BUILDING PERMIT INFORMATION
Table of
Contents
Building
Permit Requirements
When Permits are Required
Work Exempted from Permits
Separate Building Permits Required
Plans, Specifications and Other Data
Engineer or Architect Requirement
Permit
Forms
Building Permit
Application Worksheet (41KB)
Contractors
Statement - Form DPP-29 (49KB)
Specialty
Contractors Statement - Form BPD 200.19a (39KB)
Called
Inspection - Form BSD-10 (43KB)
Special
Inspection Form (237KB)
Foundation
Only Permit Application (69KB)
Supplemental
Information Sheet (64KB)
Swimming Pool
Fence Letter Form (48KB)
Ohana Pre-Check
Form (714KB)
Flood Hazard Forms
Exempted
Projects (65KB)
Exempted
Projects and Improvements (539KB)
Exempted Projects
in Coastal High Hazard Districts (48KB)
New Projects,
Developments and Substantial Improvements (562KB)
Addressing
Information
House Numbering Requirement
Numbering of Street Curbs
Plan
Review Information
Codes Currently in Effect
Time Limits for Plan Reviews
Determination of Project Valuation
Permit
Issuance
Issuance and Posting
Permit Validity
Deadlines for Construction
Fee
Information
Plan Review Fees
Fees for Building Permits
Fees for Sign Permits
Penalty Fee for Work Without Permit
Refund of Fees
Inspection
Information
Electrical and Plumbing Inspections
Special Inspection Policy
Special Inspection Certification Application
Called Inspection Policy
Certificate of Occupancy Procedure
Room Capacity Signs
Building Permit Requirements
- When Permits are Required:
Refer to Chapter 18,
Section 18-3.1 (a), Revised Ordinances of Honolulu
- Work Exempted from Permits:
Refer to Chapter 18,
Section 18-3.1 (b), Revised Ordinances of Honolulu
- Separate Building Permits
Required: A separate building permit shall be required for each
building or structure, except that a single permit may be obtained for a
dwelling and its accessories, such as a fence, pool and carport or garage.
- Plans, Specifications and
Other Data:
A minimum of four (4) sets of plans shall be submitted except building
permit applications for fences and retaining walls will require only two
(2) sets.
Building plans shall be drawn to scale and shall be of sufficient clarity
to indicate the nature and extent of work proposed and show in detail that
it will conform to the provisions of all relevant laws and ordinances.
Typically, the information to be provided on the plans shall include the
following:
- On the plot plan, show lot
dimensions, location of driveway, location of proposed work, distance
from property lines and other buildings, easements and other pertinent
information.
- On the floor plan, indicate
the use of room, room dimensions, location and sizes windows and exits.
- On the framing plans and
typical section views, show sizes and spacing of beams, floor joists,
rafters, and ceiling heights.
- On the outside or exterior
elevation views, show height of building.
- On the stairway
section view, show dimensions for risers, treads, handrails including
handgrip, headroom clearance, minimum width, and size of structural
members.
- Engineer and Architect
Requirement:
Plans must be properly stamped and signed by an architect or structural
engineer when (1) work on one-storied buildings exceed $40,000, (2) work
on two-storied buildings exceed $35,000, or (3) the principle structural
members are of reinforced concrete or structural steel. Plans for
retaining walls five (5) feet or more in height must be properly stamped
and signed by an architect, structural or civil engineer licensed in the
State of Hawaii.
Electrical plans and specifications shall bear the approval of a licensed
electrical engineer except that if the demand load of the proposed
installation is less than 30 kilovolt-amperes, the approval of an engineer
shall be required only if the building official so directs.
Permit Forms
Addressing Information
- House Numbering
Requirement: Every building must be properly numbered by the building
owner as follows:
Numbers shall be at least two inches in height;
All numbers shall be placed in such a manner as to be readily seen from
the street, roadway or lane.
Numbers shall be of a different color from the background on which they
are placed.
Numbers shall be placed in a permanent manner, chalk or other effaceable
material not being permitted.
Under the Land Use Ordinance, address signs less than one (1) square feet
in area are exempt from the requirements of the sign ordinance.
- Numbering of Street
Curbs: An owner of a building may supplement the building numbers
with numbers on the street curb fronting the building. Curb numbers shall
be painted on the curb fronting the respective building in accordance
with the following standard:
Address is to be painted within a 6-inch by 12-inch area on the top or
face of the curb.
Address shall be painted adjacent to the driveway flare.
Arabic numerals shall be black in color over a white background.
Plan Review Information
- Codes in Effect:
International Building Code, 2003 Edition with local amendments
Housing Code of the City and County of Honolulu, Printed 1997
Uniform Plumbing Code, 1997 Edition with local amendments
National Electrical Code, 2005 Edition
Uniform Fire Code, 1997 Edition with 1998 and 1999 Supplements
Land Use Ordinance, April 2003
- Time Limits for initial
review for each agency/branch for projects that qualify for the Automatic
Approval process are as follows:
- Category 1 Permits Two
(2) full working days:
Single-family dwelling and two-family dwelling;
Structures accessory to residential dwellings;
Retaining walls
- Category 2 Permits 14
calendar days:
Projects with valuation below $50,000
- Category 3 Permits 28
calendar days:
Projects
with valuation between $50,000 and $999,999
- Category 4 Permits 42
calendar days:
Projects
with valuation between $1,000,000 and $9,999,999
- Category 5 Permits 70
calendar days:
Projects with valuation above $10,000,000
- Determination of Project
Valuation: The valuation to be used by the building official in
computing the permit fees shall be the total value of all construction
work for which the permit is issued, as well as all finish work,
painting, roofing, electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning,
elevators, fire extinguishing systems and any other permanent work or
permanent equipment.
Permit Issuance
- Issuance and Posting:
All approved plans and specifications shall not be changed, modified,
or altered without authorization from the building official, and all work
regulated by the codes shall be done in accordance with the approved
plans.
Post the building permit in a conspicuous place on the site during the
progress of work.
The approved job site building plans shall be kept on the site of the
building or work at all times during which the authorized work is in
progress.
- Permit Validity:
The issuance of any permit or approval of plans, specifications, and
other data shall not be construed to be a permit for, or an approval of
any violation of any code or ordinance.
The issuance of a permit shall not prevent the building official from
requiring the correction of errors in the plans and specifications or
halting building operations when in violation of any pertinent code or
ordinance.
Every permit shall be valid for a period of three (3) years from the date
of its issuance. Any building or structure that is not completed within
the period of validity shall fall within the purview of unfinished
buildings or structures.
- Deadlines for
Construction:
Applicant has 180 days from the building permit issuance date to begin
work.
Once work has started, such work shall not be suspended or abandoned for
a period of 120 days.
At the end of two (2) years after the building permit is issued, all
foundation work for the new building shall be completed. In any case, all
work shall be completed within three (3) years from the building permit
issuance date with the exception of work on single family dwellings. The
period for completion of work on single family dwellings is five (5)
years from the date of permit issuance.
The building official may issue a notice to revoke a building permit if
the authorized work is not commenced or completed within the appropriate
deadlines for construction.
An extension of time may be granted by the building official when there
is a strike or other causes beyond the control of the contractor or
owner. The extension of time shall be requested prior to the specified
deadlines for construction.
Fee Information
- Plan Review Fees: A
plan review fee shall be paid at the time of submitting plans and
specifications for review. Such plan review fee shall be 50 percent of a
tentative building permit fee based upon a preliminary estimated
valuation of work, but not greater than $2500. Plan review fees shall not
be required for building permit applications for fences, retaining walls,
swimming pools, Group R-3 occupancies, work within individual units of
Group R-1 occupancies, or any other work having a valuation of not more
than $50,000, or for any work performed for any government agency.
Applications for which plan review fees have been paid and for which no
permit is issued within 365 days following the date of application shall
expire, unless extended by the building official. In order to renew
action on an application after its expiration, the applicant shall submit
plans and pay a new plan review fee.
- Fees for Building
Permits: Refer to Chapter 18, Table
18-A, Revised Ordinances of Honolulu
- Fees for Sign Permits:
Estimated Value of
Work Fee
$.01 to
$500 $18
$500.01 to $1000 $35
$1000.01 and
above $70
- Penalty Fee for Work
without Permit: Where work for which a permit is required is
started prior to obtaining a permit, the fees specified shall be doubled,
but the payment of such double fee shall not relieve any persons from
fully complying with the requirements of all pertinent codes and
ordinances.
The penalty fee for sign work commenced without a permit is $100 plus the
fee specified for the value of the sign work.
- Refund of Fees:
Where a permittee is unable to commence work authorized by the building
permit due to a material change in circumstances or financial
difficulties, the building official can refund an amount equal to 50
percent of the permit fee paid. The written application for a refund on
forms furnished by the building official shall be filed no later than 15
days after the revocation date of such permit and the amount of refund
cannot be less than ten (10) dollars.
Inspection Information
- Electrical and Plumbing
Information: Any electrical and plumbing work authorized by the
building permit shall be inspected. The electrical and plumbing
contractors shall notify the building official that the work is ready for
inspection. The building official may require that every request for
inspection be filed at least one (1) working day before the day for which
inspection is requested.
- Special Inspection
Policy: In addition to the building official inspection of work for
which a permit is required, the owner shall employ one or more special
inspectors independent of the contractors performing the work. The
special inspectors shall provide inspections during construction on the
types of work listed under Chapter 17, Section 1701.5, of the Uniform
Building Code. The special inspector shall furnish inspection reports to
the owner, the engineer or architect of record, and other
owner-designated persons. All discrepancies shall be brought to the
immediate attention of the contractor for correction, then, if
uncorrected, to the proper design authority and to the building official.
- Special Inspection
Certification Application:
The following individuals shall be considered to be qualified to
perform special inspection:
- Structural engineers licensed by the State of Hawaii
may perform special inspection on concrete, bolts installed in concrete,
special moment-resisting concrete frame, reinforcing steel and prestressing
steel tendons, high-strength bolding, structural masonry, shotcrete, sheathed shear
walls and diaphragms, and complete load path.
- Civil engineers licensed by the State
of Hawaii may perform special inspection of piling, drilled piers,
caissons, special grading, excavation and filling.
- Design professionals of
record, licensed by the State of Hawaii, responsible for performing
observation of construction under HRS Chapter 464 for a particular project, may
perform special inspection of complete load path and uplift ties and termite
treatment for that project.
- Qualified employees of
engineering and architectural firms with the responsibility for performing
the design and observation of construction under Hawaii Revised Statutes
Chapter 464 and special inspection under Uniform Building Code Section 306
for a particular project, provided that one of the principals is a
structural engineer licensed by the State of Hawaii.
- Qualified employees of civil
engineering firms with the responsibility for preparing the soils
investigation report and performing both observation of construction under
Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 464 and special inspection under Uniform
Building Code Section 306 for a particular project may perform special
inspection of piling, drilled piers, caissons, special grading, excavation
and filling, provided that one of the principals is a civil engineer
licensed by the State of Hawaii.
- Inspectors certified by the
American Concrete Institute, the International Conference of Building
Officials or the American Welding Society shall be considered to be
qualified in the areas of their specialty.
- Individuals who pass a
written test prepared by the Building Division, Department of Planning and
Permitting, with a minimum passing score of 70 percent. Applicants must
have at least three years of applicable experience to be eligible for the
written test. An engineering or architectural degree from an accredited
college or university may be substituted for two years of experience. A
concrete technician certificate issued by the Concrete Technicians
Association of Hawaii may be substituted for one year of experience in the
fields of concrete, reinforcing steel and prestressing steel. Concrete and
reinforcing steel special inspector certifications shall be a prerequisite
for obtaining prestressed concrete certification. Examinations shall not
be retaken in the same classification within any six-month period.
- Called Inspection Policy:
Inspections will be required for all lathing and gypsum board, interior
and exterior, in construction required to be fire resistive except for
work in Groups R-3 and U Occupancies. Inspections will be made after all
lathing and gypsum board is in place, but before any plastering is applied
or before gypsum joints and fasteners are taped and finished. Request for
inspections shall be at least 24 hours in advance.
- Certificate of Occupancy
Procedure: No building or structure shall be used or occupied
until the building official has issued a certificate of occupancy. Single
family dwellings and its accessories are the exception.
The certificate of occupancy is issued after the building official
inspects the building or structure and finds no violations of the code.
The certificate of occupancy shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the
premises and shall not be removed.
The certificate of occupancy can be suspended or revoked when issued in
error, or on the basis of incorrect information supplied, or when it is
determined that the building or structure is in violation of an ordinance
or code provision.
Room Capacity Sign: Any room used for assembly purpose where fixed
seats are not installed shall have a room capacity sign posted in a
conspicuous place near the main exit. Sign shall indicate the total number
of occupants allowed for the room.
(09/19/2003--bldperm2.htm)