Building Setbacks & Zoning in Hawaii (2026)

9 rules on the books across Hawaii, 3 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.

Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions

Setback Rules

How far structures must be from property lines, streets, and other buildings. Different setbacks apply to front, side, and rear yards.

Setbacks vary by zoning district and lot size. In the common RS single-family district, front and rear yards run 15 to…

The City and County of Honolulu requires a minimum 10-foot front yard and 5-foot side and rear yards for single-family…

Maui County sets minimum yard setbacks for single-family homes in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts under Maui County Code…

Maximum building heights allowed by zoning, including how height is measured and exceptions for chimneys, antennas, and rooftop equipment.

Hawaii County caps single-family homes in the RS residential district at thirty-five feet under Hawaii County Code §…

Houses in Honolulu's residential zoning districts, R-3.5 through R-20, must fit inside a building envelope that tops…

Maui County caps single-family building height at 30 feet across the R-1, R-2 and R-3 residential districts under Maui…

The maximum percentage of your lot that can be covered by buildings and impervious surfaces like driveways and patios.

Hawaii County zoning does not cap lot coverage by a percentage. Instead it controls how much you can build through…

New Oahu dwellings built under permits filed after May 1, 2019 cannot cover more than 75 percent of the zoning lot with…

Maui County doesn't set a separate lot-coverage percentage for single-family lots; instead, Maui County Code Section…