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Hawaii County

Hawaii County Zoning Map & Districts 2026

Explore zoning districts, official map resources, and recent rezoning activity in Hawaii County, HI. ZoneWire monitors council meetings to track every zoning change.

Live records updated through September 2, 2026

Key facts: Hawaii land-use record

  • Hawaii approved 85% of 154 land-use decisions in the last 24 months.
  • Hawaii has 66 rezoning-related records across 25 recent public meetings tracked by ZoneWire.
  • The most recent tracked meeting in Hawaii was on September 2, 2026.

Updated with meetings through September 2, 2026.

Recent Rezoning Activity in Hawaii County

Meetings
25
Rezoning Mentions
66
Last Detected
Jul 23, 2026

Zoning Districts in Hawaii County

Zoning classifications used in this jurisdiction, from the adopted local code.

RSSingle-Family Residential District

Single-family residential; numeric suffix denotes the minimum building site area per lot (e.g. RS-7.5 = 7,500 sq ft, RS-20 = 20,000 sq ft, RS-5a = 5 acres). Chapter 25, Hawaii County Code.

RDDouble-Family Residential District

Two-family (duplex) residential; suffix denotes minimum land area per dwelling unit (e.g. RD-3.75 = 3,750 sq ft per unit).

RMMultiple-Family Residential District

Multi-family residential; suffix denotes required land area per dwelling or rentable unit (e.g. RM-1 = 1,000 sq ft, RM-3 = 3,000 sq ft per unit).

RAResidential and Agricultural District

Combined residential and agricultural use; suffix denotes minimum building site area (e.g. RA-.5a = 0.5 acre, RA-2a = 2 acres).

RCXResidential-Commercial Mixed Use District

Mixed residential and commercial use; suffix denotes required land area per dwelling, rentable, or commercial unit (e.g. RCX-2 = 2,000 sq ft, RCX-20 = 20,000 sq ft).

CNNeighborhood Commercial District

Small-scale neighborhood commercial; suffix denotes minimum land area per building site (e.g. CN-7.5 = 7,500 sq ft, CN-40 = 40,000 sq ft).

CGGeneral Commercial District

General commercial uses; suffix denotes minimum land area per building site (e.g. CG-7.5 = 7,500 sq ft, CG-20 = 20,000 sq ft).

CVVillage Commercial District

Village-scale commercial; suffix denotes minimum land area per building site (e.g. CV-10 = 10,000 sq ft, CV-1a = 1 acre).

CDHDowntown Hilo Commercial District

Special commercial district for the Downtown Hilo area.

MCXIndustrial-Commercial Mixed District

Mixed industrial and commercial use; suffix denotes minimum land area per building site (e.g. MCX-10 = 10,000 sq ft, MCX-1a = 1 acre).

MLLimited Industrial District

Limited/light industrial uses; suffix denotes minimum land area per building site (e.g. ML-10 = 10,000 sq ft, ML-3a = 3 acres).

MGGeneral Industrial District

General/heavy industrial uses; suffix denotes minimum land area per building site (e.g. MG-10 = 10,000 sq ft, MG-15a = 15 acres).

AAgricultural District

Agricultural use; suffix denotes minimum building site area (e.g. A-1a = 1 acre, A-20a = 20 acres, A-200a = 200 acres).

FAFamily Agricultural District

Family agricultural use; suffix denotes minimum building site area (e.g. FA-1a = 1 acre, FA-5a = 5 acres).

VResort-Hotel District

Resort and hotel use; suffix denotes required land area per dwelling or rentable unit (e.g. V-1 = 1,000 sq ft, V-2a = 2 acres per unit).

PDProject District

Project District for planned, master-designed developments approved under a project district process.

APDAgricultural Project District

Project district designation for planned agricultural developments.

OPENOpen District

Open district for parks, open space, and similar low-intensity uses.

FRForest Reserve

Forest Reserve lands.

NPNational Park

National Park lands.

UNVUniversity

University district.

Recent rezoning decisions in Hawaii County

These parcels came up for a zoning decision in Hawaii County in the last 30 days, often before they hit the market. See what changed, how the vote went, and hear the moment it happened. According to ZoneWire's analysis of official public meeting records, each decision below links to its timestamped source.

Hawaii County · Sep 1, 2026

Continued

Rezoning continued: RA-1A to RM-1.5 (14.868 acres (change of zone for 709.145-acre portion of 716.63-acre parcel))

Southeast side of Pua Melia Street, ~810 feet south of Waikoloa Road, Waikoloa, South Kohala (TMK 6-8-002-016)

14.868 ac · RA-1A to RM-1.5

Zoning change from RA-1A to RM-1.5 (14.868 acres), continued on Sep 1, 2026 in Hawaii County.

Entitlement

Your move: Still pending. Track the next hearing before it's decided.

Hawaii County · Sep 1, 2026

Approved · 7-0

2.397 acres rezoned A-40A to FA-1A

64-5091 White Road, Pu'u Kapu, Waimea

2.397 ac · A-40A to FA-1A

Zoning change from A-40A to FA-1A (2.397 acres), approved by a 7-0 vote on Sep 1, 2026 in Hawaii County.

Upzone

Your move: Higher-intensity use now allowed. Comp the parcel before the owner reprices.

Hawaii County · Sep 1, 2026

Approved · 7-0

Rezoning at 64-5091 White Road (Bill 185)

Rezoning at 64-5091 White Road (Bill 185), approved by a 7-0 vote on Sep 1, 2026 in Hawaii County.

Entitlement

Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.

Hawaii County · Sep 1, 2026

Continued · 6-1

State Land Use Boundary Amendment for Waikoloa Green (Bill 186)

State Land Use Boundary Amendment for Waikoloa Green (Bill 186), continued by a 6-1 vote on Sep 1, 2026 in Hawaii County.

Entitlement

Your move: Still pending. Track the next hearing before it's decided.

Hawaii County · Aug 6, 2026

Approved · 4-0

Special permit for food vendor market at Hawaiian Paradise Park (Klein)

Special permit for food vendor market at Hawaiian Paradise Park (Klein), approved by a 4-0 vote on Aug 6, 2026 in Hawaii County.

Entitlement

Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.

Hawaii County · Aug 5, 2026

Approved

6.467 acres rezoned CV-7.5 to RD-3.7

North side of Hualalai Road, approximately 1,000 feet east of Kukini Highway, Hina Lole 4th/5th/6th, North Kona (TMK 75010013)

6.467 ac · CV-7.5 to RD-3.7

Zoning change from CV-7.5 to RD-3.7 (6.467 acres), approved on Aug 5, 2026 in Hawaii County.

Entitlement

Your move: Entitlement cleared. The parcel just got more buildable.

What gets approved in Hawaii County

In Hawaii County, 85% of land-use board decisions were approved over the last 24 months. Commercial / office / retail clear 86%, Subdivision / plat 100%. ZoneWire analyzed 154 land-use board decisions in Hawaii County over the last 24 months. Here are the most active project types and how often each one clears.

Project typeDecisionsApproval rate
Commercial / office / retail5086%
Subdivision / plat25100%
Single-family homes2391%
Land use / comp-plan amendment1782%
Multifamily / attached housing1145%
Industrial / warehouse6100%
Mixed-use667%

12 decisions that went against the odds

These are the denials and deferrals in categories that usually sail through, the deals worth understanding before you commit capital.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The official Hawaii County zoning map is maintained by the local planning department. You can access the interactive GIS map at https://gis.hawaiicounty.gov/arcgisportal/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9b151ed79941489a8d360f79660c29ac. ZoneWire also tracks rezoning activity discussed in council meetings.

Zoning districts in Hawaii County include RS (Single-Family Residential District), RD (Double-Family Residential District), RM (Multiple-Family Residential District), RA (Residential and Agricultural District), RCX (Residential-Commercial Mixed Use District), CN (Neighborhood Commercial District), CG (General Commercial District), CV (Village Commercial District). Each district has specific permitted uses, setbacks, and density requirements set by the local code.

ZoneWire reads every council meeting in Hawaii County to detect rezoning discussions, variances, and zoning amendments. Start a free trial to receive alerts when rezoning activity is detected.

Zoning on the Big Island is governed by Chapter 25 of the Hawaii County Code, known as the Zoning Code. It defines the permitted land uses within the State Land Use Urban and Agricultural classifications and spells out requirements such as permitted uses, minimum building site area, minimum yards (setbacks), and building height limits for each zoning district. The Zoning Code is administered by the Hawaii County Planning Department.

Article 5 of Chapter 25 contains the zoning district regulations, organized into categories such as single-family residential (RS) districts and agricultural districts, among others. The number attached to a district generally reflects the minimum building site area required, for example RS-10 requires a 10,000 square foot minimum building site, and the agricultural A-1a district requires a minimum of one acre. Each district sets its own permitted uses, minimum yards, and height limits, so property owners should review Chapter 25 for the rules that apply to their specific district.

Hawaii County has two planning commissions, the Windward Planning Commission and the Leeward Planning Commission, whose members are appointed from within the judicial districts they represent. These commissions advise the Mayor, County Council, and Planning Director on land-use matters and hold public hearings on applications such as zoning amendments, use permits, and variances. The public may view live-streamed and recorded hearings on YouTube and provide oral testimony in person or via Zoom.

In addition to county zoning, all land in Hawaii is placed into one of four State Land Use districts under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 205: urban, rural, agricultural, and conservation. These state districts are administered by the state Land Use Commission. Hawaii County's Chapter 25 Zoning Code applies within the State Land Use Urban and Agricultural classifications, so a parcel's use is shaped by both its state land use district and its county zoning district.

Yes. Any activity that meets the definition of development under Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 205A-22 within the Special Management Area (SMA) requires an SMA Use Permit, either Minor or Major, reviewed by the Hawaii County Planning Department. SMA permits ensure development complies with Coastal Zone Management objectives and policies. Projects that need a structure closer to the shoreline than normally allowed may also require a shoreline setback variance, which is decided by the planning commissions under the Planning Department's rules.

Yes. ZoneWire Free sends New Meeting Alerts for Hawaii County at no cost, with the agenda for each meeting. ZoneWire Pro adds full transcripts, zoning and development analysis, and keyword alerts for $39 per market per month.

A zoning map shows today. This shows what the board changed.

Our Hawaii County record holds 20 land-use decisions heard in the last 60 days, with the vote where one was recorded.

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