H.B. 1500 Summary

• Amends Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 46-4 to require general plans be strictly enforced with variances or exceptions to zoning ordinances granted only under exigent circumstances that cannot be addressed by other available means.

• Prohibits waiver or discount of fines or other monetary penalties for zoning ordinance violations except by court order finding the amount is arbitrary, capricious, or unconscionable.

• Limits injunctive relief from fines or monetary penalties to only the extent permitted in the statute.

• Changes zoning powers from being liberally construed in favor of counties to being strictly construed to promote orderly development in accordance with long-range comprehensive general plans.

• Maintains existing protections for lawful nonconforming uses, with amortization or phasing out of nonconforming uses permitted only in commercial, industrial, resort, and apartment zoned areas, not in single-family residential or agricultural uses.