Hilo building department

The Hilo office of the Department of Public Works Building Division serves East Hawaiʻi from the Aupuni Center. The Division reviews plans, inspects work, and enforces the Hawaiʻi County Code for building, electrical, plumbing, and sign work across the island. Hilo properties are permitted by the County of Hawaiʻi. The Hilo counter is open Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Its email is [email protected] and its fax is (808) 961-8410.

When you need a permit

Under Hawaiʻi County Code Chapter 5 (Sections 5-3-1 to 5-3-5), a permit is needed for building, electrical, or plumbing work on any structure. That includes new construction, additions, alterations, repairs, demolition, and moving a building, even on the same lot. The code specifically lists:

• gas tanks and piping
• accessible routes
• retaining walls 4 ft and higher (stepped walls within 8 ft of each other count as one wall)
• new or fully replaced solar PV and solar water heating systems
• HVAC work
• potable, household, or fire-protection water tanks and catchments of any size

One permit can cover a dwelling and its fence, wall, pool, and garage. Otherwise each structure needs its own.

Common exemptions (HCC 5-3-22)

These are exempt only when no electrical or plumbing work is involved.

Work	Exempt when
Detached decks or platforms	Less than 30 in. above grade, and meeting zoning yard setbacks
Sheds, greenhouses, gazebos, animal sheds (one story, U occupancy)	Residential land: 200 sq ft or less, no taller than 15 ft. Agricultural land: 1,000 sq ft or less. Both must be at least 10 ft from property lines and other structures
Fences	6 ft or less
Re-roofing and siding (R-3 and U)	Like material, not affecting structural components
Repairs with similar materials	No more than $25,000 per structure in any 12-month period, with no electrical or mechanical changes
Pools and water features (one- and two-family)	Less than 24 in. deep
Awnings (R-3 and U)	Projecting 4 ft or less
Solar water heater components	Same type, same location
Agricultural buildings under HRS 46-88	Per the statute

For exempt work, the County may still require a declaration that it is exempt and complies with the flood control rules (Chapter 27) and the SMA rules (HRS 205A). Emergency repairs may start without a permit, as long as you notify the Division in writing on the next workday and apply within 14 days.

Who can pull the permit

• Building work: a contractor licensed under HRS Chapter 444, or an owner-builder registered under HRS 444-2.5.
• Electrical and plumbing: generally only licensed electrical or plumbing contractors. One exception is a homeowner who holds a state electrician or plumber license under HRS 448E. That homeowner may get one permit for a single-family home they will occupy themselves.

State DCCA rules for owner-builders:

• hire only licensed subcontractors
• withhold taxes and carry workers’ compensation for any employees
• do not sell or lease the structure within one year of final inspection, except in limited cases
• a first violation can bring a fine of up to $5,000 or 40% of the structure’s appraised value, whichever is greater

Applying in EPIC

All permits are filed in EPIC (Electronic Processing and Information Center), the County’s Tyler EnerGov portal.

1. Register for an EPIC account.
2. Choose Apply and pick the permit type.
3. Complete each step of the application wizard and upload your documents.
4. Track reviews and pay invoices from your EPIC dashboard.

The County’s Permit Applicant Checklist lists what must be included for the application to be accepted. Supporting forms include:

• Property Ownership and Project Declaration forms
• a residential PV worksheet
• the HRS 46-88 agricultural compliance form
• the SHPD historic property certification
• the 2018 IECC non-residential compliance form
• a special inspections form
• a solar water heater variance or Individual Wastewater System approval letter, when applicable

Plans are reviewed by the Building Division, Planning (zoning and setbacks), DPW Engineering (flood requirements), and the State Department of Health. The County says approval takes anywhere from 3 weeks to a year. Its current average for a residential permit is 3 months.

Online payment service fees changed on June 2, 2025. eCheck now costs $1.75, and credit cards cost 3.75% with a $2.50 minimum.

Codes and design memos

The Building Division publishes a “Current Building Codes for Permit Application” sheet and plan-review memos. Topics include protection of openings and wind exposure, brace wall analysis, tempered glass, solar water heaters, smoke alarm replacement, and changes to 2018 IRC Table R802.11. At the state level, the State Building Code Council’s adopted codes are the 2018 IBC, IRC, IECC, and IEBC, the 2018 UPC, the 2018 NFPA 70, and the 2024 NFPA 1. The Governor’s affordable-housing emergency proclamation of September 23, 2025 suspended the council’s ability to update those codes, but counties may still update their own.

Hilo inspectors and related East Hawaiʻi offices

Contact	Phone
Building supervising inspector	(808) 961-8476
Electrical supervising inspector	(808) 961-8424
Plumbing supervising inspector	(808) 961-8487
DPW main line (status of old open permits)	(808) 961-8321
Engineering Division, East Hawaiʻi (grading, flood)	(808) 961-8327

Requests for permit extensions are mailed to the Building Chief at 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 7, Hilo, or emailed to [email protected]. Electrical and plumbing inspections are requested by the contractor doing that work. Do not occupy a new home or tenant space until it passes final inspection.