Fence Regulations in Hawaii (2026)
21 rules on the books across Hawaii, 5 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Height Limits
Maximum fence heights for front, side, and back yards, including privacy fences, corner-lot visibility rules, and how height is measured on slopes and retaining walls.
East Honolulu
Some RestrictionsIn East Honolulu, which is governed by the City and County of Honolulu Land Use Ordinance, walls and fences (other than…
Read full rule →Hawaii County
Some RestrictionsOn Hawaii Island a perimeter fence or wall six feet or less needs no yard setback and is not a structure. See-through…
Read full rule →Honolulu County
Some RestrictionsFences and walls in required yards across Oahu are capped at 6 feet, with front-yard fences banned in business and…
Read full rule →Kauai County
Some RestrictionsKaua'i County Code § 10-5A.7(q) caps walls and fences fronting a public right-of-way in the Rice Street Neighborhood…
Read full rule →Maui County
Some RestrictionsMaui County caps residential fences and walls at 7 feet under Maui County Code Section 19.08.050, but drops that limit…
Read full rule →Fence Permit Requirements
Whether you need a building permit to install or replace a fence, and what the permit process and fees look like.
East Honolulu
Some RestrictionsThe City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting requires a building permit for any fence greater…
Read full rule →Hawaii County
Some RestrictionsA fence up to six feet on the Big Island isn't legally a 'structure' at all, so Hawai'i County Code section 25-4-43(a)…
Read full rule →Honolulu County
Some RestrictionsA fence built anywhere on Oahu still needs a City and County of Honolulu building permit, but ROH § 18-6.1(b) exempts…
Read full rule →Kauai County
Some RestrictionsOn Kaua'i (Kaua'i County), a fence over 6 feet needs a building permit; Section 105.2 exempts only fences…
Read full rule →Maui County
Some RestrictionsMaui County lets homeowners build a fence or wall up to 7 feet high without a building permit. Deer-exclusion fencing…
Read full rule →Neighbor Fence Rules
Rules about shared boundary fences, including who pays for construction and maintenance, and which side faces the neighbor.
Hawaii: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsHawaii applies common law tort principles statewide under HRS 663-1, allowing neighbors to sue for spite fences and…
Read full rule →Hawaii County
Some RestrictionsHawaii County zoning lets a shared boundary fence up to six feet sit on the line without setback. The County sets no…
Read full rule →Retaining Walls
Height limits and permit requirements for retaining walls, including engineering requirements for taller walls on sloped lots.
East Honolulu
Some RestrictionsIn East Honolulu, retaining walls containing fill within a required yard may not exceed six feet, measured from the…
Read full rule →Hawaii County
Some RestrictionsAny retaining wall four feet or higher on the Big Island needs a building permit under Hawaii County Code Section…
Read full rule →Honolulu County
Some RestrictionsHonolulu caps retaining walls that hold back fill within a required yard at 6 feet, measured from grade to the top of…
Read full rule →Kauai County
Some RestrictionsOn Kaua'i (Kaua'i County), retaining walls up to 4 feet are exempt from a building permit under Section 105.2. Walls 5…
Read full rule →Maui County
Some RestrictionsMaui County's building code exempts small retaining walls from a building permit, but only within limits. Under §…
Read full rule →Material Restrictions
Specific materials that are prohibited for fencing, such as barbed wire, razor wire, or electric fencing in residential zones.
Honolulu County
Significant RestrictionsHonolulu's building code prohibits barbed or razor wire on any fence, with narrow exceptions for utilities…
Read full rule →Kauai County
Significant RestrictionsOn Kaua'i (Kaua'i County), Section 423.2 bans barbed or razor wire on fences except at utilities, hazardous-material…
Read full rule →East Honolulu
Some RestrictionsThe Honolulu Land Use Ordinance does not restrict materials for ordinary residential fences, but where a solid wall or…
Read full rule →Hawaii County
Some RestrictionsHawai'i County's fence rule treats materials differently by how much they block sightlines: a solid perimeter fence…
Read full rule →