CEB FAQ
Permit Research
What is the status of my permit?
Permit status can be found by searching HNL Build.
How do I view full permit files and related records?
To access full permit files and other records, fill out a Request to View Records and/or contact our Data Access Imaging Branch at (808) 768-8277 (dppdaib@honolulu.gov).
Trenching / Excavation of City ROW
What should my trenching plans have?
Prepare a plan that includes the following information:
- Description of the proposed underground installation
- Location map, address, and tax map key (TMK) of site
- Street names (including state, city, or private ownership)
- Property lines
- Existing sidewalk, ground cover, planter strips, utilities etc.
- North arrow and scale
- An Erosion and Sediment Control Plan, unless project is ‘Minor Development’
- Appropriate clearance from City drainage infrastructure
- One-foot (1′) minimum horizontal clearance
- Six-inch (6″) minimum vertical clearance
- Include profiles for any such crossings
- Trench dimensions and proposed utilities
- Including location of each proposed excavation and dimensions showing the length, width, and depth, including the surface area of said opening in paving, sidewalk, and other structures.
- Restoration detail(s) for City sidewalks and/or roadways. See sample details.
- Plans should generally be 24″ × 36″, but smaller may be acceptable, provided the plans are still clearly legible. Lettering should be at least 13 point font size.
Who will review my plans?
Minor projects may be submitted for review at our counter on the ground floor in the permitting center. Larger projects proposing excavation across more than one city block or which includes frontage improvements (i.e. new sidewalk, curb, gutter, curb ramps, catch basins) requires formal plan review and approval. Plans for formal plan review and approval are submitted to our Subdivision Branch (768-8100) on the 8th floor prior to application for permit. See the SDD plan submittal requirements for more information regarding formal plan review.
What documentation do I need to submit?
Visit the civil engineering counter in the permitting center and submit the following:
- Completed application(opens in a new tab) including the utility clearances on page 2.
- Additional clearance from the Department of Facility Maintenance is required when trenching more than 200 lineal feet.
- ALL clearances are required before submission of application. Applications without required clearances will be rejected and returned to the applicant.
- Designation of certified ESCP coordinator on Appendix A(opens in a new tab) form unless project is Minor Development
- One hard copy set of the approved/reviewed plans with Erosion and Sediment Control Plan (ESCP)
- Permit fee, if applicable
- ESCP Review fee, if applicable
- Bonding, or other form of surety, if applicable
- Proof of insurance (unless already submitted under separate cover)
- The City and County of Honolulu must be named as additional insured and the minimum coverage shall be $100,000 for property damage per occurrence and $500,000 for injury or death. See section on insurance information.
- Simple construction schedule (example)
What is a “utility clearance”?
A utility clearance is review by a utility agency for any conflicts between the proposed work and the utility with an outcome of ‘no apparent conflict’. A clearance is indicated by a signature on the DPP’s Site Development Division Master Application Form (Trenching Permit Application Form) from an authorized agency staffer. The agency will review your project for possible conflicts with their utilities. If any agency requires special conditions to provide their clearance, the City is not party to any such agreement. The utility clearance process is intended to reduce utility conflicts in the field, but is not a guarantee of no conflicts. The signature indicates the signing agency has reviewed the project and is amenable to allowing the project to proceed. The first eight listed agency clearances are always required. Projects trenching more than 200 lineal feet require additional clearance from the Department of Facilities Maintenance, Division of Road Maintenance. Submitted utility clearances must be less than one year old at time of submission for permitting. Utility clearances are required in accordance with ROH §14-2.1(c)(2).
Renewing a trenching permit
Trenching permits expire one year after the date of issue and needs to be renewed if work is not complete before the expiration date.
To renew, submit:
- a signed application
- permit fee, if applicable
- Appendix A, unless project is Minor Development
New utility clearances are required if work was not started under the original permit or if the plans have been revised.
Closing a trenching permit
Grading, Grubbing, Stockpiling
What should my grading plan include?
- Property owner name & address
- Site location map, address, & tax map key (TMK)
- Property lines, dimensions, easements
- Limits of grading, graded & disturbed areas
- Earthwork summary
- Graded area in square feet (sf) or acres (ac)
- Disturbed area in sf or ac
- Excavation in cubic yards (cy)
- Embankment in cy
- Existing & finish grades by spot elevations or contour lines on plan view & cross-section view
- Maximum cut & fill slopes
- Grading setbacks
- Existing & proposed structures within 15 feet of area to be graded
- Streams, waterways, & wetlands
- An Erosion and Sediment Control Plan (ESCP)
- For category 3+ projects, your ESCP must be prepared by a Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Plan Preparer (CESCPP).
Plans shall be stamped by a professional licensed engineer when the lot area is 15,000 square feet or more for single- or two-family dwelling use or 7,500 sf or more for other use.
What other requirements might apply?
- disturb one acre or more of land, or
- discharge of hydrotesting water, or
- discharge associated with construction activity dewatering.
- the graded height is greater than 15 ft for single- or two-family dwelling use or 7.5 ft for other use, or
- existing slopes within the graded area exceeds 15%, or
- filling a gully, swamp, pond, lake, waterway, or wetland, or
- the fill material is a highly plastic clay, or
- fill is used to support foundations for residential or other buildings, or
- stockpiling for the purpose of surcharging to stabilize or consolidate an area
the proposed grading includes modification to an existing slope with a cut greater than 15 feet in height and a grade steeper than 40%.
A declaration of covenant indemnifying the City and County of Honolulu recorded with the State of Hawai‘i Bureau of Conveyance whengrading is proposed on a slide lot.
Who will review my plans?
Smaller projects may be submitted for informal review via ePlans or hard-copy at our counter on the ground floor in the permitting center. Category 4 & 5 Projects shall be submitted for formal plan review and approval on the 8th floor to our Subdivision Branch (768-8100) prior to application for permit. See the SDD plan submittal requirements for more information regarding formal plan review. Following review and approval of the plans, you may apply for permit up to 90 days in advance of the anticipated start of construction. Department plan approvals are valid for two years, after which re-approval is required.
What are 'slide lots'?
Slide Lots (for permitting purposes) are parcels with known/observed earth movement. Because of known earth movement, proposed grading and/or building work on these properties require an engineer’s soils report prepared by a licensed professional engineer for the proposed work.
What documentation do I need to submit?
- Completed online Application for New Site Dev Permit (HNL Build account required)
-
- At the end of the online application, you will get a reference number like ‘2026-GP-0001’. Do not submit physical documents before completing this step. Include this reference number with all physical submissions.
- Designation of certified ESCP coordinator and/or CWPPP on Appendix A(opens in a new tab) form
- Approved/reviewed plans (two sets for hard copy review, one for ePlan review)
- Erosion and Sediment Control Plan (with valid construction dates)
- Cover letter of a State Department of Health NOI or NGPC, if applicable
- Fee and bond, if applicable
When does a grading permit expire?
All grading permits expire when the permitted work does not commence within 90 days from the date of issuance; if the work is suspended or abandoned for 60 days after commencing work; or one year from the date of issuance. A new permit is required to commence or re-commence work.
How do I renew a grading permit?
- Apply for New Site Dev Permit (HNL Build account required)
-
- At the end of the online application, you will get a reference number like ‘2026-GP-0001’. Do not submit physical documents before completing this step. Include this reference number with all physical submissions.
- with reference to the current grading permit number, any updated grading quantities, and an applicant with ah HNL Build account.
- Grading fee, which is based on remaining quantities. If renewing after the expiration date, the fee is double.
- Updated Erosion and Sediment Control Plan and NOI or NGPC if applicable
- Designation of certified ESCP coordinator on Appendix A(opens in a new tab) form
Closing a grading permit
Bond, Fee, and Insurance
What types of bond are accepted?
If a bond in favor of the city is required, applicants may file a bond:
- guaranteed by a surety company duly authorized to transact business within the State of Hawaii, or
- deposit cash in lieu of a bond, or
- deposit a letter of credit in lieu of a bond.
Bonds guaranteed by a surety company shall be on the appropriate City and County of Honolulu bond form and be notarized by both principal and surety company. Or the applicant may deposit cash or letter of credit in lieu of a bond. No interest shall be paid by the city on such cash deposit. Cash deposits shall be in the form of a cashier’s check or official bank check and submitted along with a Security Check in Lieu of Bond form. Personal or company checks in lieu of a bond are not accepted.
When is my bond returned?
Grading permit bonds are returned one year after closure of the grading permit.
Trenching permit bonds are returned one year after final inspection of the completed work.
Please contact us at DppCivilEngineering@honolulu.gov for inquiries related to Grading or Trenching bonds.
Can I use the same bond for multiple projects?
Any bond, letter of credit, or security check in lieu of bond only covers the permit it was initally filed with, or subsequent renewals of that same permit. New projects would require a new form of surety to be submitted.
What types of fee payment are accepted?
Online payments may be made via a Visa or Mastercard credit card. (AMEX and Discover are not accepted at this time) Additionally, checks or cash may be submitted. Checks may be either personal or bank checks. Any checks should be made payable to the “City and County of Honolulu”.
See our interactive Civil Engineering Permit Fee Calculator for fee amounts.
Who do I ask if I have questions that aren't answered above?
Email DppCivilEngineering@honolulu.gov for the most prompt response. Please include any photos if relevant to your question.
Surface Encroachment in City ROW
Who do I ask if I have questions about authorizations?
If I got a violation, who do I ask if I have questions?
Contact your inspector as listed on your violation, as shown below.
Online Portal (HNL BUILD)
What type of HNL BUILD account is required for permit applications when a contractor is involved?
For any permit application that involves a contractor, the contractor performing the work is required to have a dedicated HNL Build Customer Portal account registered under their business name. This ensures all contractor-related permit activities are managed efficiently and correctly within a centralized system.
When should I submit a "Construction Plan Job" versus an "over-the-counter" application?
The submission method depends on the scope and complexity of your project. “Construction Plan Job” submissions are generally required for larger projects, specifically those categorized as Category 4 and 5. For smaller, less complex projects, an “over-the-counter” application may be appropriate. Please refer to our detailed project category guidelines in the Rules Relating to Water Quality for specific definitions.
When is the appropriate time to submit a Trenching Permit (TP)?
Trenching Permits (TP) should only be submitted after all necessary clearances have been officially obtained. Ensuring all prerequisites are met beforehand will help expedite the processing of your Trenching Permit.
How do I renew my permit, and where should I list the renewal number?
To renew your permit, you will need to insert your renewal number into the ‘purpose of work’ text field during the application process. Please be aware that while you can input the number here, any linking functionality associated with this text field will not be active.
Where should I reference my Construction Plan (CP) Job number?
When completing your application, please insert your Construction Plan (CP) Job number directly into the ‘purpose of work’ text field. Kindly note that any attempted linking through this field will not function as expected.
What if I have already paid the ESCP Review Fee?
The ESCP Review Fee is paid once. If you are unsure whether the ESCP Review Fee has already been paid or applies, do not pay and proceed with the permit submittal.
The ESCP Review Fee is already paid when:
- The project is reviewed under a Construction Plan (CP) review or a building permit
- The ESCP fee was paid under a previous permit
- The project is a City project (grading work is on behalf of the City)
For assistance, please contact CEB staff for Grading Permits at DPPCivilEngineering@honolulu.gov
Kindly include the following with your inquiry:
- Your newly submitted permit/application #, and
- The original reference # (or permit #) where the ESCP fee was paid
Other Inquiries
Who do I ask if I have questions that aren't answered above?
Email DppCivilEngineering@honolulu.gov for the most prompt response. Please include any photos if relevant to your question.
You can contact our Site Development Division staff at 768-8218.
Where do I find standard details or standard specifications?
See the Municipal Reference Center’s Standards and Best Practices. Call Site Development Division staff at 768-8218 with questions regarding standard details and/or standard specifications.