HawaiiInspectors check every project using Hawaii's expedited permit process
Applicants may request an expedited county permit after 60 business days without full approval, and every project using that process must be inspected.
What it does
After 60 business days without full county approval, applicants may request an expedited permit. They must submit complete plans, infrastructure evidence, required insurance information, and other statements.
State or county inspectors must inspect every expedited-permit project. Professionals and contractors must address certain defects and keep inspection records after occupancy approval.
When construction is complete, the county issues the certificate of occupancy. It may note if a licensed professional approved it under an expedited-permit agreement.
Argument forInspectors could spot construction defects, and the rules for addressing disagreements with approved plans could help clarify who reviews them.
Argument againstInspecting every expedited-permit project and keeping records could add work for inspectors, contractors, and design professionals.
More detail
Applicants may request an expedited county permit after 60 business days without full approval. This request process applies to residential projects seeking expedited county permits. The request must include complete plans, evidence that infrastructure can serve the project, information from licensed professionals on record, a statement about the 60-business-day period, and the county contractor's statement. The insurance information must show commercial general liability coverage of at least $1,000,000 naming the State and county as additional insureds. It must also show professional liability coverage for claims arising from the completed project when claims are first made and reported under the policy during the period allowed by section 657-8. The indemnity statement protects the State and county only from claims caused by the licensed professional's negligent acts, errors, or omissions. The provisions take effect July 1, 2026, and are repealed June 30, 2031.
State or county inspectors must inspect every project with an expedited permit. Inspections cover every project using an expedited permit. The recordkeeping duty covers the listed systems after a certificate of occupancy is issued. Construction must follow approved plans and applicable site requirements. Professionals and contractors must address inspected defects that match the approved plans. If a defect does not match the plans, the professional must note the disagreement and either take review responsibility or start a plan change. After a certificate of occupancy is issued, contractors and the professional or successor agents must keep records of inspected structural, civil, plumbing, and electrical systems and give copies to the applicant and county, following county rules and time periods. The provisions take effect July 1, 2026, and are repealed June 30, 2031.
The county must issue a certificate of occupancy to the applicant when construction is complete. This applies to construction under an expedited permit. The county may note that a licensed professional approved the certificate under an expedited-permit agreement and that the approval was not made by a county official. The provisions take effect July 1, 2026, and are repealed June 30, 2031.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 26Act 177, 06/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1279).Latest
- Jun 26Act 177, on 06/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1279).Became Law
- May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
- May 7Transmitted to Governor.
- May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Major
- Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
- May 5Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 814).Minor
- May 1Deferred one day 05-06-26.Minor
- Vote recorded Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Result: pass.Upper
- May 1Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Fukunaga).Major
- Apr 29Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 16-26) as amended in (CD 1).
- Apr 29Forty-eight (48) hours notice Friday, 05-01-26.
- Apr 29Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 16-26).
- Apr 2948 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-01-26
- Apr 24The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Matayoshi, Tarnas, Cochran; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 24The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, Keohokalole; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.Minor
- Apr 23Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 04-24-26 10:10AM in conference room 224.
- Apr 22Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 719).Minor
- Apr 21House Conferees Appointed: Evslin, Matayoshi, Tarnas Co-Chairs; Cochran.
- Apr 21Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 799).Minor
- Apr 21Senate Conferees Appointed: Wakai Chair; Chang, Keohokalole Co-Chairs; Fevella.
- Apr 17Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).Minor
- Apr 16House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
- Apr 14Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 14Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 613) in amended form (SD 2).
- Apr 10Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3715) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
- Apr 1048 Hrs. Notice 04-14-26.
- Apr 7The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, Lamosao, McKelvey; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 2The committee(s) on CPN will hold a public decision making on 04-07-26 9:25AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
- Mar 25Reported from EIG/HOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3198) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN.
- Mar 25Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to CPN.Minor
- Mar 19The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, DeCoite, Richards, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on HOU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 19The committee(s) on HOU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HOU were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Chang, Hashimoto, Elefante, Rhoads, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Mar 16The committee(s) on EIG/HOU has scheduled a public hearing on 03-19-26 3:02PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
- Mar 12Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 270).Minor
- Mar 12Passed First Reading.Minor
- Mar 12Referred to EIG/HOU, CPN.Minor
- Mar 10Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kong, Pierick excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
- Vote recorded Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 6Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1196-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
- Mar 6Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26.
- Mar 5The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Cochran, Kahaloa, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Hashem, Sayama.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 3Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 03-05-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Feb 20Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 681-26), recommending referral to JHA.
- Vote recorded Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 20Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).Minor
- Feb 18The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Iwamoto, Kong, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Ichiyama, Lowen.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 13Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Wednesday, 02-18-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Feb 10Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Minor
- Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 9Reported from HSG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 110-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
- Feb 4The committee on HSG recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Miyake, Cochran, Grandinetti, Kila, La Chica, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kitagawa.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on HSG recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 30Bill scheduled to be heard by HSG on Wednesday, 02-04-26 9:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Jan 26Referred to HSG, CPC, JHA, referral sheet 1Minor
- Jan 21Introduced and Pass First Reading.Minor
- Jan 20Prefiled.Introduced
Housing