Guides for Hawaii architects.
Plain-language breakdowns of DPP plan check, Hawaii building code, and the self-certification program — written by people who have lived through the process.
The Honolulu Building Permit Process: A Guide for Self-Certifying Architects
How DPP plan check actually works, what ROH §16 and §21 require, where most applications stall, and how self-certifying architects can cut rejection cycles.
Hawaii's Self-Certification Program: What It Covers, What It Doesn't, and How to Stay Out of the Audit Pool
How the SCP works, which projects qualify, what the audit program actually checks, and the practices that keep self-certifying architects out of trouble.
ROH Chapter 21 Setbacks: How Honolulu Zoning Determines Your Buildable Area
Front, rear, and side yard setbacks under the Land Use Ordinance — what counts as a structure, the prevailing setback rule, nonconforming lots, and how to document it all.
Honolulu Zoning Districts Explained: From R-3.5 Residential to BMX Mixed-Use
A plain-language guide to Honolulu's zoning district designations under ROH Chapter 21 — what each allows, minimum lot sizes, height limits, and how to verify a parcel's designation.
Honolulu Lot Coverage and FAR: How DPP Calculates Your Buildable Envelope
What counts toward lot coverage and floor area ratio in Honolulu under ROH Chapter 21 — covered lanais, carports, accessory structures, and the calculation methods that generate the most plan check comments.
Honolulu Building Height Limits: How the LUO Measures Height and What's Excluded
The LUO height measurement method, excluded rooftop elements, the 2.5-story residential rule, and how to show height compliance on elevation drawings to avoid DPP comments.
Honolulu ADU and Ohana Unit Permits: Code Requirements, Lot Eligibility, and DPP Process
Lot eligibility, setback modifications, owner-occupancy rules, size limits, parking, and the DPP permit path for ADUs and ohana units in Honolulu.
How to Write a Variance Application in Honolulu: The Four Criteria DPP Requires
The four ZBA criteria, how to write a hardship narrative that satisfies each one, common denial reasons, and how to structure the application for a Honolulu variance.
How to Respond to DPP Plan Check Comments: A Practical Guide for Architects
How to format a DPP comment response, what plan checkers look for in a resubmittal, example response language for common comment types, and the mistakes that send submissions back for a third round.
Special Management Area Permits in Hawaii: What Architects Need to Know Before Designing Near the Shore
How the SMA permit requirement works, what projects trigger it, how the SMA exemption process operates, and what the shoreline setback adds to your compliance checklist.
IBC 2018 in Hawaii: Local Amendments Under ROH Chapter 16 That Affect Your Plans
Where Honolulu's adopted IBC 2018 diverges from the model code — sprinkler thresholds, seismic design category, energy compliance, and the amendments most likely to generate DPP comments.
FEMA Flood Zones in Hawaii: What They Mean for Building Permits and Construction
AE vs VE flood zones, base flood elevation, elevation certificates, substantial improvement triggers, and what DPP checks on coastal construction submissions in Honolulu.
Honolulu Parking Requirements Under ROH Chapter 21: Off-Street Stalls, Dimensions, and Reductions
How the LUO calculates off-street parking by use and district — stall dimensions, bicycle parking, transit proximity reductions, and the most common plan check errors.
What Doesn't Require a Building Permit in Honolulu: Hawaii's Permit Exemptions Explained
Which projects are exempt from building permit requirements in Honolulu — fences, sheds, repairs, painting — and the edge cases where an exempt project becomes permit-required.
Nonconforming Structures and Lots in Honolulu: What the LUO Allows and What Triggers Compliance
How the LUO treats nonconforming lots and structures — what you can do without triggering full compliance, what expansions are allowed, and how to document nonconforming conditions for DPP.
Honolulu Accessory Structure Permits: Sheds, Garages, and Ohana Units
When does a shed, garage, or accessory structure require a permit in Honolulu? ROH Chapter 21 thresholds, reduced setback rules for qualifying structures, and what triggers full plan check.
Hawaii Pool Permit Process: What Honolulu Homeowners and Architects Need to Know
The full permit process for swimming pools in Honolulu — plan check requirements, barrier and safety fence rules, electrical inspection, flood zone considerations, and common DPP corrections.
Solar Permit Process in Hawaii: Rooftop PV from DPP Submission to Interconnection
How rooftop solar permits work in Hawaii — DPP building permit, HECO interconnection application, structural requirements for roof attachment, and common code issues that delay approvals.
Honolulu Demolition Permits: Full vs. Partial Demolition Requirements
When a demolition permit is required in Honolulu, what the DPP submittal requires, asbestos and lead abatement rules, utility disconnects, and how demolition ties into the subsequent building permit.
Hawaii Grading Permits: When You Need One and What DPP Requires
Grading permit thresholds in Honolulu, drainage and erosion control requirements, geotechnical report triggers, and how grading ties into the building permit process.
Honolulu Fence Permits: When You Need One and What the Height Limits Are
ROH Chapter 21 fence and wall height limits for Honolulu residential zones, when a building permit is required, front yard vs. rear yard rules, and corner lot visibility triangles.
Honolulu Express Plan Check: How to Qualify and What to Expect
DPP's Express Plan Check Program offers faster review for qualifying projects. Covers eligibility, fees, timeline, and what makes a submission ready for express review.
Maui Building Permit Process: How Maui County Differs from Honolulu DPP
The building permit process in Maui County — how it differs from Honolulu DPP, Maui County zoning codes, SMA and shoreline rules, and what architects need to know when working on both islands.
Hawaii Structural Engineer Requirements: When You Need a PE Stamp
When a structural engineer stamp is required on Hawaii building permit submissions — seismic zone considerations, wind load requirements, and the projects where a licensed PE is mandatory.
Honolulu Commercial Building Permit Guide: Plan Check Process for Non-Residential Projects
Commercial permits in Honolulu — occupancy classifications, fire protection requirements, HFD review, accessibility compliance, tenant improvement permits, and common first-cycle corrections.