TOD DESIGN GUIDELINES
Honolulu’s TOD Special District covers a wide area and diverse set of communities, each with their own histories, cultures, and visions of the future. The DPP has prepared plans, which are based on extensive community input, to reflect the individuality of these communities; likewise, the development of these areas should not be looked at with a “one-size fits all” mentality. The TOD neighborhoods are unique, and will reflect the community. As such, this guide should be a reference used in conjunction with the Land Use Ordinance (LUO) and the Neighborhood TOD Plans.
TOD Special District Objectives:
- Promote an appropriate mixture and density of activity around the rail transit stations in order to maximize the potential for transit ridership and promote alternative modes of transportation
- Allow for more intense and efficient use of land for the mutual reinforcement of public investments and private development
- Support transit by ensuring connectivity and convenient access, while limiting conflict between vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles, and transit operations
- Provide quality urban design that attracts and encourages pedestrian activity
- Provide a high level of streetscape amenities that create a comfortable environment for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other uses, such as walkways, street furniture, street trees, and human-scale architectural features
- Promote an appropriate mix of housing types, including affordable and/or rental housing
- Promote high quality, publicly accessible and usable spaces and gathering places
- Contribute positively to the economic enhancement of the affected area and the city, particularly with regard to providing a broad mix of uses, diverse housing, and diverse employment opportunities
DISTRICT GUIDELINES
The following guidelines are intended to be simple, straightforward, and purposeful, while promoting landowners and developers to enhance existing developments and create opportunities for infill development.
❯ BUILDING PLACEMENT AND DESIGN:
Near and parallel to the street
Mixed-Use
Active and inviting facades
Transparency
Signs and window displays
Ground floor uses
Entrances
Required Yards Table
Maximum Setbacks
Key Street References in the LUO
❯ PARKING AND LOADING:
Parking Placement
Structured Parking and Podium
Bike Parking
❯ MULTI-MODAL DESIGN:
Relationship to Transit
Pedestrian Paths and Walkways
Streetscape Elements
❯ SIDEWALK DESIGN:
Wide Sidewalks
Grade Change
Street Trees
❯ NONCONFORMITIES:
Nonconforming Structure
Nonconforming Uses
Nonconforming Site Development
RELATED DOCUMENTS
TOD Design Guidelines – February 2025
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
A: The TOD Design Guidelines are available as a PDF document under Related Documents. The document was designed for digital use, as it contains clickable links throughout, but it is also formatted for print on 8.5 by 11-inch letter-size paper.
A: There is one TOD Special District that will apply to all of the TOD neighborhoods under City jurisdiction (excluding Kakaako). The boundary will be updated as each rail transit station area is added to the Land Use Ordinance. See boundary maps on the Zoning page. Some TOD neighborhoods may have overlapping special districts, such as in Chinatown, where both the TOD Special District and the Chinatown Special District will apply. Additionally, there is a TOD Interactive Map available to view where TOD Special Districts are.
A: You must utilize this guidance if you are applying for a TOD permit or are in the TOD Special District. This guidance mainly applies to new uses and new floor area (not existing uses and buildings). See the Permits, Application Instructions, and Related Material page for further information. Additionally, there is a TOD Interactive Map available to view where TOD Special Districts are.
A: The TOD Special District regulations allow for modifications under certain circumstances. See the Permits, Application Instructions, and Related Material page for information on submitting the required permit for modifications. In addition, see the Nonconformities section for other considerations.
A: The TOD neighborhood plans envision how each neighborhood will develop and include neighborhood-specific considerations. The TOD Special District regulations are defined in the Land Use Ordinance and are based on the principles identified in the TOD neighborhood plans. The TOD Design Guidelines help translate the TOD Special District regulations through further explanations and example illustrations. See the Zoning and Neighborhood pages for the TOD Special District regulations and TOD plans, respectively.
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