Learn About and Apply for Permits
Depending on the project, permits or approvals may be required from one or more of the following four categories. If you’re still not sure what permits or approvals are required, you can request a formal determination by submitting a zoning verification request form with a description of your proposed project and the fee amount specified on the form. Permit-related information, such as for affordable housing, may also be found under Planning Programs on the Planning page.
Building permits are required to construct, alter, or demolish any structure (including fences over 6 feet tall, walls over 30 inches tall, sidewalks, curbs, driveways, signs, swimming pools, and solar panels), and to do electrical repair work over $2,500 and plumbing repair work over $2,500 (including air conditioning, ventilation, and water heating). This guide explains when a building permit is required.
Permits are required for site work that is not covered under a building permit, such as grading, grubbing, stockpiling, trenching, subdividing lots, consolidating lots, easement modifications and designations, subdivision park dedication requirements, private road certification, road widening, street name changes, installation of street trees in planting strip, sewers, and storm water management.

The following zoning-related permits must be approved before applying for building permits or site development permits:
- Uses not typical in the zoning district, as identified in the zoning code’s Master Use Table (Conditional Use Permits, Existing Use Permits, or Plan Review Uses)
- Certain activities in Oahu’s special districts (shown on this map), including street trees
- Flexibility from zoning rules, including affordable housing exemptions, clusters and larger planned developments, projects in future rail station areas, zoning adjustments, zoning variances, and zoning waivers

Permits are also required for most development in the coastal zone, referred to as the Special Management Area (shown on this this map), and development in the shoreline area (generally within 40 feet of the shoreline). These permits can be processed at the same time as most zoning permits.
Short-Term Rental Registration

The requirement to register bed and breakfast homes (BnBs) and transient vacation units (TVUs) went into effect on October 23, 2022. Registration is not required for hotels, time sharing units, or units with current nonconforming use certificates (NUCs). NUCs must be renewed every year between September 1 and October 15. No new NUCs will be issued.
- Last Updated: January 2, 2025