HI HB1377

Each county must adopt an ordinance by July 15, 2024 establishing an expedited streamlined permitting process for essential businesses to install rooftop solar and energy storage systems.

Counties shall develop a checklist of all requirements for rooftop solar or energy storage systems; applications meeting the checklist requirements are deemed complete and shall be approved upon county confirmation.

Counties must allow electronic submission of permit applications and electronic signatures, and publish the checklist and required documentation on a publicly accessible website.

Only one inspection is required for eligible rooftop solar and energy storage systems for essential businesses; if the inspection fails, a subsequent inspection is authorized but need not conform to expedited requirements.

Counties should make efforts to substantially conform their expedited permitting processes with each other, though they may modify checklists due to unique climatic, geological, seismological, or topographical conditions.