, or invalidate a registration for misrepresentation, and unregistered operation is subject to Planning enforcement and fines under HCC Chapter 25.
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