HB 1702 Summary

• Adds affordable housing as a protected use in county zoning ordinances, prohibiting elimination or amortization of affordable housing as a nonconforming use.

• Raises the land use commission threshold from 15 acres to 100 acres, allowing county-level approval for boundary amendments involving smaller land areas.

• Removes requirement for Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation projects to obtain county legislative body approval, streamlining the development process.

• Exempts affordable housing projects in counties with 500,000+ population from environmental assessment requirements under Chapter 343.

• Takes effect July 1, 2024.