Hawaii County Slashes Building Permit Approval Times by 69%

Permit approval times in Hawaii County have been dramatically cut. But there's still work to do to prevent future delays.

, and Administrator

2025 October 22 . 8:05 AM

1 min read

In the picture we can see an airport waiting hall with some people sitting on the chairs, and some... — In the picture we can see an airport waiting hall with some people sitting on the chairs, and some people are walking and holding bags and in the background, we can see glass walls and some pillars and some people are talking on the mobile phones, and to the ceiling we can see the lights.

Hawaii County Slashes Building Permit Approval Times by 69%

Hawaii County has been working to streamline its building permit approval process, with notable improvements seen since the start of 2025. However, persistent issues such as bureaucratic ambiguities and communication breakdowns continue to cause delays.

The county's ambition for universal sewer connection has sometimes led to unnecessary permit delays, even when sewer systems are not accessible. This, coupled with ambiguities between county and state statutes, has stalled approvals. A 12-month delay for a building permit was experienced due to discussions between the county Wastewater Division and the state Department of Health.

To tackle these issues, Mayor Kimo Alameda established a permitting task force. Their efforts have significantly reduced the backlog of building permits and approval times. The average time for building permit review and approval has been cut by 69% since the first half of 2024. Improved communication between governmental bodies, such as the Hawaii County Department of Public Works, has also contributed to this progress.

While the permit approval process has seen significant improvement, there is still room for further enhancement. Better communication and realistic expectations from the county Wastewater Division could help address remaining issues and prevent future delays. The county's aspiration for universal sewer connection should be balanced with practical considerations to avoid unnecessary permit holdups.