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

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.

Prohibited

HawaiiUpdated Mar 24, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

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

Severity 100

Classification

Prohibited

100

Severity

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

What this means for you

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

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.2%

Permit fee$1,000

Processing timeVaries due to volume and litigation-related delays

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

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

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility15 rules

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.

Requirements21 rules

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 process12 rules

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 & costs1 rule

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

Taxes4 rules

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 & restrictions9 rules

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 requirements1 rule

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.

Penalties5 rules

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.

Exemptions4 rules

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).

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes 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.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Honolulu

Prohibited

HawaiiUpdated Mar 24, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 100

Classification

Prohibited

100

Severity

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

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.2%

Permit fee$1,000

Processing timeVaries due to volume and litigation-related delays

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

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

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility15 rules

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.

Requirements21 rules

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 process12 rules

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 & costs1 rule

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

Taxes4 rules

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 & restrictions9 rules

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 requirements1 rule

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.

Penalties5 rules

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.

Exemptions4 rules

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).

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

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?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

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?

Disclaimer