Public hearing set on short-term rental draft rules

News Release from DPP, March 30, 2021

HONOLULU – The Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) will hold a public hearing April 6 on draft rules to regulate and register short-term rentals on O‘ahu.

The hearing begins at 10:30 a.m. in the Mission Memorial Auditorium, 550 S. King St., and in-person testimony will be accepted. However, because of social distancing restrictions, the public is encouraged to submit written testimony, or provide oral testimony by computer or phone. More information on the draft rules and how to participate remotely are available at https://bit.ly/3riLofY.

The purpose of the hearing is to gather input on the draft rules that will regulate the operation and advertising of bed-and-breakfast (B&B) homes and transient vacation units (TVU). B&Bs are defined as units that are occupied by the owner or a manager, while TVUs are entire units that are rented, both for less than 30 days.

Ordinance 19-18 requires that the DPP adopt rules to regulate the short-term rental (STR) industry by limiting the number of rentals outside of permitted areas, such as resort areas of Waikīkī, Ko Olina and Turtle Bay. Those operating under a non-conforming use certificate (NUC) also are allowed to operate.

The draft rules would:

• Prohibit a short-term rental that is outside of the permitted areas from being within a 1,000-foot radius of another STR.
• Allow homeowners to apply for a limited number of new B&Bs certificates of registration to legally operate. The application process will be open from Aug. 1 to Aug. 30 annually with an eligibility determination to be made by the DPP director by Sept. 30 each year. The number of certificates shall not exceed the limitations outlined in their respective development plan or sustainable communities plan. The order of processing applications will be determined by lottery.
• Require all advertisements for STRs include a valid certificate of registration number, or a NUC number.
• Require the DPP to publish a list annually of permitted STRs.

The DPP will review comments from the public hearing and adopt a final draft prior to Aug. 1.

If you require special assistance, auxiliary aid and/or service to participate in this event (i.e., sign language interpreter, interpreter for language other than English, or wheelchair accessibility), please call 768-8000, or email your request to info@honoluludpp.org at least three business days prior to the event.

—PAU—