Roth signs bill to expand housing availability
Mayor Mitch Roth has signed County Council Bill 123, a piece of legislation aimed at increasing housing inventory.
The bill — co-drafted by council Chair Heather Kimball, Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz, Planning Director Zendo Kern and Deputy Director Jeff Darrow — allows homeowners to build up to three accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, with a size limit of 1,250 square feet on their properties.
“Hawaii County is leading the way with Bill 123 and can help homeowners generate extra income needed to get by,” Kimball said in a press release. ”By encouraging development of existing properties in urban areas close to school, work and commercial areas, ADUs also promote more sustainable land use practices outside the urban core.”
“By allowing more ADUs in urban areas, we’re encouraging smart growth within our communities,” Kierkiewicz said in the press release. “This practical solution not only increases housing availability, but also empowers residents to actively contribute to addressing our island’s housing shortage.”
The bill introduces new provisions that replace previous restrictions on “’ohana dwelling units,” providing more flexibility for homeowners to add ADUs. Key amendments include:
— Allowing ADUs, whether detached or attached, to be built alongside single-family homes in residential (RS), duplex (RD), residential-agricultural district (RA), agricultural (A) and family agricultural (FA) districts;
— Limiting each property to a maximum of three ADUs;
— Ensuring compliance with infrastructure and safety standards, including requirements for sewage disposal and water supply;
— Restricting the use of ADUs for transient accommodations, with limited exceptions.
“The ability to build additional dwellings on existing properties is essential in addressing our housing shortage, but it’s also about preserving our communities and ensuring that future generations — our keiki — can continue to live and thrive here in Hawaii,” Roth said in the release.
For more information about the new ADU provisions or to learn how to apply for building permits, please contact the Planning Department at planning@hawaiicounty.gov.
