Maui County, HI Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Downtown Design Guide (2026)
Key Facts
- Guidelines prevail over conflicting code
- Except for health/safety/welfare
- Adoption method
- Council resolution
- Public hearing notice
- 30 calendar days
- Design plan appeal window
- 10 days
- Administering agency
- Dept. of Planning
Summary
Maui County Code section 19.510.100 makes each B-CT country town business district follow its own architectural design guidelines so new and renovated buildings stay compatible with the surrounding town, and those guidelines override the general zoning code except where health, safety or welfare require otherwise.
The purpose of country town business district design guidelines is to insure that all buildings and structures shall be erected, constructed, reconstructed, renovated, remodeled, enlarged, or converted in a similar and compatible architectural design character with that of surrounding buildings. It is intended that an identifiable and unified design theme be retained within each B-CT country town business district. Except as necessary to protect public health, safety and welfare, where a conflict exists between adopted country town business district design guidelines and standards, and this code, the design guidelines and standards shall prevail.
Full Breakdown
110 requires each small town with a B-CT country town business district to adopt its own design guidelines and standards. Adoption runs through the urban design review board for review and comment, an advertised public meeting in the town itself, and a public hearing before the appropriate planning commission noticed at least 30 calendar days ahead in a newspaper circulated countywide; the guidelines then take effect only by council resolution. 110D directs that site guidelines address functional and spatial relationships with surrounding uses and landscape planting, while architectural guidelines address building form and massing, size and proportion relative to neighboring structures, entrance articulation, roof form, facade window and door patterns, and materials, texture and color compatible with surrounding buildings.
120 has the director of planning review proposals against nine listed factors covering siting, landscaping, massing, scale, orientation, entries, roofs, facade patterns and materials, while the director of public works separately administers any approved drainage and roadway standards. The planning director approves individual design plans for improvements inside a B-CT district under whichever guidelines currently apply.
Violations & Fines
Section 19.510.130 lets an applicant appeal the planning director's design-plan determination to the planning commission by filing a notice of appeal within ten days. The commission can affirm, reverse or modify the decision if it finds the ruling rested on a clearly erroneous fact or error of law, was arbitrary, capricious or an abuse of discretion, or if the proposed design instead maintains the district's design integrity; the appeal goes on the next commission agenda as a non-public-hearing item.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Maui's country town design guidelines override the regular zoning code?
How is a country town design guideline adopted in Maui County?
Who reviews building design plans in a B-CT district before guidelines are adopted?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Maui County
Compare Maui County to another location·View the Hawaii zoning overlays & bonuses overview
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