Faster Permits, Smarter Progress in Maui

If you’ve been dreaming of owning a home in Maui—or building one—you’ve likely heard the stories: months (or even years) of waiting on permits, watching costs rise, and plans stall. But here’s the good news: meaningful change is finally underway.

In July 2025, two groundbreaking laws were signed by Governor Josh Green that could dramatically streamline the building process in Hawaii—making it faster and more affordable for future homeowners to break ground.

A New Era of Permitting Efficiency

The first law, SB66 (now Act 295), introduces what’s being called a “shot clock” for building permits. Starting July 1, 2026, if you apply for a residential building permit in any of Hawaii’s four counties and don’t hear back within 60 days, you’ll be eligible for an expedited approval process.

Here’s how it works:

• Your application must be complete, including all necessary environmental and historic documentation.

• If there’s no response in 60 days, you can move forward by:

  • Getting third-party certification,

  • Submitting a waiver of liability,

  • And allowing the permitting office a five-day verification period.

After that, you can start building.

Compare that to the current system: in Honolulu, the average wait time for a permit (excluding solar) is 465 days. That’s over a year of delays, often leading to increased costs, temporary housing expenses, and renovation setbacks.

A Smarter Approach to Historic Reviews

The second law, SB15, went into effect immediately and clarifies what qualifies as a “historic property.” Until now, any property over 50 years old triggered a potentially time-consuming historic review—even if it had no significant cultural value.

With SB15, only properties eligible for the Hawaii Register of Historic Places will need review. It also excludes areas already known to have low density of historic sites or previously excavated zones—meaning fewer unnecessary delays.

Why This Matters for Buyers and Builders

If you’re considering purchasing property in Maui, these laws could make a real difference:

• Faster renovations or new construction timelines.

• Lower holding costs while waiting on permits.

• More confidence when investing in a fixer-upper or raw land.

• A clearer, more predictable permitting process—especially valuable for out-of-state buyers.

While there’s still more work to be done to address Hawaii’s housing crisis, these reforms mark a strong step toward improving efficiency and expanding housing supply.

At the end of the day, the message is clear: progress is happening, and Maui is becoming a more accessible place to build and call home.

Thinking of buying or building in Maui? Let’s talk about how these new permitting laws can work in your favor.