106 local rules on file · Pop. 18,658 · Honolulu County
Showing ordinances that apply to Wahiawa, HI
Wahiawa is an unincorporated community with a population of approximately 18,658 in Honolulu County, Hawaii. Because Wahiawa is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal government or city code. Instead, Honolulu County ordinances apply directly to residential and commercial properties here. The rules below are the county-level regulations that govern your area. Nearby incorporated cities in Honolulu County may have different rules.
Construction noise across Oahu is controlled by state rule HAR 11-46, not a separate Honolulu ordinance, with permits required outside allowed daytime hours.
Stationary-source industrial noise on Oahu is capped primarily by state rule HAR 11-46 with local backup from Honolulu's noise control article.
These unincorporated areas are also governed by Honolulu County ordinances.
Oahu's animal nuisance ordinance prohibits owners island-wide from keeping dogs whose barking or howling unreasonably disturbs neighbors.
Honolulu County defers cottage food regulation to the State Department of Health under HRS Chapter 321, with Hawaii's 2024 Acts 194 and 195 creating a statewide homemade food operation permit applicable to all Oahu home kitchens.
Honolulu County permits in-home child care as a home occupation under ROH 21-5.350, while the Hawaii Department of Human Services licenses family child care homes caring for three to six unrelated children under HRS 346-151.
Island-wide, ROH Sec. 21-5.350 allows home occupations as incidental accessory uses in residential districts, with worker limits and activity restrictions applied uniformly across Oahu by the Department of Planning and Permitting.
Across Honolulu County, Article 7 of the Land Use Ordinance tightly restricts signage in residential zones, effectively limiting home-based businesses island-wide to small nameplate signs with no illumination.
ROH Sec. 21-5.350 requires home-based businesses across Honolulu County to avoid unusual vehicular traffic, on-street customer parking issues, and any activity that changes the character of Oahu's residential neighborhoods.
Exotic pets in Honolulu County are regulated at the state level under HRS 150A and HAR 4-71, giving Hawaii one of the strictest prohibited-animal regimes in the United States; ROH nuisance rules supplement state enforcement.
Animal hoarding in Honolulu County is charged under state HRS 711-1109.6 as a misdemeanor when more than 15 dogs or cats are kept in neglectful conditions, with ROH 7-2.5 triggering county nuisance action at ten dogs or cats per household.
Honolulu County caps noncommercial chicken keeping at two hens per household under ROH 7-2.4, prohibits roosters outright, and requires enclosures to meet zoning setback and sanitation standards across Oahu.
Honolulu County requires dogs in public places to be restrained by a leash, cord, or chain no longer than eight feet under ROH Chapter 7, Article 4, with stricter six-foot rules for dogs declared dangerous.
Honolulu County has no breed-specific legislation; instead, ROH Chapter 7 Article 7 regulates individual dogs judged dangerous, imposing muzzle, six-foot leash, and adult-handler conditions after a dangerous-dog determination.
Honolulu County has no blanket wildlife-feeding ban in the ROH; state law under HRS 183D and HRS 195D plus federal marine-mammal rules cover wildlife, while ROH 7-2 Animal Nuisance addresses feral animal issues locally.
Honolulu County has no dedicated beekeeping ordinance; hives are treated as an agricultural activity permitted in zones allowing agriculture under the Land Use Ordinance (ROH Chapter 21), with state apiary registration governed by HRS 152.
Any residential swimming pool construction, installation, or substantial modification on Oahu requires a building permit from the Department of Planning and Permitting, with fees set under Chapter 18.
Oahu regulates hot tubs and spas under the residential swimming pool article, requiring barriers, permits, and code-compliant plumbing and electrical work once statutory thresholds are met.
Residential pools must be enclosed by a fence, wall, or approved barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates to prevent unsupervised access, consistent with Hawaii Revised Statutes 46-73.
Oahu's Residential Swimming Pools article sets combined barrier, construction, and modification rules designed to prevent drownings, supplementing the state building and residential codes.
Oahu regulates above-ground and in-ground residential pools identically under Chapter 16, Article 6, with the same barrier, permit, and inspection requirements once capacity thresholds are met.
Honolulu County protects designated exceptional trees island-wide under ROH Chapter 40, Article 8, prohibiting removal or destruction without a Parks and Recreation permit except in emergencies under Sec. 40-8.9.
Honolulu County regulates overgrown vegetation as a public nuisance under ROH Chapter 16A rather than setting a fixed grass height, applied island-wide across Oahu by the Department of Planning and Permitting.
Honolulu County requires permits from the Department of Parks and Recreation Division of Urban Forestry for planting, trimming, pruning, spraying, or removing trees in the public right-of-way across Oahu under ROH Section 10-1.4.
Honolulu County regulates weeds on vacant lots island-wide under ROH Chapter 16A, Section 16A-2.1 et seq., with a 30-day owner-notice process before the county may enter and abate at the owner's expense.
Honolulu County authorizes water conservation under ROH Chapter 30, Section 30-2.3, while day-of-week irrigation and stage-based shortage rules are issued by the Honolulu Board of Water Supply separately for the entire island.
Honolulu County has no specific ordinance on artificial turf; LUO Sec. 21-4.70 governs landscape area requirements countywide, and Planning and Permitting decides case-by-case whether synthetic turf satisfies landscape percentages.
Honolulu County has no ordinance restricting residential rainwater harvesting; the Board of Water Supply encourages it countywide through a rain barrel rebate program and CTAHR catchment guidelines.
Honolulu County permits native Hawaiian species as landscape substitutions under LUO Sec. 21-4.70 but does not mandate native-only planting; voluntary guidance comes from the Board of Water Supply Xeriscape Program.
Honolulu County mandates food waste recycling under ROH Sec. 42-3.5, with Ordinance 23-30 adding curbside food scrap collection island-wide by April 1, 2025 through the G.R.O.W. Program.
Across Oahu, storage parking of commercial vehicles, trailers, boat trailers, and RV trailers on public streets is prohibited without the need for posted signs under ROH 15-16.6.
ROH 15-16.6 prohibits storage parking of commercial vehicles on city streets islandwide without posted signs; off-street commercial-vehicle parking requirements live in the Land Use Ordinance at LUO 21-6.20.
LUO 21-6.60 requires minimum EV-ready stalls in new multi-family (8+ stalls) and commercial (12+ stalls) parking and allows compact resizing of pre-Dec 2020 stalls for charging equipment.
ROH 15-13.8 defines abandoned vehicles as unattended more than 24 hours and authorizes the police chief and director of customer services to remove them across Oahu.
ROH 15-14.1 prohibits stopping, standing, or parking in front of any public or private driveway anywhere in the City and County of Honolulu, including a 4-foot buffer on each side.
ROH 15-14.5 governs sign-posted prohibited parking across Oahu via Schedule XXII; separate rules at 15-13.5 set how close to the curb a vehicle must be.
The City and County of Honolulu has no islandwide overnight parking ban; ROH 15-14.6 enforces parking prohibited during certain hours only where signs are posted.
Short-term rental operators and guests on Oahu must comply with Honolulu's general prohibited noise ordinance under ROH Sec. 41-6.1, which restricts unreasonable noise at all hours.
Oahu bed and breakfast homes and transient vacation units must register with the Department of Planning and Permitting before hosting stays under 90 days under ROH Sec. 21-5.730.
Oahu levies a 3% Oahu Transient Accommodations Tax (OTAT) on gross rental proceeds from stays under 180 consecutive days under ROH Sec. 8A-1.1, in addition to state TAT.
Bed and breakfast homes and transient vacation units on Oahu must supply a parking plan and on-site off-street parking sufficient for guests under ROH Sec. 21-5.730.
Honolulu STRs must identify maximum occupancy per bedroom on a filed floor plan and comply with bedroom count caps for B&Bs and TVUs under ROH Sec. 21-5.730.
Honolulu STR operators must carry at least $1,000,000 in commercial general liability coverage, or homeowner's insurance with equivalent business liability, under ROH Sec. 21-5.730.
Honolulu limits carports and detached garages to maximum horizontal dimensions of 20 by 20 feet under ROH Sec. 21-2.140-1, with hillside Type V-B carports allowed to exceed one story under specified conditions.
Honolulu County allows one ADU per zoning lot in Country, R-3.5, R-5, R-7.5, R-10, and R-20 residential districts, subject to density, parking, occupancy, and rental-duration requirements under the Land Use Ordinance.
Sheds and similar accessory structures on Oahu must meet yard and street setback requirements in ROH Sec. 21-4.30 and height limits in Sec. 21-4.60, with smaller sheds potentially exempt from building permits under Chapter 18.
Converting a garage into living space on Oahu is typically treated as creating an ADU under ROH Sec. 21-5.720, requiring a building permit under Sec. 18-3.2 and compliance with parking, setback, and occupancy rules.
Honolulu has no dedicated tiny-home ordinance. Permanent tiny homes on foundations are regulated as ADUs under ROH Sec. 21-5.720, while movable tiny homes on wheels are not permitted as permanent dwellings in residential districts.
Honolulu regulates recreational fires and fire pits through ROH Chapter 20, which adopts NFPA 1 open burning rules with City modifications applied island-wide by the Honolulu Fire Department.
Article 6 of ROH Chapter 20 defines fireworks classes, licenses importers and sellers, and requires permits for display fireworks and firecrackers while banning consumer aerials countywide.
ROH Chapter 20 incorporates NFPA 1 Section 10.18, requiring owners in or adjoining hazardous fire areas to clear brush and maintain firebreaks around structures on Oahu.
Open burning on Oahu is governed by ROH Chapter 20 through its adoption of NFPA 1 Chapter 10 and runs alongside State Department of Health air quality permitting requirements.
Oahu has no standalone wildfire zone ordinance; instead ROH Chapter 20 adopts NFPA 1's Hazardous Fire Areas framework, letting the Fire Chief designate risk zones and impose controls.
Propane storage on Oahu is regulated by ROH Chapter 20, which adopts NFPA 1 Chapter 69 and incorporates NFPA 58 for container siting, permits, and vehicular protection.
Honolulu County requires building permits for most fences and walls under ROH 18-3.1, though retaining or riprap walls not exceeding 30 inches in height are exempt from the permit requirement.
Honolulu's Land Use Ordinance Section 21-4.60 limits fence, wall, and hedge heights across zoning districts and imposes additional setback or landscape screening requirements when barriers exceed 36 inches along street frontages.
Honolulu's Land Use Ordinance Section 21-4.30 defines required yards and street setbacks, including what fences and structures may occupy property lines shared with neighbors across Oahu.
Honolulu's LUO Section 21-4.40 limits retaining wall heights in required yards to 6 feet when containing fill and combines terraced wall heights for measurement purposes island-wide.
Honolulu County's Building Code Section 16-6.2 requires residential swimming pools on Oahu to be enclosed by compliant fences or protective barriers to prevent unauthorized access and drownings.
Honolulu's LUO Section 21-4.60 defines 'fence' and governs allowed materials including wrought iron, wire, wood, vinyl, and plastic supported by post foundations across all Oahu zoning districts.
Honolulu County provides expedited permitting for residential solar PV up to 20 kW under ROH Sec. 18-5.10, with solar readiness mandated island-wide for new single- and two-family dwellings.
Honolulu County defers to HRS Sec. 196-7, which preempts HOA bans on solar devices for single-family dwellings and townhouses across Oahu, voiding contrary lease or association provisions.
Removing, trimming, or replacing a street tree on Oahu requires a permit issued under rules adopted by the Director pursuant to ROH 10-1.4.
Replacement for lost or altered exceptional trees is imposed through Chapter 40 Article 8 regulations plus street tree permit conditions under ROH 10-1.4.
Honolulu's Exceptional Tree Ordinance protects designated heritage trees island-wide, requiring City Council approval before removal.
ROH Section 13-6.2 bars peddling on public streets, sidewalks, malls, parks, and beaches within Waikiki, Chinatown, and several named downtown malls across the City and County.
Mobile food vendors on Oahu need a ROH Chapter 13 Article 6 peddler's license alongside a state Mobile Food Establishment permit and a Hawaii general excise tax license.
Honolulu County does not have rent control; residential rent is governed only by HRS Chapter 521, Hawaii's Residential Landlord-Tenant Code, which sets no cap on increases.
Honolulu County has no just cause eviction ordinance; terminations follow HRS Section 521-71, which sets 45-day notice for month-to-month tenancies and 120 days for conversions.
Honolulu does not register long-term rentals, but short-term transient accommodations under 90 days must register annually with DPP under LUO Section 21-5.730 via Bill 41 (2021).
No ROH section sets a numeric frequency cap on residential garage sales on Oahu; LUO 21-5.350 requires that sales remain occasional and accessory to residential use.
The City and County of Honolulu does not require a garage or yard sale permit; LUO 21-5.350 permits occasional garage sales as an accessory use to residential living.
ROH does not set specific hours for garage sales; limits flow from the LUO accessory-use framework at 21-5.350 and noise and public-nuisance rules in ROH Chapter 41.
Political campaign signs across Oahu are regulated as temporary signs under ROH Sec. 21-7.20, with size and placement limits that vary by zoning district.
Garage sale signs on Oahu are temporary announcing signs under ROH Sec. 21-7.20, exempt from permits but barred from the public right-of-way under Sec. 21-7.30.
Honolulu has no dedicated holiday display ordinance; seasonal decorations are treated as temporary signs under ROH Sec. 21-7.20 with district-specific limits in Sec. 21-7.40.
Honolulu has no standalone commercial drone ordinance; operations are governed by FAA Part 107 and ROH Chapter 40 Article 28 restrictions on aerial advertising.
Recreational drone and model aircraft flying on Oahu is restricted to designated parks under Honolulu's park rules at ROH Sec. 10-1.2, in addition to federal FAA rules.
Honolulu County regulates stormwater under ROH Chapter 43, Article 11 and Chapter 14, requiring connections to the city's separate storm sewer system and prohibiting non-stormwater discharges across all Oahu watersheds.
ROH Sec. 18A-1.6 requires approved erosion and sediment control plans for any building, grading, stockpiling, or trenching permit across Honolulu County, protecting Oahu's streams, reefs, and nearshore waters from construction runoff.
ROH Chapter 25 implements Hawaii's coastal zone management program for all of Oahu, requiring SMA major or minor permits for development within the Special Management Area boundary that circles the island.
ROH Chapter 21A applies FEMA flood insurance rate maps to Oahu and requires development in special flood hazard areas to elevate to or above base flood elevation, with variances available only under strict Sec. 21A-1.12 standards.
Honolulu County regulates grading and drainage under ROH Chapter 18A, requiring permits, bonds, and inspections for land alteration across Oahu to protect slopes, streams, and downstream properties.
Honolulu has no snow-clearing law because snow does not fall at sea level, but property owners must keep sidewalks free of debris, overgrowth, and obstructions under Chapter 13.
Owners of vacant or unoccupied lots on Oahu must keep properties clear of weeds, debris, and fire hazards, and must respond within 30 days to city cleanup notices under Section 40-7.4.
Property owners on Oahu must use approved refuse containers within 10-35 gallon capacity limits and follow curbside placement rules for pickup by city automated collection trucks.
Garage and yard sales are allowed in Oahu residential zones only as occasional accessory uses, not as regular retail activity or a home occupation, under the Land Use Ordinance.
Property owners on Oahu must remove weeds, garbage, trash, and waste within 30 days of a city notice, or the city will clear the property and place a lien for the cost plus 7 percent interest.
ROH Sec. 42-1.4 requires Oahu residents to place refuse and recycling carts at designated curbside locations with safe clearance, while Sec. 42-1.5 restricts unsafe or obstructive placements.
ROH Sec. 42-1.4 governs how and when Oahu residents prepare and set out refuse and recyclables for curbside collection, including size limits for green waste and bundled material in manual collection areas.
ROH Sec. 42-4.8 requires Oahu residents to schedule appointment-based curbside bulky-item pickup and authorizes cost recovery; bulky waste left more than 7 days after written notice is a public nuisance.
ROH Sec. 42-1.12 directs the Department of Environmental Services to operate an islandwide curbside recycling program collecting at least two recyclable materials, implemented in stages across Oahu.
Home cannabis cultivation in Honolulu County is governed solely by Hawaii state law HRS 329-122, which allows 329-card patients to grow up to ten plants at one registered residence with tagged plants; recreational cultivation is illegal.
Honolulu County medical cannabis dispensary zoning follows state HRS 329D-22, requiring compliance with local LUO classifications, a 750-foot buffer from schools and playgrounds, and separation between production centers and retail dispensaries.
Honolulu County's LUO 21-4.100 requires full cut-off shielded outdoor fixtures for commercial, industrial, and outdoor-recreational development to prevent direct illumination of nearby residential and resort districts, complementing state night sky policy.
Honolulu County addresses light trespass through LUO 21-4.100 shielding and full cut-off requirements rather than a standalone foot-candle standard, with public nuisance law under ROH Chapter 41 available as backup enforcement.
Honolulu County's LUO Section 21-4.30 sets front, side, and rear yard setbacks for every zoning district across Oahu, with companion residential standards in ROH 21-3.70-1.
Honolulu County's LUO Section 21-4.60 sets maximum structure heights and building envelope plane rules, with residential districts capped at 25 to 30 feet under ROH 21-3.70-1.
Honolulu County's LUO Section 21-3.70-1 caps impervious surface at 75 percent of lot area for residential dwellings permitted after May 1, 2019, to control runoff and preserve neighborhood character.
Honolulu County regulates door-to-door soliciting under ROH Section 13-6.2 but maintains no dedicated do-not-knock registry, relying on peddler licensing and state trespass law instead.
Honolulu County requires door-to-door peddlers and solicitors to hold a city-issued peddler's license under ROH Chapter 13, Article 6, with an annual fee set at $27.50 by Section 13-6.1.
Honolulu County has not enacted a local juvenile curfew, so HRS Sec. 577-16 applies islandwide: children under 16 may not be in public places unaccompanied between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.
ROH Sec. 10-1.2 prohibits entering or remaining in any Oahu public park during posted night closure hours, with an exception allowing direct traverse of beach parks to reach the shoreline.