RELATING TO SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA MINOR PERMITS.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's final status is still unknown as it has been carried over to the next session.

Rules for Small Building Permits in Special Areas

This bill changes the definition of a 'special management area minor permit' to include development worth up to $1 million with no substantial adverse environmental impact and construction or reconstruction of single-family homes under 7,500 square feet near water.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the definition of a 'special management area minor permit' to include development valued at up to $1 million that does not have a significant negative environmental effect.
• Includes construction or reconstruction of single-family homes less than 7,500 square feet in floor area if they are near water and not part of larger projects.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who want to build small developments in special management areas.
• Local authorities responsible for issuing permits.

Terms To Know

Special Management Area Minor Permit

A permit that allows smaller projects to be built without major environmental impact.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if a project exceeds the new limits.
• It is unclear how this change will affect existing regulations and permits.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA MINOR PERMITS.
Development; Special Management Area Minor Permit; Shoreline; Single-family Homes
Amends the definition of "special management area minor permit", in section 205A-22, HRS, to mean an action by the applicable authority authorizing: (1) Development, the valuation of which does not exceed $1,000,000, and that has no substantial adverse environmental or ecological effect, taking into account potential cumulative effects; or (2) Construction or reconstruction of single-family residential use that is less than 7,500 square feet of floor area in aggregate; is situated on a shoreline parcel or a parcel that is impacted by waves, storm surges, high tide, or shoreline erosion; and is not part of a larger development.

Current Bill Text

HB654

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

654

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to special management area MINOR permits
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION
1
.
�
Section
205A-22, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of
"special management area minor permit" to read as follows:

����
""Special management area
minor permit"
means an action by the authority
authorizing [
development the
]
:

����
(1)
�
Development, the
valuation of
which is not in excess of [
$500,000
]
$1,000,000,
and [
which
]

that
has no substantial adverse environmental or ecological effect,
taking into account potential cumulative effects[
.
]
; and

����
(2)
�
C
onstruction or
reconstruction of single-family residential use that is less than seven
thousand five hundred square feet of floor area in aggregate; is situated on a
shoreline parcel or a parcel that is impacted by waves, storm surges, high
tide, or shoreline erosion; and is not part of a larger development
.
"

����
SECTION
2.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

����
SECTION 3.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Development;
Special Management Area Minor Permit; Shoreline; Single-family Homes

Description:

Amends
the definition of "special management area minor permit", in section
205A-22, HRS, to mean
an action by the applicable authority authorizing:
(1) Development, the valuation of which does not exceed $1,000,000, and that
has no substantial adverse environmental or ecological effect, taking into
account potential cumulative effects; or (2) Construction or reconstruction of
single-family residential use that is less than 7,500 square feet of floor area
in aggregate; is situated on a shoreline parcel or a parcel that is impacted by
waves, storm surges, high tide, or shoreline erosion; and is not part of a
larger development.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.