A-1 Low Density Apartment
Low-rise apartment and townhome district with a 45-ft height limit, 1.25 FAR cap, and 45% coverage maximum. The FAR limit is the key additional constraint not present in residential districts — floor area must be tracked across all building levels and compared to net lot area.
Common locations: Walkable Honolulu neighborhoods near transit: portions of Nuuanu, Punchbowl, lower Makiki, Palolo, and transit-adjacent Kaimuki.
Development standards
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum lot area | 5,000 sf |
| Front yard | 10 ft min |
| Rear yard | 10 ft min |
| Interior side yard | 5 ft min |
| Street-side yard | 10 ft min |
| Max lot coverage | 45% |
| Max building height | 45 ft |
| FAR limit | 1.25 |
FAR of 1.25 applies to all floor area. On a 5,000 sf lot, maximum total floor area is 6,250 sf across all levels. Parking structure floor area counts unless it meets specific exemption criteria.
Source: ROH §21-3.30 (A-1 apartment district standards)
Sample calculation
Common DPP plan-check violations
Key exceptions and reliefs
Enter your lot dimensions and proposed footprint — instant lot coverage, envelope, and FAR check for A-1.
Upload your drawings for a full citation-anchored compliance report covering A-1 zoning + IBC in ~30 min.
Development standards are based on ROH Chapter 21 as of May 2026. Verify all values against the current DPP-adopted code before relying on them. Overlay districts (SMA, flood zone, historic), special area requirements, and neighborhood-specific provisions may impose additional standards not reflected here.