Per a new agreement between Mayor Mitch Roth and the Hawaiʻi County Department of Public Works (DPW), DPW will begin expediting the review of all Residential Building Permit Applications submitted before October 1, which contain the proper certification of a licensed Professional and for which construction will be performed by a licensed Contractor.

The decision comes as the county continues to experience a backlog of building permit applications (in excess of 1,500 presently in the queue). Staffing shortages within the DPW Building Division Plans and Permitting Review Section and continuing challenges in growing the proficiency of DPW Building Division staff with the new EPIC system have contributed to the backlog as well.

Proper Owner Declaration forms and Project Declaration forms for these permit applications shall be accurately completed and submitted prior to issuance of a permit in compliance with HCC 5-4-1(a)(7) and HCC 5-4-4, respectively.

In addition, all applicable plan review fees and permit fees shall be paid in full prior to the issuance of permits per HCC Chapter 5, Article 7.

• Residential Building Permits applied prior to October 1, 2021, by owner-builders wishing to transfer to contractor are not eligible for this expedited review.

• Residential Building Permits applied prior to October 1, 2021, by licensed Contractors that have been returned for corrections are not eligible for this expedited review.

• Residential Building Permits issued through this expedited process and subsequently transferred to the owner-builder will result in a suspension of the permit until completing a standard review.

As stated in Hawaiʻi County Code Section 5-5-1(d), The issuance of a permit shall not prevent the authority having jurisdiction from thereafter:

(1) Requiring the correction of errors in the plans and specifications;

(2) Revoking or suspending any permit when issued in error, on the basis of incorrect information supplied, or in violation of the construction code, any permit or variance issued pursuant to the construction code, or other applicable law;

(3) Halting building operations when in violation of the construction code, any permit or variance issued pursuant to the construction code, or other applicable law;

(4) Preventing occupancy or use of a structure, when violations of the construction code, any permit or variance issued pursuant to the construction code, or other applicable law have occurred; or

(5) Initiating criminal enforcement and the imposition of penalties or fees, or both, when authorized by the construction code or other applicable law.