Honolulu's Land Use Ordinance (LUO, ROH chapter 21) allows extra floor area, height, or units when developers reserve a share of homes for income-qualified buyers or renters.
ROH Chapter 21 (the Honolulu LUO) and Chapter 32 (Affordable Housing Requirements) let projects in mixed-use, apartment, and resort districts request a density or height bonus when at least a defined percentage of units are reserved for households earning 80, 100, or 120 percent of area median income. The bonus may include additional floor area ratio, reduced parking, or relaxed setback rules. Projects must record a long-term affordability covenant, sometimes 30 to 60 years, monitored by the city Department of Planning and Permitting and the Department of Community Services.
Failing to deliver promised affordable units or violating the recorded covenant can lead to clawbacks, civil penalties, and required reconveyance of the bonus floor area.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Honolulu, HI
Honolulu protects designated 'exceptional trees' under Revised Ordinances of Honolulu (ROH) Chapter 40, Article 8. Removing or destroying any exceptional tre...
Honolulu, HI
Honolulu has no city ordinance restricting lawn ornaments on residential property. HOA and condo covenants under HRS 421J and 514B commonly regulate ornament...
Honolulu, HI
Honolulu has no city ordinance regulating residential inflatable holiday displays. Size and blower noise are governed by HOA and condo covenants under HRS 42...
Honolulu, HI
Honolulu has no municipal ordinance regulating residential holiday lights. Display timing, brightness, and animation are governed by HOA and condo covenants ...
Honolulu, HI
Honolulu requires DPP building permits for outdoor kitchens with gas line plumbing, electrical wiring, plumbing fixtures, or structural roofs/pergolas. Stand...
Honolulu, HI
Honolulu has no smoker-specific ordinance. Hawaii Department of Health air pollution rules under HAR Chapter 11-60.1 apply to large commercial sources, not r...
See how Honolulu's density bonus law rules stack up against other locations.
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