Hilo, Hawaii Building Permit Guide

In Hilo, building permits are issued by the County of Hawaiʻi Department of Public Works Building Division from its East Hawaii (Hilo) office at 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 7, in the Aupuni Center, open 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. The division does plan review and inspections and enforces the Hawaiʻi County Code on building, electrical, plumbing and sign codes.

The County’s own websites could not be opened, so this guide relies on the Public Works pages the County publishes on its ArcGIS Hub site and on State agency pages; Hilo planning and tsunami rules are not covered. The County lists more than one East Hawaii number for the Building Division; the one given here is the number its inspection FAQ gives for permit status.

What requires a building permit in Hilo?

Hawaiʻi County Code Chapter 5 requires permits for retaining walls four feet and higher (stepped walls within eight feet count as one wall) and for any potable, household or fire-protection water tank or catchment, regardless of size.

Exempt work

Repairs that replace parts in kind are exempt only if they cost no more than $25,000 per structure in any twelve-month period and do not touch electrical or mechanical installations. Fences six feet or less and detached decks under thirty inches are also exempt. Even exempt work may need a County declaration that it complies with Chapter 27 (flood control) and HRS Chapter 205A (special management areas).

Emergency repairs

Emergency repairs may start without a permit, but the County must be notified in writing the next workday, and a permit application with fees filed within fourteen days.

Who handles permitting in Hilo?

Flood, road, SMA, septic and water approvals in Hilo

Flood zones

Floodplain rules are enforced by DPW’s Engineering Division. Check the flood zone on the State’s Flood Hazard Assessment Tool (FHAT); the high-risk zones are A, AE, AH, AO, V and VE.

County roads and grading

Any work in a County right-of-way, including a new or resurfaced driveway approach, needs an Engineering Division permit applied for through EPIC. Grading, grubbing and stockpiling permits also go through EPIC and are routed to the State Historic Preservation Division and the County Planning Department.

State highways

Work on a State highway, such as Kamehameha Avenue, needs an HDOT permit from the Hawaii District permit office, and may not start until the district approves it.

Special Management Area

SMA permits on Hawaiʻi Island are decided by the Windward or Leeward Planning Commission; the filing requirements come from the County Planning Department.

Septic and water

Individual wastewater systems are handled by the Department of Health Wastewater Branch Hilo Office. The Department of Water Supply Hilo Office is open Mon-Fri 7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; its Engineering / Construction & Inspection line in Hilo is (808) 961-8070, Option 4.

How to get a building permit in Hilo

Inspections in Hilo

Inspections are requested through the EPIC permit system once your EPIC account is linked to the permit. For new construction the usual phases are foundation, framing and final, with electrical and plumbing inspected before the building inspection. Cancel a scheduled inspection by the day before at the latest, or a $100 extra inspection fee applies.

Official Hilo permitting resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• County of Hawaiʻi DPW Building Division
• Building permit information
• Building inspection information
• Floodplain management
• County right-of-way permits
• State SMA permits
• Department of Health Wastewater Branch
• Department of Water Supply contacts
• HDOT guide to permits

Frequently asked questions

Who issues building permits in Hilo?

The County of Hawaiʻi Department of Public Works Building Division, from its Hilo office at 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 7.

Does a water catchment tank need a permit?

Yes. Chapter 5 requires a permit for any potable, household or fire-protection water tank or catchment, regardless of size.

What happens if I cancel an inspection late?

Cancel by the day before at the latest, or a $100 extra inspection fee applies.

Simplify Hilo permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Check the flood zone, SMA status and Chapter 5 exemptions for the project
• Line up right-of-way, highway, septic and water approvals
• File with the Building Division and request inspections through EPIC

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Hawaii. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Hilo permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.