Kailua-Kona building department

The Kona office of the Department of Public Works Building Division serves West Hawaiʻi. It is in Building E1, 1st floor, of the West Hawaiʻi Civic Center on Ane Keohokalole Highway. It is a County office, not a separate Kailua-Kona government, so permits it handles are County of Hawaiʻi permits. The counter is open Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Its fax is (808) 327-3509, and it shares the Division email, [email protected]. The DPW Engineering Division’s West Hawaiʻi office is in Building D, 1st floor, of the same civic center, at (808) 323-4850.

Applications are filed online in EPIC, the County’s Tyler EnerGov portal. This page covers what happens after you apply. For which projects need a permit and how to apply, see the Hilo office page, since both offices follow the same county rules.

Requesting an inspection

Contractors and owner-builders have three ways to schedule an inspection:

1. Link your EPIC account to the permit. Create an EPIC account, then submit the EPIC Request Assistance form. Say which inspection you want and give the permit number.
2. Request the inspection on the EPIC website.
3. By calling the supervising inspector for your trade:

Kona supervising inspector	Phone
Building	(808) 323-4728
Electrical	(808) 323-4729
Plumbing (acting supervisor)	(808) 323-4749

The inspector assigned to your job is named on the issued permit, along with contact details. Area assignments can change, so check with the listed inspector. Inspectors keep different hours from the counter, so call ahead if you need an appointment. Results are emailed to the address on file.

Cancel by the day before at the latest. If you cancel later than that, or not at all, you can be charged a $100 extra inspection fee.

Typical sequence for a new house: foundation, framing, and final. Finish the electrical and plumbing inspections before you call for the building inspection, so nothing gets covered up first. Electrical and plumbing inspections are requested by the licensed contractor doing that work.

Permit deadlines and expiration

Rule	County Code
An application not issued within 180 days of submission is treated as abandoned if you have not answered corrections or paid fees. You may request 90-day extensions in writing before the deadline.	HCC 5-4-7
Restarting an abandoned application means plans must meet the code in effect at resubmittal, plus a new plan review fee.	HCC 5-4-7
Permits issued after August 17, 2020 expire six years after issuance.	HCC 5-5-4
One extension of up to 180 days is possible if construction is substantially complete and delays were beyond your control. Request it in writing at least 30 days before expiration. The County decides within 30 days, and denials can be appealed to the board of appeals.	HCC 5-5-5
Temporary permits for tents, construction trailers, and similar structures last up to 180 days, with possible 90-day extensions. The fee is $50.	HCC 5-3-4

Refunds, changes, and old permits

• Refunds: plan review fees are not refundable. Permit fees can be partly refunded if you ask in writing within 90 days of issuance. The County keeps 10% of the fee or $50, whichever is greater. Fees of $50 or less are not refunded (HCC 2-12).
• Changing contractors or dropping owner-builder status: you need written approval, revised declarations for the electrical and plumbing contractors, and a $100 non-refundable fee. Use the Building Permit Transfer Request Form (HCC 5-5-3). Permits cannot be loaned to anyone else.
• Old open permits: call (808) 323-4720 to check status. If finals were never done, you can either have the owners send a letter voiding the permit (the County may inspect to confirm the work is safe), or finish the work, which may require a permit transfer.
• Emergency repairs: work may start right away. Notify the Division in writing the next workday, then file the application and pay fees within 14 days.

Grading, grubbing, and stockpiling in West Hawaiʻi

Under HCC Chapter 10, you need a permit for:

• Grading: more than 100 cubic yards of cut or fill, cut or fill over 5 ft high, or any change in drainage toward neighbors
• Grubbing: more than one acre
• Stockpiling: more than 500 cubic yards

These permits are filed in EPIC and must be submitted to the Engineering office for the side of the island where the work is, so West Hawaiʻi projects go to Kona. The State Historic Preservation Division reviews each one first, using an HRS 6E submittal form. Only then does it go to Planning. Engineering also enforces the floodplain rules (HCC Chapter 27).