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Ikena Permit
ROH Chapter 21

B-1 Neighborhood Business

Small-scale commercial district for neighborhood retail, offices, and mixed-use buildings. B-1 allows 80% lot coverage and no front yard or side yard setback — significant flexibility for urban infill. The 25-ft height limit is lower than apartment districts. Front and side yards may be required where B-1 is adjacent to residential zones.

Common locations: Neighborhood commercial nodes: corner storefronts in Kaimuki, Manoa shopping, Kapahulu Ave mixed-use, Kaneohe Town.

Development standards

StandardRequirement
Minimum lot area5,000 sf
Front yard0 ft min
Rear yard5 ft min
Interior side yard0 ft min
Street-side yard0 ft min
Max lot coverage80%
Max building height25 ft
FAR limitNone

Front yard and side yard setbacks may be required where B-1 is adjacent to a residential district — typically 5 ft minimum. The 80% coverage maximum is the highest in the standard district series.

Source: ROH §21-3.50 (B-1 neighborhood business district standards)

Sample calculation

Lot area6,000 sf
Max coverage (80%)4,800 sf
2-story commercial building, 3,600 sf footprint3,600 / 6,000 = 60% — PASS
Front setback required?Not adjacent to residential: 0 ft

Common DPP plan-check violations

1Setbacks required where B-1 abuts residential district — often overlooked when reviewing standard district table
2Height of 25 ft exceeded by mezzanine or rooftop mechanical
3Parking calculation for change of occupancy or floor area increase — commercial uses have higher stall requirements than residential
4Accessibility (ADA) path from public sidewalk not documented

Key exceptions and reliefs

No front or side yard required where not adjacent to residential zone

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.