Honolulu Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Contact

Honolulu DPP’s zoning and land-use functions regulate how property may be used and developed across the City and County of Honolulu. The zoning office works within the same consolidated Oʻahu authority that issues building permits; a zoning approval does not replace a building permit when construction is also proposed.

Zoning and land-use review

Before submitting a building permit, identify the parcel’s zoning district and review the applicable Land Use Ordinance standards for use, setbacks, height, floor area, parking, loading, signs, special districts, and other development controls. Depending on the project, DPP may require a zoning adjustment, waiver, existing-use permit, conditional-use permit, special-district permit, shoreline setback variance, environmental assessment, subdivision review, or other land-use approval.

DPP’s official environmental-assessment instructions state that applications are generally submitted online through HNL Build, while certain large environmental documents may require the department’s interim email or hand-delivery procedure. Confirm the application type and submission path before filing because a zoning request can have different requirements from a standard building permit.

Site development, inspections, and occupancy

Site-development work such as grading, grubbing, stockpiling, subdivisions, right-of-way work, drainage, utilities, and flood-control improvements may require review and inspection by DPP’s Site Development Division. Keep approved plans and agency clearances coordinated with the building permit. A project should not assume that zoning approval alone authorizes construction or occupancy; final building and trade inspections and any required agency signoffs still apply.

Official contact information

DPP lists its main office at 650 South King Street, 7th Floor, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, with general assistance at (808) 768-8000. Use the official Land Use Ordinance, zoning-permit, Site Development Division, and HNL Build resources for current requirements and parcel-specific review.