Department of Planning and Permitting

A Minor Shoreline Structure Permit may be issued for minor structures within the shoreline setback area listed in the DPP Administrative Rules, Title 20, Chapter 31. For more information about what the shoreline setback area is, visit our Coastal Area Permits page. 

The below is a summarized version of the Instructions. 

Do I need a Minor Shoreline Structure Permit?

The following structures and activities require a Minor Shoreline Structure Permit in the shoreline area::

• • Open-work (i.e., 50% open) metal, wood, or vinyl (or similar synthetic material) fences no more than 6 feet in height (the individual post foundations must not be more than 4 inches in diameter or width);
  • Underground water and electrical conduits no more than 1 inch in diameter;
  • Irrigation fixtures and ground lighting fixtures no more than 30 inches in height;
  • Tree-mounted lighting fixtures directed away from the shoreline;
  • Activities related to installation of trees, shrubs, and ground cover, provided they do not artificially extend the shoreline area and do not require a grading or grubbing permit;
  • Masonry headers or pavers needed for a border or pathway (areas of headers or pavers must not be greater than 20 square feet and when combined with all other structures within the shoreline setback, it must not be more than 10% of the area between the shoreline and shoreline setback line);
  • Lifeguard stands, vehicle barriers less than 30 inches in height, signs, water fountains picnic tables, and other amenities within public parks;
  • Planters, barbecues, benches, and other structures built in place, not higher than 42 inches and altogether occupy no more than 20 square feet of the shoreline area, and when combined with other structures within the shoreline setback, cannot occupy more than 10% of the area between the shoreline and the shoreline setback lines;
  • Liquid fuel-fired torches no more than 8 feet in height without underground fuel conduits;
  • Roof overhangs which extend no more than 30 inches into the shoreline area with less than 30-inch vertical thickness;
  • Minor structures and activities which are necessary for or ancillary to continuation, but not expansion, of existing agricultural or aquaculture;
  • Embankment of natural beach sand which is of the same color and grain size as exists along the beach area, and including the dewatering of sand for the purpose of beach replenishment projects; and
  • Temporary emergency stabilization of an eroding shoreline with sandbags;
  • Civil defense warning or signal devices and sirens.

How do I apply for a Minor Shoreline Structure Permit?

1. Environmental Review

If the project includes any actions listed in Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 343-5, compliance with the State’s environmental review process is required. To complete the process, either.

1. The determining agency must declare the action exempt from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS) (agencies maintain lists of actions that are commonly exempt);
2. An environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact must be published (if significant environmental impacts are not anticipated); or
3. An environmental impact statement must be accepted and published (if significant environmental impacts are anticipated).

2. Apply

• • Login or create an account.
  • Click on New Coastal Area Permit.
  • Select Minor Shoreline Structure.

Fill out the fields.

• • Recorded Fee Owner is the person or corporate entity that owns the land in fee simple. 
  • Applicant is the person or corporate entity proposing the action. It may be the Recorded Fee Owner or a lessee.
  • Authorized Agent/Contact Person is the person who is processing the application. This is the person the Department will contact for additional information. It may be the same person as the Recorded Fee Owner, the Applicant, or a project architect or contractor.

Written Statement – Include the following:

• • Proposal – Completely and accurately describe all proposed activities and structures in the shoreline area. Include temporary construction activities and staging areas, proposed structures and long-term operational activities, and where applicable, post-project decommissioning and rehabilitation of the project site.
  • Project Information.
    • • • Lot Area (use our Property Search or our Parcels and Zoning map)
        • Lot Shape
        • Topography
        • Existing Development
        • Surrounding Uses
        • Certified Shoreline Survey (look up existing certified shoreline maps here)
        • Nearest Bodies of Water
        • Soil Classification (you can use the USDA Web Soil Survey)
        • Vegetation (existing and proposed)
        • Flood Zones
        • Shoreline Change Rate (use the Oahu shoreline change map)
        • Environmental Review compliance
        • Other Permits and Approval
  • Evaluation – Provide a written statement demonstrating that the proposal will not affect beach processes or artificially fix the shoreline; does not interfere with public access, public views or open space along the shoreline; and does not otherwise endanger the public health safety, or welfare, as detailed in Rules Section 15-1(b) and 15-2. Approval may be granted when the applicant agrees in writing to remove the structure at their own cost if the director or other government agency having jurisdiction determines that due to beach erosion or other cause, the structure may affect beach processes or public access or has become located seaward of the shoreline.

Drawings – Provide drawings of the development. All drawings must include a graphic (“bar”) scale and where applicable, include a legend.

• • Site plan – An accurate site plan showing the location of the proposed activity or structure relative to the current certified shoreline (certified by the State Department of Land and Natural Resources within one year of the application date), the shoreline setback line based on the certified shoreline, lot boundaries, required yards, and existing and proposed structures.
  • Elevations – Elevations of the proposed structure, including the regulatory height envelope based on zoning district requirements.

Declaration of Conditions – Submit the Declaration acknowledging conditions for removal of the structure, signed by the Landowner(s). See the last page of the PDF instructions linked at the top of this page. 

3. Payment

Fees may be paid online in HNL Build in “outstanding fees”.  The review fee must be paid in order to complete the application submission. Alternatively, fees may be paid by check. If paying by check, submit two checks or money orders made out to the City & County of Honolulu for:

• • A review fee of $100 (this is a non-refundable fee to review whether the application is complete); and
  • A processing fee of $500 (this is returned if the application is incomplete).

Checks or money orders that are more than 3 months (90 days) old will not be accepted. There is no fee for City agencies.

The fees are doubled when an applicant applies for a permit after being cited for taking action without obtaining necessary approvals.

If paying by check or money order, mail or drop off fee payments to the

Department of Planning and Permitting
650 South King Street, 7th Floor
Honolulu, HI 96813

4. Review

The DPP reviews the application and renders a decision, generally within 45 days from the receipt of the completed application.

5. Decision

The development project is approved or denied a Minor Shoreline Structure Permit. Decisions are communicated via HNL Build to the email address provided.

Any party wishing to appeal the Director’s action must submit a written request for a contested case hearing to the DPP within 30 calendar days from the date of mailing, personal service, or publication of the action of the Director. Contested case hearings are conducted pursuant to the DPP Administrative Rules Part 2, Chapter 12, Rules Relating to Shoreline Setbacks and the Special Management Area.