Can I Airbnb in Honolulu, HI? (2026)

Short-term rentals (stays under 30 days) are illegal in most of Honolulu/Oahu — they are allowed only in resort-zoned areas and a few mapped apartment-zoned areas, or under a grandfathered nonconforming use certificate (NUC). Eligible properties must register with the Department of Planning and Permitting as a Bed and Breakfast Home or Transient Vacation Unit ($1,000 initial registration, $500 annual renewal) and carry $1,000,000 liability insurance, and violators face fines of up to $10,000 per day. A 90-day minimum rental period for non-resort areas is on the books (Ordinance 25-2, effective Sept. 30, 2025) but is tied up in federal litigation, and DPP says it enforces the 30-day threshold across the board. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

What’s required: a Short-Term Rental Registration (certificate of registration as a Bed and Breakfast Home (B&B) or Transient Vacation Unit (TVU), issued by the Department of Planning and Permitting) ($1,000) is required; occupancy taxes apply; renew annual.