THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
161
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to County permitting and inspection.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chapter 46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"[Underlined: §46- ] [Underlined: County building permit, inspection, and certificate of occupancy requirements; exemption; prohibition; state projects.] [Underlined: (a) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, state projects shall be exempt from county building permit, inspection, and certificate of occupancy requirements when compliant with applicable building codes or county, national, or international prescriptive construction standards, including ][Underlined: construction, electrical, energy conservation, plumbing, and sidewalk standards, as applicable.]
[Underlined: (b) Each ][Underlined: state agency responsible for a state project exempt from county building permit, inspection, and certificate of occupancy requirements pursuant to subsection (a) shall not apply for a county building permit.][Underlined: ]
[Underlined: (c) Each county shall accept the dedication of state projects exempt from county building permit, inspection, and certificate of occupancy requirements pursuant to subsection (a).]
[Underlined: (d) Nothing in this section shall relieve any state project from the laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations of the State and county or any departments or boards thereof with respect to the construction, operation, and maintenance of the state project, compliance with master plans or zoning laws or regulations, compliance with building and health codes and other laws, ordinances, or rules and regulations of similar nature applicable to the state project.]
[Underlined: (e) As used in this section:]
[Underlined: "Building permit" means an authorization required and issued by a county to perform within the jurisdiction of the county, specified work governed by the county's building, construction, electrical, energy conservation, plumbing, or sidewalk codes, as applicable.]
[Underlined: "State agency" means any office, department, board, commission, bureau, division, public corporation, agency, or instrumentality of the State.]
[Underlined: "State lands" means all land owned by the State through any state agency.]
[Underlined: "State project" means any undertaking of work or improvement of state lands or any interest therein, developed, acquired, constructed, reconstructed, rehabilitated, improved, altered, or repaired by a state agency.]"[Underlined: ]
SECTION 2. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED BY:
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Report Title:
County Building Permit, Inspection, and Certificate of Occupancy Requirements; Exemption; Prohibition; State Projects
Description:
Exempts state projects from county building permit, inspection, and certificate of occupancy requirements under certain conditions. Requires counties to accept the dedication of state projects exempt from the county permitting process. Prohibits state agencies responsible for state projects exempt from county building permit, inspection, and certificate of occupancy requirements from applying for county building permits. Defines building permit, state agency, state lands, and state project.
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