Zoning & land use in Hawaii local government
What Hawaii city councils, county boards and school districts are deciding about zoning & land use — plain-English summaries written from official agendas and minutes, updated as meetings happen.
137 Hawaii meetings since 2024 covered zoning & land use. Counts are directional — coverage varies by place and platform.
Places in Hawaii with the most zoning & land use activity
- Maui County, HI (102)
- Hawaii County, HI (35)
Latest matching meetings
Council to vote on doubling open space fund to 0.5% of property tax revenue
The Hawaii County Council will hold a second reading of a charter amendment to increase the annual allocation for the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation fund from 0.25% to 0.5% of real property tax revenue (Bill 165). Other major actions include first readings of bills to establish a formal…
Council considers updates to public access and natural resource preservation rules
The Governmental Operations and External Affairs Committee will review nominations for county commissions and agreements with the USDA. The body is also considering a bill to change how the county identifies and acquires lands for public access and natural resource preservation.
Committee will consider Bill 168 to rezone parcels in North Kona
The Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions Committee will consider Bill 168, which repeals multiple existing ordinances and amends the North Kona and Kailua Urban zoning maps. The bill changes the district classification of about 6,467 acres, converting portions of Village Commercial and Multiple‑Family Residential to…
Committee to consider zoning change for data centers vs. data processing
The Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Economic Development will discuss and potentially advance Bill 170, which amends the Hawaii County Code to distinguish data centers from data processing facilities for zoning purposes and defines 'data center.' Only this bill is on the agenda, alongside procedural items.
Committee considers rezoning apartment properties to hotel districts for vacation rentals
The Housing and Land Use Committee will consider recommending adoption of two resolutions that would refer proposed bills to the Maui Planning Commission to amend the Kihei-Makena and West Maui Community Plans and rezone numerous properties from Apartment to Hotel districts. The changes would allow continued transient…
Committee considers rezoning dozens of apartment properties to hotel districts
The Housing and Land Use Committee will consider two resolutions referring proposed bills to the Maui Planning Commission to rezone specific properties from A-1/A-2 Apartment districts to H-3/H-4 Hotel districts and amend the Kihei-Makena and West Maui Community Plans. Resolution 26-110 targets timeshare, leasehold…
Committee to vote on zoning change for Lahaina church property
The Disaster Recovery, International Affairs, and Planning Committee will consider whether to recommend passage of Bill 94 (2026) on first reading. The bill would change zoning from R-2 Residential to P-1 Public/Quasi-Public (conditional zoning) for 3.255 acres owned by Lahaina United Methodist Church. The committee…
Committee to receive presentation on Maui County Code Title 19 zoning rewrite
The Housing and Land Use Committee will receive a presentation from the Department of Planning regarding the modernization and rewrite of Maui County Code Title 19. The committee may discuss related matters, but no legislative action will be taken during this meeting.
Committee considers new Downtown Pāhoa Commercial zoning district
The Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Economic Development will discuss three bills regarding the Pāhoa area. These include the creation of a new special zoning district and updates to design guidelines.
Committee to consider bill authorizing paid parking zones in West Maui
The Water and Infrastructure Committee will consider whether to recommend passage of Bill 68 (2026) on first reading, which would amend the Maui County Code to authorize paid parking zones and permit parking zones in West Maui. The bill also establishes Resident Town Benefit locations in Wailuku and West Maui, amends…
Committee to consider allowing two accessory dwellings per residential lot
The Housing and Land Use Committee will consider three bills on first reading. Bill 78 would allow at least two accessory dwelling units on residentially zoned lots. Bill 84 would cap bed-and-breakfast homes on Molokai at five. Bill 37 would create a real property tax exemption for workforce housing developments for…
Bill 88 would create H-3 and H-4 hotel districts allowing TVRs in former apartment zones
The Housing and Land Use Committee is considering Bill 88 (2026), which would amend the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance to establish H-3 and H-4 Hotel Districts. These districts would be reserved for units or structures previously in A-1 and A-2 Apartment Districts where Transient Vacation Rentals (TVRs) were…
Maui committee to decide on 163-acre Ho'onani Village mixed-use development
The committee is considering three bills to amend the Maui Island Plan's Directed Growth Map, community plan designation, and zoning for 166.511 acres (corrected to 163.443 acres in proposed CD1) in Kahului for the Ho'onani Village Mixed Use Development. The project includes multi-family residential, retail…
Committee to discuss zoning and housing ordinances
The Housing and Land Use Committee will consider resolutions to refer zoning and community plan amendments to the Maui Planning Commission, and a bill to allow accessory dwelling units on residential lots.
Committee to consider adoption of County of Hawai‘i General Plan 2045
The Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Economic Development will discuss the adoption of the General Plan 2045 and proposed changes to commercial parking regulations. The committee will review several proposed amendments to the general plan bill.
Council to consider $2.97M in federal grants for 2026 Annual Action Plan
The Hawaii County Council will review several grant agreements, including federal funds for housing and disaster recovery. The body is also considering multiple board nominations and various real property leases and acquisitions.
Council to consider banning commercial activity at Kohanaiki Beach Park
The Hawaii County Council will consider a bill to prohibit commercial permits at Kohanaiki Beach Park, a rezoning in Puna, and several budget amendments. They will also vote on nominations to boards and approve community grants totaling over $38,000. The council will urge state officials to expedite repairs at…
Committee to consider adopting General Plan 2045 and new vacation rental rules
The committee will discuss and may vote on Bill 66, which adopts the County of Hawai‘i General Plan 2045 and repeals the prior plan, and Bill 147, which establishes operational standards for transient vacation rentals including bed and breakfasts and short-term vacation rentals. A motion to recommend passage of Bill…
Committee to discuss Community Facilities District for Waikapū Country Town
The Housing and Land Use Committee will hold three informational discussions with no legislative action. They will receive status updates from the Departments of Planning and Housing on operations and FY2026 budget implementation. They will also discuss a potential Community Facilities District to finance…
Council to vote on $1.6M/yr wastewater plant construction management contract
The Hawaii County Council will consider a six-year, $1.6 million per year professional construction management contract for the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade. It will also vote on a $2.678 million FEMA grant to fund 12 firefighter positions, two bills to rezone properties on Manono Street for a credit union…
Committee to consider Puna zone change for 5-lot subdivision
The committee will discuss Bill 137, a zone change for a 5.79-acre property at 17-4050 Kuaʻāina Road in ʻŌlaʻa, Puna, from Agricultural-20 acres (A-20a) to Family Agricultural-1 acre (FA-1a). The Windward Planning Commission has forwarded a favorable recommendation, and the change would allow the applicant to…
Committee considers request to create additional lots at 201 Heʻaheʻa Place
The Housing and Land Use Committee will discuss Bill 28 (2026). This bill proposes allowing Andrea M. Kaio to create additional lots for family members on a 12.834-acre property in the Agricultural District.
Committee to consider tying parking requirements to bedroom count
The committee may recommend passage of Bill 47 (2026) on first reading, which would change off-street parking requirements for housing from square footage to number of bedrooms, or file the bill. They will also discuss Bill 21, CD 1 (2023) regarding conditional zoning for emergency airstrip operations at Kapalua…
Committee to consider adopting the County General Plan 2045
The Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Economic Development will hear public statements and then deliberate Bill 66 (Draft 2). The bill proposes to adopt the County of Hawai‘i General Plan 2045 and repeal Ordinance No. 05‑025, as amended. A motion to recommend passage on first reading is scheduled.
Council to consider new property tax tier for homes over $4M
The Council will vote on Bill 128, which would add a new 'Residential Tier Three' real property tax classification for properties with a net taxable value over $4 million. On final reading are Bills 122 and 123, which would reclassify 6.063 acres in Waimea from agricultural to rural/residential to allow subdivision…
CU Hawaii seeks commercial zoning for new credit union branches in South Hilo
The Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions Committee will consider two zoning amendment bills that would reclassify parcels at 533 Manono Street and 494 Hīnano Street from single‑family residential to neighborhood commercial, enabling new credit union facilities. The Windward Planning Commission has forwarded…
Council considers new real property tax tier for high-value homes
The Hawaii County Council will discuss establishing a 'Residential Tier Three' tax classification for properties valued over $4 million. The body is also considering several zoning changes, the creation of a construction code commission, and various small fund transfers.
Committee to consider workforce housing ownership selection priority changes
The Housing and Land Use Committee will consider Bill 14 (2026), which amends Maui County Code subsection 2.96.090(D) to adjust the selection priority for residential workforce housing ownership units. The bill clarifies priority for county residents over nonresidents on the waitlist and reinserts inadvertently…
Committee to consider Bill 27 (2026) amending accessory dwelling size limits
The Disaster Recovery, International Affairs, and Planning Committee will review Bill 27 (2026), which proposes an ordinance amendment to Chapter 19.35 of the Maui County Code concerning the allowable size of accessory dwellings and related structures on lots under one‑half acre. The committee may recommend passage on…
Council will approve a $1.6 million intergovernmental grant for workforce programs
The Hawaii County Council will consider several fund transfers and grant approvals, including a $1.6 million intergovernmental grant for workforce development. Members will also vote on nominations to the Fire and Police Commissions and on a zoning amendment that would allow residential dwellings in the…
Committee to consider rezoning 6-acre Waimea lot for subdivision
The Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions will consider two companion bills (Bill 122 and Bill 123) to rezone a 6.063-acre property at 62-2239 Kānehoa Place in Waimea from agricultural to rural and residential-agricultural, allowing the owner to subdivide into two lots. The Leeward Planning Commission…
Creation of a new Downtown Pāhoa commercial district via Bill 126
The Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Economic Development will consider three bills. Bill 124 proposes to reclassify portions of the Pāhoa zone map to a Downtown Pāhoa Commercial district. Bill 125 updates the Pāhoa Village Design Guidelines and Review Committee procedures. Bill 126 creates the Downtown…
Council to vote on $5M grant to Lahaina Community Land Trust for housing
The Maui County Council will consider multiple ordinances on second reading, including a $5 million budget amendment to fund a grant to the Lahaina Community Land Trust for rebuilding. Other second-reading items address water conservation, restrictions on new private pools in West Maui, and a real property tax…
Council to vote on rezoning 4.5 acres in South Hilo for 14 house lots
The Council will hold a final vote on Bill 111 to rezone a 4.4669-acre property at 1077 Ahe Street from Agricultural to Single-Family Residential, allowing subdivision into 14 lots. It will also consider resolutions urging a ban on commercial aquarium harvest, accepting 82 defibrillators for police, and a $68,000…
Committee to review three zoning and land use amendments
The Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions Committee will discuss three bills regarding land use conditions and time extensions. These items include requests to allow second dwelling units and extend construction deadlines for specific properties.
Council considers $22.4M for Lahaina wastewater upgrades
The Council of the County of Maui is reviewing several budget amendments and ordinances. Key items include wastewater infrastructure in West Maui, water conservation regulations, and real property tax exemptions for affordable rentals.
Council considers residential dwelling permits in MCX zoning district
The Hawai‘i County Council will vote on several funding grants for community projects and festivals. The body is also considering a bill to allow residential dwellings within industrial-commercial mixed use (MCX) zoning districts.
Committee discusses new hotel districts and vacation rental policies
The Housing and Land Use Committee will discuss a Temporary Investigative Group report on policies for transient vacation rentals in Apartment Districts and Resolution 25-230, which would refer a proposed bill to establish H-3 and H-4 Hotel Districts to planning commissions. No legislative action will be taken. A…
Maui County Council to consider multiple FY2026 budget amendments
The Council will discuss various budget adjustments for FY2026, including funding for parks, police facilities, and road safety. The body is also reviewing legal settlements and proposed changes to the West Maui Community Plan regarding building heights in Lahaina.
Council committee to consider interim ban on new private pools in West Maui
The committee may recommend passage of Bill 161, which would impose interim restrictions on permitting and construction of new private swimming pools in the West Maui Community Plan Area. Members will also discuss the South Maui Community Plan update process, but no legislative action will be taken on that item.