Preparation for Building Permit Application

For a smoother permitting process, you may need to complete any of the pre-application items listed prior to submitting a building permit application.

Property or Building Permit Research

Property Search
Identify parcel zoning, flood hazard, special district/management areas, lot size, existing permits, notice of violations etc.

Building Permit Search
View status of building permit applications, approvals required, review statuses, etc.

Request to View Records
Based on the research, you can request records to view plans or documents. The request shall be submitted to DAIB (Data Access Imaging Branch) and may incur fees.

Prior Approvals Required

*If you do not have these prior approvals, review of the building permit application will be rejected or suspended until the required approvals are obtained.

Land Use/Zoning Permits

These permits are discretionary permits such as CUP (conditional use permit), ZA (zoning adjustment), Zoning Variance, etc.

Approved ADU/Ohana Pre-Check Form

*Note the approved pre-check form is only valid for 210 days after the first agency approval.

Prior to submitting a Building Permit Application for an ADU/Ohana, you must obtain approvals via the pre-checkform and obtain an approved Declation of Restrictive Covenants from the Bureau of Conveyance.

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU): A second dwelling unit, including separate kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom facilities, attached or detached from the primary dwelling unit on the zoning lot. For further information, refer to ROH Sec. 21-8.20.

Ohana Dwelling: A second dwelling unit, shares similarities with an ADU but can only be occupied by persons related by blood, marriage, or adoption to the family residing in the first dwelling as well as various zoning and lot area limitations. For further information, refer to ROH Sec. 21-8.20.

ADU documents:

ADU Pre-Check Form
ADU Restrictive Covenant – Template
ADU Quick Guide
ADU FAQ

Ohana Dwelling documents:

Ohana Pre-Check Form
Ohana Restrictive Covenant – Template

Sewer Capacity Analysis Application (SCA)

An approved SCA is required for new structures, change of occupancy/use, etc. For any questions contact the Wastewater Branch.

Other Approvals

Ewa Villages Owner’s Association
Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL)
Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) – State Historical Preservation Division

Address Change Request

All permitted structures are required to have a DPP associated address. (Note this address may not coincide with the United States Post Office).

Prior to submitting an address change request, verify address(es) on a parcel.

Submit an Address Change Request for only the following items:

- New address for a dwelling on a vacant lot
- New address for an additional dwelling(s) on a lot
- Incorrect address
- Existing permitted unit(s) requesting separate address
- Address to a vacant parcel
- Verification of address for legality of unit.

Materials and Methods Number

Material and Methods Number is for model homes, modular trailers, or product approvals which will be used for multiple projects. If approved, the MM# may be used for building permit applications, allowing the reviewer not to have to verify the item for code compliance and treat it as a black box.

Note: If approval is given, provide MM# on the permit application plans. Also, check the approval letter for the MM# expiration date.

Model Home

Submit to 650 S. King St., Permit Issuance Branch (PIB) 1st Floor

1. Developers must submit (1) a set of plans showing a set of models and options for every model, a model verification form that is generated by the developers, and a $500.00 check made payable to the City and County of Honolulu ($500.00 per model).

2. The intake clerk will confirm the square footage of the model homes and options requested by the provided verification form provided by the developer and will later proceed to stamp the submitted plans with DPP’s department block stamp.

3. The plans will then be routed internally to the required branches to review the plans, once all the required branches have approved the plans, an MM Decision Letter is generated and then internally forwarded to PIB’s Customer Service Division Chief to obtain their approval.

4. Once the MM Decision Letter has been approved and returned to PIB 1st floor, the intake clerk will notify the developer to pick up the approved set and approved MM decision letter.

5. The developer will then pick up the approved plans and will be required to submit back to DPP-PIB 1st floor: (4) full-size copies and (2) half-size copies of the approved plans as soon as possible.

Factory-Built Buildings

ROH 16 Article 3

Submit to 650 S. King St. 12th Floor.

1. Complete Request for Materials and Methods and check to the City and County of Honolulu for $800.00.

2. Provide construction documents, including plans, specifications, calculations, and installation instructions stamped by an architect or engineer licensed in the State of Hawaii in accordance with HAR 16-115-8(c). Provide three (3) sets of hard copies and one electronic file copy (PDF).

3. Provide the third-party inspection agency’s company name and accreditation certificate by the International Accreditation Services (IAS).

– The inspections of these factory-built buildings are conducted in the factory by the approved third-party inspection agency.

– The third-party inspector shall issue a Certificate of Inspection.

– The manufacturer shall submit the Certificate of Inspection and a copy of the worksheet.

4. Before installation of a pre-approved structure, a Building Permit is required. The plans shall include the pre-approved MM number and the site-specific work necessary to install the structure. Refer to the Building Permit Checklist for all other requirements.

Product Approval

(i.e. verification of equipment/materials, solar hot water panels, etc.)

Fill out a Request for Materials and Methods and submit the form along with a check to the City and County of Honolulu for $300.00 for new requests and $100.00 for renewal requests.

Condominium Property Regime (CPR) Clearance

Please note that the City does not recognize CPR parcels for zoning purposes. The State regulates CPR parcels mainly as a way to designate land ownership.

A CPR parcel is not equivalent to a zoning lot, does not create entitlements, and does not increase development potential. Development standard are applied to the zoning lot regardless of whether the lot is owned by one entity or multiple entities under a CPR. Pursuant to HRS §514B-5, “Any CPR established under HRS Chapter 514B shall conform to the existing underlying county zoning for the property and all applicable county permitting requirement … to ensure the conformance of CPRs to the purposes and provisions of county zoning and development ordinances and HRS Chapter 205.”

In the case of a property which includes one or more existing structures being converted to condominium status, the CPR must include a declaration that the CPR is in compliance with all zoning and building ordinances and codes, and all other permitting requirements. We recommend that you carefully consider these requirements and restrictions before submitting any property to the State to attempt to establish a CPR.

Review the instructions for obtaining a CPR Clearance.

Department of Planning and Permitting

Building Permits