--- title: "Zoning Permits Information - Honolulu" url: https://stacklist.com/card/7f472de2-f0f6-46e1-af51-0c4aec544c39 source_url: "https://www.honolulu.gov/dpp/permitting/zoning-permits/" stack: https://stacklist.com/c/places/stack/6d0b51b2-9f06-4721-a014-fff8ba63366a summary: "Zoning permits and approvals required before applying for building or site development permits in Honolulu are outlined, covering conditional use permits, special district permits, planned developments, zone changes, and more. The page also details the State's Environmental Review process under HRS 343-5, which must be completed before applications can be submitted through HNL Build starting August 4, 2025." tags: "zoning-permits, land-use, building-permits, environmental-review, honolulu, urban-planning, conditional-use-permit" key_entities: "Zoning Permits (concept), HNL Build (technology), DPP (Department of Planning and Permitting) (organization), Environmental Review (concept), Conditional Use Permit (concept), Honolulu (location), Waikiki (location), HRS 343-5 (concept), Chinatown (location), Diamond Head (location), Special District Permit (concept), Haleiwa (location)" classification: "reference" content_hash: "sha256:a7e5e345ed4173b7465b5fbf44b38c373565eb1f62f17d516b6d399f74f8a6f4" acp_version: "0.2" token_counts_approximate: 1577 visibility: public agent_accessible: true status: "final" --- # Zoning Permits Information - Honolulu Skip to content Please be aware that compliance with the State’s Environmental Review process is required before applying. If an action hits one of the 13 triggers requiring environmental review listed in HRS 343-5 (opens in a new tab) , either: The determining agency must declare the action exempt from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment (agency exemption lists can be found here (opens in a new tab) ); An environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact must be published (if significant environmental impacts are not anticipated); or An environmental impact statement must be accepted and published (if significant environmental impacts are anticipated). Zoning Permits The following permits and approvals may be required before applying for building or site development permits. All applications are to be submitted through HNL Build , starting August 4, 2025. Permit or Approval Regulation Apply Guidance Affordable housing exemptions Zoning flexibility for affordable housing HRS 201H DPP Administrative Rules, Title 20 Instructions Agriculture Plans Uses in the Agricultural Districts that requires a Farm Plans Instructions Cluster Zoning flexibility for developments with 3 or more dwellings, which encourages preservation of open space or agricultural land ROH 21-8.50-1 ROH 21-3.50-1 (ag lots) ROH 21-3.60-1 (country lots) Instructions Guidebook Conditional Use Permit (minor) Use requires minor CUP per Master Use Table ROH 21-2.90 See following rows Conditional Use Permit Minor CUP Communication tower or support structure in the P-2 or AG Districts, small or medium meeting facility, child or adult daycare, PreK through 12 schools, and hotels with up to 180 units in the BMX-3 district Instructions Conditional Use Permit Minor CUP Joint development of two or more zoning lots ROH 21-5.90-2 Instructions Sample (single party) Sample (multiple parties) Sample (overlapping) Conditional Use Permit Minor CUP Off-site parking and/or joint use of parking facilities ROH 21-6.70 Instructions Sample Parking License Agreement Sample Declaratory Statement Sample Restrictive Covenant Conditional Use Permit Minor CUP All other uses Instructions Telecom Certificate Conditional Use Permit (major) Use requires major CUP per Master Use Table ROH 21-2.90 Instructions Existing Use Permit Nonconforming developments that now require a CUP or cluster ROH 21-2.100 Instructions Minor Modification Minor modifications to most of the approvals listed here ROH 21-2.20(k) Instructions Plan Review Uses Use requires PRU per Master Use Table (hospitals, prisons, airports, colleges and universities, trade or convention centers, and some golf courses) ROH 21-2.120 Instructions (golf courses) Instructions (all other uses) Planned Development – Housing Zoning flexibility for large mixed use developments ROH 21-8.50-4 Instructions Guidebook Planned Development – Resort and Apartment Zoning flexibility for projects in Waikiki ROH 21-2.110-2 Instructions Planned Development and Interim Planned Development – Transit Zoning flexibility in future rail station areas ROH 21-9.100-5 Instructions Special District Permit (minor) Use requires minor SDD permit per special district use table ROH 21-9 Instructions Hawaii Capitol Diamond Head Punchbowl Chinatown Thomas Square Waikiki Haleiwa TOD Special District Permit (major) Use requires major SDD permit per special district use table ROH 21-9 Instructions Special Use Permit Unusual uses within the State Agricultural Land Use District HRS 205-6 DPP Administrative Rules, Planning Commission Rules Instructions Street Tree Approval Planting trees along the roadway landscape strip Instructions Standards 2023 Street Tree List Temporary Use Approval Temporary construction yards, structures, etc. ROH 21-1.60 Instructions Zone Change Zone changes can involve changes from one zoning district to another, a change in the height limit indicated on a zoning map, or an amendment to an existing unilateral agreement Instructions Zoning Adjustment Zoning flexibility in the specific situations listed in the following rows See following rows See following rows Zoning Adjustment Carports and garages that must encroach into the required front or side yard ROH 21-2.140-1(a) Instructions Zoning Adjustment Energy-saving rooftop designs ROH 21-2.140-1(b) Instructions Zoning Adjustment Flag lots that require narrower access ROH 21-2.140-1(c) Instructions Zoning Adjustment Additional height to compensate for grade irregularities ROH 21-2.140-1(d) Instructions Zoning Adjustment Lanai enclosures ROH 21-2.140-1(e) Instructions Zoning Adjustment Loading requirements (low-rise multi-family dwellings) ROH 21-2.140-1(f) Instructions Zoning Adjustment Off-street parking and loading requirements upon change in use ROH 21-2.140-1(g) Instructions Zoning Adjustment Ohana (accessory) dwelling expansion ROH 21-2.140-1(h) Instructions Zoning Adjustment Ohana (accessory) dwelling rebuilding ROH 21-2.140-1(h) Instructions Zoning Adjustment Additional height for receive-only antennas ROH 21-2.140-1(i) Instructions Zoning Adjustment Residential height exemption for slopes greater than 40 percent ROH 21-2.140-1(j) Instructions Zoning Adjustment Additional height for retaining walls ROH 21-2.140-1(k) Instructions Zoning Adjustment Rooftop height exemption for rooftop structures housing elevator machinery and air conditioning equipment ROH 21-2.140-1(l) Instructions Zoning Adjustment Sign master plans ROH 21-2.140-1(m) Instructions Zoning Adjustment Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) conversions ROH 21-2.140-1(n) Instructions Zoning Variance Forgiveness from zoning rules when there is hardship Charter 6-1517 Instructions Guidebook Zoning Verification Request property information, including zoning designations, flood zones, development standards, legality of existing uses, and whether existing structures can be rebuilt Submit request through "New Zoning Permit" on HNL Build Zoning Waiver Zoning flexibility for public uses and structures, utility installations, small lots for landscaping and open space purposes, improvements rendered nonconforming through eminent domain, and retrofits required to comply with federal mandates ROH 21-2.130 Instructions Scroll to Top search Search If you are human, leave this field blank.