HB 1726 Summary

• Amends Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 46-88 to establish exemptions from building permits and building codes for agricultural buildings up to 1,000 square feet, including barns, greenhouses, storage buildings, aquaculture structures, and recycled shipping containers used for nonresidential purposes.

• Allows agricultural buildings between 1,000 and 8,000 square feet to be exempt from building permits if they comply with relevant building codes or county/national/international prescriptive construction standards.

• Requires owners or occupants to submit an agricultural farm plan to the county (instead of just written notice) and prohibit work until the county certifies no building permit is required for flood management compliance.

• Establishes aggregate floor area limits per zoning lot: 5,000 square feet for lots of 2 acres or less; 8,000 square feet for lots greater than 2 acres but not more than 5 acres; and 8,000 plus 2% of acreage for lots greater than 5 acres.

• Requires final as-built notice within 30 days of completion and allows county fire and building departments to inspect exempt agricultural buildings upon reasonable notice by mail or property posting; changes enforcement from court warrant process to notice of violation with civil fines for denied access.