Building Permit Deadline Extended

The County of Hawai‘i Department of Public Works is amending its previous communication that extended the deadline to March 7, 2022, to complete construction under any permit that had previously expired per County Code Section 5-5-4 as follows:

Section 5-5-4. Expiration.
(a) Permits shall expire and become null and void:
(1) Permits issued to contractors – three years after the date of issuance of the permit;
(2) Permits issued to owner-builders – five years after the date of issuance of the permit;
(3) 180 consecutive days after the date of issuance, if the work authorized by the permit is not commenced by such date; or
(4) If the work authorized by a permit is suspended or abandoned for a
period of 180 consecutive days or more at any time after the date of issuance.
(b) Upon expiration of a permit, all work shall cease and shall not be recommenced until a new permit is obtained.

Permits issued on or before March 27, 2012 will be expired as of June 1, 2022.
• Work that has been inspected and approved will be honored under the code it was permitted.
• Work that has not been inspected and approved will need to be included in a new permit application. The expired permit number will be required to be referenced in the description section of the new permit application.

Permits issued on or before March 7, 2017 will be expired as of Sept. 7, 2022.
• Additional extensions for these permits will be considered based upon written requests that shall describe in detail the causes of the delay, the effect on the performance of work, the time during which work was actually suspended, and the portion or portions of the project affected.
• Transfer of ownership, contractor, and/or sub-contractor for an existing permit will not constitute an extension of the permit
• Work that has been inspected and approved will be honored under the code it was permitted
• Work that has not been inspected and approved will need to be included in a new permit application. The expired permit number will be required to be referenced in the description section of the new permit application.

This update is due to the multitude of changes, improvements, and communications around the Building Code and permit process that have occurred from July 2021 to date. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we strive to provide clear communications on the Building Code and permit process.

Any questions can be addressed to DPW Information and Education Specialist, Sherise Kana’e-Kāne at sherise.kanae-kane@hawaiicounty.gov or 808-961-8499.