ROH Chapter 21

R-7.5 Residential

A mid-scale residential district requiring 7,500 sf minimum lots with a stricter 40% lot coverage limit and a 15-ft front yard minimum. The tighter coverage limit means that even moderate additions can push coverage into violation territory — particularly on corner lots where the street-side setback also applies.

Common locations: Kahala, portions of Hawaii Kai (Hahaione, Kalama Valley), hillside subdivisions, and some Kailua and Kaneohe neighborhoods.

Development standards

Standard	Requirement
Minimum lot area	7,500 sf
Front yard	15 ft min
Rear yard	5 ft min
Interior side yard	5 ft min
Street-side yard	10 ft min
Max lot coverage	40%
Max building height	30 ft
FAR limit	None

The 40% coverage limit (vs. 50% in R-5) is the most significant constraint shift. A 7,500 sf lot allows only 3,000 sf of coverage — same as a 6,000 sf lot in R-5.

Source: ROH §21-3.10-3 (R-7.5 district standards)

Sample calculation

Lot area7,500 sf

Max coverage (40%)3,000 sf

Existing house + garage2,100 sf (28%)

Proposed 400 sf addition2,500 sf (33.3%) — PASS

Coverage headroom500 sf remaining

Common DPP plan-check violations

1Lot coverage exceeding 40% — the 10% reduction from R-5/R-3.5 catches architects accustomed to R-5 projects

2Front yard setback at 15 ft rather than 10 ft — additions that would pass R-5 often fail here

3Prevailing setback rule applying where adjacent structures have setbacks greater than 15 ft

4Pool and deck combination pushing coverage toward the 40% limit

Key exceptions and reliefs

—Same accessory structure reduced setback rules as R-5 (200 sf / 15 ft max height)

—Same 18-in overhang exemption from coverage and setback

Run the zoning calculator →

Enter your lot dimensions and proposed footprint — instant lot coverage, envelope, and FAR check for R-7.5.

Pre-check your plan set — $199 →

Upload your drawings for a full citation-anchored compliance report covering R-7.5 zoning + IBC in ~30 min.

← All zoning districts

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.