Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Honolulu?

**Yes**, Honolulu requires a Short-Term Rental Registration Number for stays less than 30 days. You need to apply for this registration, and it costs $1000. Short-term rentals are strictly limited to properties in Resort-zoned areas or those with a valid Nonconforming Use Certificate (NUC).

What is the TOT tax rate in Honolulu?

**3% TOT** is the current transient occupancy tax rate for short-term rentals in Honolulu. Hosts are responsible for collecting this tax from guests and remitting it to the City Comptroller's office on a monthly or quarterly basis. Note that Airbnb and VRBO may automatically collect a portion of this tax.

Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Honolulu?

**Yes**, Honolulu requires that short-term rentals be the host's primary residence. This requirement ensures that the property is the host's main dwelling. You must occupy the property for the majority of the year to be eligible to rent it out short-term on platforms like Airbnb.

Can renters host on Airbnb in Honolulu?

**No**, tenants are generally not allowed to host on Airbnb in Honolulu. Only property owners or authorized representatives are permitted to apply for and obtain the necessary permits to operate a short-term rental legally. Renters are prohibited from listing properties without the landlord's permission.

Honolulu, HI Short-Term Rental Laws...

Q: Are short-term rentals allowed in Honolulu?

**Short-term rentals** are strictly limited in Honolulu. They are permitted only in Resort-zoned areas or properties with a valid Nonconforming Use Certificate (NUC). For most residential areas, a 30-day minimum stay is required, and stays less than 30 days are prohibited without proper registration.

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Summary

Short-term rentals in Honolulu are strictly limited to properties in Resort-zoned areas or those with a valid Nonconforming Use Certificate (NUC). For most residential areas, a 30-day minimum stay is required, and any stay less than 30 days is prohibited without a specific B&B or TVU registration.

Restriction Level

🚫

Prohibited

Score: 100 (lenient)

Why this classification:

•Banned in all/most residential zones
•Primary residence required
•Owner-occupied required
•Host presence required (hosted-only)
•Long minimum stay: 30 nights
•High permit fee: $1000
•Limited to 1 property per owner
•Tenants cannot host
•Permit required
•Reporting required
•No night cap

In Plain English

To host an Airbnb in Honolulu for less than 30 days, you must live on-site and be in a zone that allows 'Bed and Breakfast' use. Most of the island is restricted to rentals of 30 days or longer. If you do qualify, you must register with the city, pay a $1,000 initial fee, and collect a total tax of approximately 17.75%, which includes the state TAT, local OTAT, and GE tax.

At a Glance

Permit Required

Yes

Night Limit

None

Primary Residence

Required

Total Tax Rate

0.2%

Permit Fee

$1,000

Processing Time

Varies due to volume and litigation-related delays

7 Things Hosts Often Miss

1.The 30-day minimum stay rule is strictly enforced through advertising monitoring.
2.New STR registrations are effectively banned in most purely residential neighborhoods.
3.You MUST live in the home (Homeowner Tax Exemption) to apply for a B&B permit.
4.Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) cannot be used as short-term rentals.
5.The 3% OTAT is a local tax in addition to the state's 10.25% TAT.
6.Registration numbers must be included in every online advertisement.
7.A 2023 court ruling temporarily impacted enforcement of the '30-90 day' rule, but the 30-day minimum remains the primary legal baseline.

Regulation Details

Eligibility(15)

•Honolulu prohibits STRs in the following property types: ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units), Affordable housing units, Bed and Breakfasts in strictly residential zones without NUC.
•Honolulu does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
•Honolulu limits hosts to a maximum of 1 STR properties per owner.

Requirements(21)

•Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in Honolulu: 1. The 30-day minimum stay rule is strictly enforced through advertising monitoring. 2. New STR registrations are effectively banned in most purely residential neighborhoods. 3. You MUST live in the home (Homeowner Tax Exemption) to apply for a B&B permit. 4. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) cannot be used as short-term rentals. 5. The 3% OTAT is a local tax in addition to the state's 10.25% TAT. 6. Registration numbers must be included in every online advertisement. 7. A 2023 court ruling temporarily impacted enforcement of the '30-90 day' rule, but the 30-day minimum remains the primary legal baseline.

Application Process(12)

•Honolulu STR permit - Step 4: Submit DPP Registration. Apply through the DPP online portal with required residency documentation and $1,000 fee. Required documents: Property Tax Exemption, Insurance Certificate, Site Plan. Time: 4-12 weeks. Cost: 1000.

Fees & Costs(1)

•Honolulu charges a registration fee of $1000 (annual).

Taxes(4)

•Honolulu: The 3% OTAT is a local tax in addition to the state's 10.25% TAT.
•Hawaii has a state sales tax of 4.5% that applies to STR rentals.
•Honolulu charges a State TAT + Oahu OTAT of 13.25%. This applies to stays under 180 days. Note: Includes 10.25% State TAT and 3% Oahu OTAT

Limits & Restrictions(9)

•Honolulu requires a minimum stay of 90 nights.
•Honolulu occupancy calculation: 2 per room (Resort Zone). Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
•Honolulu, HI: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.

Safety Requirements(1)

•Honolulu requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Must provide evacuation plan to guests, Designated local contact available 24/7.

Penalties(5)

•Honolulu enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $1,000 to $10,000. Second offense: Up to $10,000 per day. Third offense: Up to $10,000 per day. Daily fine: $10,000. Permit may be revoked for violations.
•Honolulu, HI: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions(4)

•Honolulu: You MUST live in the home (Homeowner Tax Exemption) to apply for a B&B permit.
•Honolulu exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), Units with valid Nonconforming Use Certificates (NUC), Hotel-zoned properties.
•Honolulu: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Other Hawaii Markets

Kauai County

Hawaii

Moderate

Short-term rentals in Kauai are strictly limited to Visitor Destination Areas (VDAs). Operating outside these areas is prohibited unless the property holds a pre-existing Non-Conforming Use Certificate (NUC) that has been continuously renewed.

Permit required

0.2% total tax

Waipahu

Hawaii

Prohibited

Short-term rentals (stays under 30 days, or 90 days starting late 2025) are prohibited in residential neighborhoods like Waipahu unless the property holds a legacy Nonconforming Use Certificate (NUC).

Permit requiredNight limitsPrimary residence

Hawaii County

Hawaii

Prohibited

Hawaii County strictly regulates Short-Term Vacation Rentals (STVRs) to specific resort and commercial zones; new STRs are generally prohibited in residential and agricultural zones. Hosts must register with the Planning Department, pay a one-time $500 fee, and remit a local 3% HCTAT in addition to State TAT and GET taxes.

Permit required

0.2% total tax

Maui County

Hawaii

Moderate

Short-term rentals in unincorporated Maui County are strictly controlled via a permitting system with hard caps on the number of permits available per geographic area. Most residential areas require a Short-Term Rental Home (STRH) permit, while accessory dwelling units (Ohana units) are generally prohibited from being used as STRs.

Permit required

0.2% total tax

Honolulu

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Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

7 Things Hosts Often Miss

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Regulation Details

Eligibility(15)

Requirements(21)

Application Process(12)

Fees & Costs(1)

Taxes(4)

Limits & Restrictions(9)

Safety Requirements(1)

Penalties(5)

Exemptions(4)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Related Content

Other Hawaii Markets

Kauai County

Waipahu

Hawaii County

Maui County

Honolulu

Gold Standard Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

7 Things Hosts Often Miss

Frequently Asked Questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Honolulu?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Honolulu?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Honolulu?

4Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Honolulu?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Honolulu?

Related Content

Other Hawaii Markets

Kauai County

Waipahu

Hawaii County

Maui County