Hawaii, September 18, 2025
News Summary
The Hawaii Legislature has initiated a task force named SPEED to simplify the building permit process statewide amidst challenges such as significant staff vacancies and outdated systems. The 34-member team aims to enhance economic development by improving permit efficiency while addressing staffing issues, including low salaries in agencies processing permits. With a budget of $200,000, the task force is considering updates to building codes and implementing new technology to streamline operations and reduce approval times.
Hawaii Task Force Established to Streamline Building Permit Process
The Hawaii Legislature has launched a 34-member task force known as Simplifying Permitting for Enhanced Economic Development (SPEED) to address the complexities of the statewide building permit process. The task force’s objective is to enhance construction efforts and stimulate economic growth while navigating through ongoing staffing challenges within various agencies.
Challenges in Staffing and Timeliness
At the forefront of the issue are significant staff vacancies within agencies responsible for processing permits, which have negatively impacted the timely approval of these permits. For instance, the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) has 14 of its 33 positions related to commercial property permits and six of its 32 positions for residential permits currently vacant. DPP Director Dawn Apuna has indicated that the main obstacle for attracting applicants is the notably low compensation, with salaries reportedly falling 30% or more below federal standards.
Additionally, the Maui County Department of Public Works has five of its 14 building permit positions unfilled and is similarly struggling to find qualified candidates. Other counties, including Hawaii island and Kauai, are also experiencing staffing challenges, albeit with fewer open positions.
Composition and Budget of the Task Force
The task force includes officials from various state and county agencies along with representatives from the construction and real estate sectors. It has been allocated a budget of $200,000 to cover staff and administrative expenses for a two-year period, concluding on June 30, 2027. As part of its initiatives, the task force is concentrating on simplifying the often complicated permitting process and addressing issues such as the submission of poor-quality work by applicants.
Potential Adjustments to the Permitting Process
Some recommendations under consideration include extending the timeline for updating building codes from every three years to every six years, which could lessen the frequency of permit reviews. Currently, permit applications undergo a review cycle of two to five times, primarily due to inadequacies in the submissions from applicants. The Hawaii County Department of Public Works is taking steps to improve the permit process through the implementation of AI-driven software called CivCheck, aimed at enhancing code compliance for applicants.
Technological Innovations and Streamlining Efforts
The efforts to streamline the process also include launching new online systems. The DPP has initiated a new online permitting system named HNL Build, which is designed to simplify the application process and enable online credit card payments. This system is a major upgrade from an outdated permitting system in use for 26 years that contributed to significant backlogs in the permit process.
As a result of recent improvements, the average time for issuing permits in Hawaii County has decreased to less than two months since the establishment of a permitting task force.
Regulatory Challenges and Proposed Solutions
Many county officials have noted that new legislative and county regulations have escalated permit workloads. Some officials have suggested that resolving the housing crisis will require comprehensive reform of permitting regulations rather than simply addressing staffing shortages or software upgrades. To tackle these issues, the task force has created three focus groups that will explore specific topics related to building permits, state health department reviews, and wastewater system approvals. Recommendations from these groups are expected to be presented by January.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- The Garden Island
- Wikipedia: Hawaii
- Hawaii News Now
- Google Search: Hawaii building permits
- Big Island Now
- Google Scholar: Hawaii building permits
- Spectrum Local News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Hawaii building permits
- Star Advertiser
- Google News: Hawaii building permits
Author: Construction FL News
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