Hawaii Off Grid Laws: An In-Depth Guide

If you overlook the many natural disasters, Hawaii is considered a paradise where you can live off the land year-round. 

As a result, many people dream about moving there or living off the grid. 

But, before you buy property, make sure you know Hawaii’s off grid laws — it might be illegal to live the type of life you want there.

Is Living Off-Grid Legal in Hawaii?

Living off grid in Hawaii is legal. In many remote places in Hawaii, off-grid is the only option because no public services are available. Even in less remote areas, state laws and building codes favor off-grid living and allow many eco-friendly alternative systems. However, you may encounter some issues if you are trying to live legally without power or a septic system.

Hawaii Zoning Laws and Off-Grid Living

Hawaii is unique because it has statewide land-use laws instead of local zoning laws. These are regulated by the Land Use Commission and are very complex. 

The laws are primarily geared toward protecting the land from developers. This is good for people who want to live off grid because they don’t have to worry that a developer will swoop in and build next to their property. 

However, the land-use laws can make getting a permit for your project somewhat complicated. You must ensure your project falls within the district’s approved uses. For example, agricultural tourism is only allowed in certain districts.  

Mainland designations in Hawaii:

  • Conservation – about 48% of all land in Hawaii
  • Agricultural – 47%
  • Urban – 5%
  • Rural – less than 0.5%

These land designations are further divided into zoning districts.   Some of these include:

  • Single-family residential
  • Family agricultural
  • Agricultural
  • Resort-hotel
  • Village commercial
  • And many more.

This table shows permitted uses in each zone. You can read details of permitted land use in Hawaii County Code Chapter 25.  

Also, see the Hawaii Land Use Division website for more info.

Minimum Acreage Requirements

Under Hawaii State law, lots in Agricultural districts must be at least 1 acre and lots in Rural districts must be at least ½ acre. However, each county can set higher standards. It isn’t uncommon for you to need at least 20 acres in Agricultural districts.

Since land prices are typically very high in Hawaii, the minimum lot requirements can make it incredibly expensive to go off grid in the State.

Building Codes in Hawaii 

With few exceptions, all buildings in Hawaii must meet the State building codes. Hawaii bases its codes on international and national code standards but has made some amendments.   Codes are regularly updated in Hawaii. You can find more info on the Hawaii building code webpage.

  • Building Code – Based on the 2018 IBC
  • Residential Code – Based on IRC 2018
  • Existing Building Code – Based on IEBC 2018
  • Electrical Code – Based on NFPA 70 2018
  • Energy Conservation Code – Based on IECC 2018
  • Fire Code – Based on NFPA 1 2018
  • Plumbing Code – Based on UPC 2018

Living in a Mobile Home or Manufactured Home

Living in a mobile home or manufactured home is legal in Hawaii. However, they are generally treated the same way as traditional residential dwellings. They must meet the same building codes and have an approved wastewater disposal method.

Chapter 25 of Hawaii County zoning code specifically allows mobile homes by stating,

All mobile dwellings shall conform to the County construction code, including chapters 5 and 5A through 5F, and the Public Health Housing Code (chapter 2 of the State public health regulations), except: (1) When parked in a licensed mobile home park; or (2) When occupied for dwelling or sleeping purposes outside of a licensed mobile home park for less than thirty days in any one location.

Note that there are some “historical” zoning districts throughout the State. In these areas, all dwellings must meet additional requirements to preserve the area’s appearance. It is unlikely that you’d be able to meet these requirements with a mobile home.

Tiny Home Laws

Hawaii is very friendly towards tiny homes. The State Building Code is based on the 2018 version of the IBC, which has an “Appendix Q,” specifically dealing with tiny homes. So long as the home meets the building code requirements, it is legal.

Can You Camp on Your Own Property?

It is generally illegal to camp on your own property in Hawaii. The issue is that all dwellings must adhere to building codes. There are some exceptions in the building code for agricultural buildings, sheds, and other buildings.

Likewise, your county might have an exemption that lets you camp on the property while constructing the main dwelling. But none of these exemptions apply if you want to camp there full time.

Primitive Living in Hawaii

Living a primitive lifestyle without electricity, running water, or certain amenities is mostly legal in Hawaii. Some parts of the plumbing code require homes to have a toilet, kitchen sink, and automatic clotheswasher connection. These requirements could be met with off-grid systems, though.

If you don’t want electricity or running water, you might have trouble getting a Certificate of Occupancy for a new home in some areas. The inspector will deem your home uninhabitable without these amenities.

The fire code also allows officials to prohibit candles and open flames. So, an inspector might have issues with you using candles as a lighting source.

Off-Grid Electricity in Hawaii 

Off-grid electricity is legal in Hawaii, and the State is very friendly toward people who want to provide their own power needs. There are state incentives for solar and wind power systems. Also important, the State is very clear about the required permits and the regulations. This makes it easy to get your plans approved.

Off-Grid Water Laws in Hawaii 

All water in Hawaii is owned by the public but regulated by the Department of Land and Natural Resources Commission on Water Management. The law recognizes riparian rights, but in many cases, you still need a permit to use water – especially in areas designated as Water Management Areas.

Read more about Hawaii water rights here.

Water Rights Permits in Hawaii

All wells in Hawaii must be drilled by a licensed driller. You need a permit before drilling, and all wells must be reported to the State. The only exception to the permit rule is for test boring holes. Read more about water well laws in Hawaii here.  

Surface Water Use Permits

Hawaii recognizes riparian rights; you can use the water on or next to your property. However, there are many cases where you may need to get a permit first. These permits may include:

  • Surface Water Use Permits (in designated surface water management areas)
  • Amend Instream Flow Standards
  • Stream Diversion Works Permit
  • Stream Channel Alteration Permit

Read more about water use permits in Hawaii here.

Rainwater Harvesting Laws in Hawaii 

Hawaii has some of the most favorable rainwater harvesting laws of any state in the USA. Rainwater harvesting is legal in Hawaii, but systems must comply with Chapter 16 of the Hawaii Plumbing Code

The code makes using rainwater for irrigation or washing clothes very easy. By comparison, many other states require you to disinfect rainwater before using it, even for flushing toilets!

Some of these regulations include:

  • A permit for exterior rainwater catchment systems for outdoor drip and subsurface irrigation with a maximum storage capacity of 360 gallons (1363 L) is not required.
  • A plumbing permit is not required for rainwater catchment systems for single-family dwellings where outlets, piping, and system components are located on the exterior of the building. This does not exempt the need for permits for electrical connections, tank supports, or enclosures.
  • Rainwater catchment systems shall not directly connect to a potable water supply or alternate water source.
  • When using for urinal and water closet flushing, clothes washing, or trap priming: Must use a debris excluder or other approved means in accordance with Section 1603.14 and 100 microns in accordance with Section 1603.15.

Sewage and Waste Removal Laws in Hawaii 

Individual Wastewater Systems (IWSs) in Hawaii are regulated by the Department of Health Wastewater Division. Off-grid systems are usually legal, but you must have an approved system for your home.

Required to Connect to Sewer System

Hawaii law states that dwellings must connect to the public sewer system if one is located in the proximity. 

However, state law does not define what “proximity” means. You’ll need to check to see whether your area has established a specific distance for requiring hookups. If not, it is up to the local health inspector to decide whether they will force you to use the public sewer.

In other states requiring a sewer connection, “proximity” usually means within 100 or 200 feet of the sewer. 

Compost Toilets

Compost toilets are legal in Hawaii. The State’s wastewater laws specifically allow them and set regulations. You’ll have to meet the requirements of Subchapter 4, “Wastewater sludge use and disposal.” This section says that waste can be applied to the land but must meet specific “quality” requirements.

If you are only using a compost toilet, you’ll also need to have a way to deal with wastewater from your home. In most cases, this involves installing septic. However, Hawaii does have relaxed laws when it comes to graywater systems.

See off grid composting toilet options.

Cesspools

Cesspools are common in Hawaii, and the State recently started regulating them. It is now illegal to make a new cesspool, and all existing ones must be converted to an approved system by 2050.

Are Outhouses Legal in Hawaii (Pit and Vault Privies)?

Pit privies are illegal in Hawaii. With few exceptions, portable toilets are also illegal. Despite this, many pit privies are still in use in Hawaii.

Graywater Recycling Laws

Hawaii has some of the best graywater recycling laws in the United States. The government actively promotes it with their Recycled Water Program and has very clear rules about what you can do with recycled water. Unlike most states, Hawaii even lets you irrigate your lawn with laundry water.

Under the law, recycled water is divided into three classes: R-1, R-2, and R-3. The R-3 class is for wastewater that only underwent oxidation treatment. It can be used for drip or subsurface irrigation for non-edible crops and trees.

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  1. Obviously we agree on that! It *is* complete BS.

    And it isn’t just here, it’s all over the country, and the world. For example and to further this thread on absurdities, just look places with ridiculous minimum size requirements. Really? What business is it of anyone else’s if you choose to live in a tiny or small(er) house? Who really needs 3-4000 sqft homes? We shouldn’t have lush green water-sucking lawns either, but gardens growing food. But noooooo, gotta impress the neighbors (who chances are, don’t care about you) with a ginormous McMansion and golf-course-quality landscaped yard. :::eyeroll:::

    Oh, how I could go on…

    Reply
  2. It’s all BS, you pay or paid for your land/property and chances are it was not cheap. So you should be able to do and live however you want, as long as it is safe and environmentally friendly. But No, No, No, government has you by your eggos. Such as life in the tropics

    Reply
  3. I have found they (the Govt here in HI) make it impossible to *legally* live off-grid. Seriously. Just try it and see how quickly you get caught/reported and are found in violation even if you think you did everything right.

    Problem is, there is no money to be made from people choosing to live simply and cleanly off-grid, and so they try to enforce innumerable permitting, codes, standards, and anything else they can come up with to keep people paying into the coffers, whether thru taxes and fees or fines and penalties.

    Just plain forget about trying to do a simple greywater system. They will still make you put in a $15k septic, even if you have no intention of using it. There is no actual info available anywhere on how to put in a legal greywater system. When you try to look at their site online you are referred to all sorts of voluminous pages of PDFs with all sorts of numbers and letters for the different codes but there is absolutely no useable information available.

    Further, try and find out just *what* compost toilet they say is approved for use here. Brand? Model? Anything? Nope, no info available anywhere (not even on the NSF website; try Googling “list of NSF-certified compost toilets”). You could buy the fanciest, most expensive one on the market and they’ll still say it’s not approved. (Of course, what is ridiculous is that a sawdust-filled 5-gallon bucket with diverter would do the same thing as any multi-thousand dollar CT).

    Just give up trying to live “legally” off-grid in HI, and if you choose to anyway, pray you don’t get caught.

    Can you tell I’ve been raked over the coals because of this?

    Sign me,
    ~Feeling persecuted and fed up

    Reply
    • P.S. Furthermore on the topic of greywater, HI is one of not-even a handful of states, CA being one other, that consider kitchen sink water “blackwater” because of the infinitesimally small chance of food-borne pathogens being introduced into groundwater (what if you’re vegan?), so once again, there comes that “requirement” for a septic tank, once again negating the desire to live simply and lightly with and on the land with an efficient greywater system.

      They gotcha coming and going…no way around it.

      Makes me sick at heart.

      Reply
  4. What a fantastic blog!

    Thank you for posting answers to big off-grid living questions for Hawaii.

    We are going through your resource links now.

    You are making it easier for us.

    Much gratitude!

    Reply

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