Pearl City is in DPP’s Primary Urban Center Development Plan area, which stretches from Kāhala to Pearl City. A special area plan for the ʻAiea-Pearl City neighborhoods and the transit-oriented development (TOD) ordinances add their own layer to the zoning around the rail line.
This guide covers DPP’s permit offices and fees as they apply in Pearl City and the plans and TOD zoning specific to the area.
What requires a permit in Pearl City?
Hawaii has no city or town governments, so Pearl City has no permit office of its own; the county — here the City and County of Honolulu — issues the building permit. Two parcel checks shape what a project needs. Inside a TOD Special District, its rules are added to the underlying zoning and win where the two conflict. And any flood zone other than X, XS or D means flood certification may be required; the zone can be looked up by TMK in DPP’s property search.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Who handles permitting in Pearl City?
| Work | Reviewed by | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family and two-family dwellings, duplexes | Customer Service Division | (808) 768-8220 |
| Commercial, apartment, townhome, multi-family | Building Division | (808) 768-8120 |
| General questions | Honolulu Building Permit Center, 650 South King Street; Kapolei Building Permit Center, 1000 Uluohia Street | (808) 768-8000, Monday through Friday 7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
Applications, plan uploads and status tracking all run through DPP’s HNL Build portal.
Plans and TOD zoning in Pearl City
ʻAiea-Pearl City Livable Communities Plan
Adopted in 2004 by Resolution 05-48 CD1, this special area plan for the ʻAiea-Pearl City neighborhoods deals with transportation, community design and implementation.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Aiea-Pearl City Neighborhood TOD Plan
The TOD plan covers the land around three rail stations: Hālaulani (Leeward Community College), Waiawa (Pearl Highlands) and Kalauao (Pearlridge).
Ordinances 22-29 and 22-30
Ordinance 22-29 created a TOD Special District in Aiea-Pearl City, and Ordinance 22-30 rezoned the station areas. The rezoning generally swaps single-use zoning for mixed-use zoning and allows bonus height in exchange for community benefits. TOD permit forms are filed in HNL Build.
Pearl City permit costs and fees
DPP bases both the building permit fee and the plan review fee on project value (ROH 18-6.1 and 18-6.2). The plan review fee is 20% of the tentative building permit fee, capped at $25,000, and is due when plans are accepted for review.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →How to get a permit in Pearl City
Find the flood zone by TMK and check whether a TOD Special District applies.
Customer Service Division for houses and duplexes, Building Division for everything larger.
Upload plans and any TOD permit forms.
20% of the tentative permit fee when plans are accepted.
Inspections in Pearl City
The inspector named on the permit takes calls only from the contractor who signed the building permit. DPP’s line for building inspections and code complaints is (808) 768-3185.
Official Pearl City permitting resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
Rather not deal with the Pearl City building department?
Get a free quote →- Honolulu DPP and HNL Build
- Honolulu DPP contacts
- DPP building permit fee calculation
- Primary Urban Center Development Plan
- DPP special area plans
- Aiea-Pearl City TOD
Frequently asked questions
Who issues building permits in Pearl City?
The City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP).
Which rail stations does the Aiea-Pearl City TOD plan cover?
Hālaulani (Leeward Community College), Waiawa (Pearl Highlands) and Kalauao (Pearlridge).
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →What did Ordinance 22-30 do?
It rezoned the Aiea-Pearl City station areas, generally to mixed-use zoning, with bonus height allowed in exchange for community benefits.
Simplify Pearl City permitting with Alliance Permitting
- Check the parcel’s flood zone and whether the Aiea-Pearl City TOD Special District applies
- Prepare and upload the application and plans in HNL Build
- Track DPP review and the plan review fee through issuance
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →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.
Ready to break ground in Pearl City sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Pearl City permits while your crew stays on the job.
More Hawaii permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Pearl City permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.