Updated Solar Quick Permits Guidelines
Solar Quick Permits are processing, even if the property is within a Special Management Area (SMA), or a Special District, subject to a Unilateral Agreement, subject to Ewa Highway Impact Fee, refers to DLNR and/or is a Lot Flags Slide Lots. Please review the following guidance:
In HNL Build, on the first page of the Quick Permit, for all solar permits, please select “Yes” for the first question:
If the applicant answers “Yes”, the flags for SMA, Special District, Unilateral Agreement, Ewa Highway Impact Fee, Refer to DLNR and/or Lot Flags Slide Lots should not prohibit the applicant from moving forward. (This has been tested, but please let us know if any applicants run into any of these flags.)
If the applicant selects “Yes” for solar PV, they will need to select one of the RE Sub Types or they will not be able to continue.
For Solar Quick Permits currently in “OTC Solar”, please be aware of the following:
For those projects submitted under Solar OTC and have not yet paid for their permit fee: First, apply for a Quick Permit. If it lets you through, submit a cancellation letter to withdraw their workaround permit directly to: eplans@honolulu.gov.
For permits that are still stuck on that Solar OTC list because they have already provided contractor consent and phases of work to the permit and have paid for their permit fee, but now just waiting on PIB to finalize the Issuance process, email: dppissuepermits@honolulu.gov. PIB staff members will facilitate the issuance of those leftover solar permits.
Solar Quick Permit Reminders:
If an MM# is not provided, don’t forget to upload the following required documentation: (1) Manufacturer Specification Sheet; (2) Installation and Operations Manual; (3) UL or Other national testing laboratory.
When your contractor receives the automated email requesting their consent and to list down phases of work, do not write any text in the box where it asks them for phases of work. The phases of work should be numerical only.
For example, it should be Electrical Phases: E3,4,5,21 and not Electrical Phase: PV Installation
Additional Tutorials
We’ve also created a set of video tutorials and step-by-step guides for solar permits, as well as other types of permits and applications available on HNL Build. For additional questions, please email us at HNLBuild@honolulu.gov.