Short-Term Rental Laws 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.
Honolulu STR rules at a glance
| Legal status | Restricted |
|---|---|
| Permit required | Yes |
| Permit name | 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) |
| Permit fee | $1,000 |
| Renewal | Annual |
| Owner occupancy required | No |
| Primary residence only | No |
| Minimum stay | 30 nights |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~18.5% of gross revenue |
| Insurance | Yes - the owner or operator must maintain at all times a minimum of $1,000,000 per occurrence in commercial general liability (CGL) insurance or homeowner's insurance with business liability coverage (umbrella coverage or qualifying hosting-platform coverage may satisfy the requirement). Proof is required at registration and upon DPP request at renewal (Ord. 24-14, subdivision (3)(D)). |
| Enforcement | DPP actively investigates complaints (online reporting form) and issues Notices of Violation (NOV) and Notices of Order (NOO), including for illegal advertising - ads must display the registration certificate or NUC number and the property's tax map key. Enforcement is aggressive on paper (the city issued over $100 million in STR fines across three fiscal years through 2025) but collections have lagged (under 2% collected per April 2025 reporting); high-profile fines continued into 2026. Rentals of less than 30 consecutive days remain the enforcement threshold outside resort areas while the 90-day definition is litigated. |
| Current rules effective | 2025-09-30 |
What will guests pay in taxes on a Honolulu stay?
Itemized occupancy taxes for Honolulu, HI — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.
Honolulu occupancy tax calculator
| Gross rent | $450.00 |
| Hawaii General Excise Tax (GET) incl. Oahu county surcharge (4.5%)· host remits | $20.25 |
| Hawaii Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) (11%)· host remits | $49.50 |
| Oahu Transient Accommodations Tax (OTAT) (3%)· host remits | $13.50 |
| Total tax (18.5%) | $83.25 |
| Guest pays | $533.25 |
Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.
Permits & licensing
Honolulu requires 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) to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $1,000, renewed annual.
Initial registration fee is $1,000 (non-refundable); annual renewal with continuing owners is $500. The initial fee was raised from $500 to $1,000 by Ordinance 25-52 (Bill 62, 2025) in late 2025, which also requires a brand-new $1,000 registration whenever the property's ownership or operator changes. Grandfathered NUC holders renew separately each year (Sept. 1 - Oct. 15).
Zoning & location rules
STRs are only permitted in resort-zoned areas (e.g., Waikiki, Ko Olina, Turtle Bay) and selected apartment-zoned areas shown in Ordinance 22-7 Figures 21-5.1 through 21-5.3 (as amended by Ord. 24-14/25-2/25-52 maps). New STRs are banned in all residential-zoned areas; roughly 700+ pre-1989 nonconforming use certificate (NUC) holders may continue island-wide, but new NUCs are not issued. Outside eligible areas the enforced minimum rental period is 30 consecutive days; Ordinance 25-2 (effective Sept. 30, 2025) redefines short-term as under 90 days, but rentals of 30-89 days operating before Oct. 23, 2022 are protected by a federal court's permanent injunction, and DPP states it continues to enforce the sub-30-day standard across the board. Owner-occupancy is not required for TVUs (unhosted whole-home rentals) in eligible zones, but B&B registrants must hold a real property tax home exemption (i.e., live on site) and own at least 50% of the property; occupancy is capped at 2 adult transient occupants per room, and B&Bs may rent no more than 2 rooms.
Taxes
| Tax | Rate | Who collects |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii General Excise Tax (GET) incl. Oahu county surcharge4.0% state GET plus 0.5% Oahu county surcharge; the maximum rate passed on to guests is 4.712%. Hosts must hold a state GET license; marketplaces such as Airbnb and Vrbo are not allowed to collect Hawaii lodging taxes on hosts' behalf. | 4.5% | host |
| Hawaii Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT)Act 96 (SLH 2025, the 'green fee') raised the TAT from 10.25% to 11.00% effective January 1, 2026. Applies to accommodations rented for less than 180 days. Hosts must hold a state TAT license and remit directly to the Hawaii Department of Taxation. | 11% | host |
| Oahu Transient Accommodations Tax (OTAT)3% county TAT established by Ordinance 21-33, effective Dec. 14, 2021, on gross rental proceeds for stays under 180 days; remitted by the operator to the City & County of Honolulu Department of Budget and Fiscal Services (otatpay.honolulu.gov). Combined lodging tax burden on Oahu is approximately 18.5% (4.5% GET + 11% TAT + 3% OTAT) as of 2026. | 3% | host |
Enforcement & penalties
DPP actively investigates complaints (online reporting form) and issues Notices of Violation (NOV) and Notices of Order (NOO), including for illegal advertising - ads must display the registration certificate or NUC number and the property's tax map key. Enforcement is aggressive on paper (the city issued over $100 million in STR fines across three fiscal years through 2025) but collections have lagged (under 2% collected per April 2025 reporting); high-profile fines continued into 2026. Rentals of less than 30 consecutive days remain the enforcement threshold outside resort areas while the 90-day definition is litigated.
Initial violation: civil fine of $1,000 plus up to $5,000 per day; recurring violation: civil fine of $10,000 plus up to $10,000 per day until corrected. Fines also apply to advertising an unregistered dwelling for stays under 30 days; unpaid fines can become liens on the property.
⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.
Recent rule changes in Honolulu
January 1, 2026material
State TAT rises to 11% under Act 96 ('green fee')
Hawaii's Transient Accommodations Tax increased 0.75 points from 10.25% to 11.00% effective Jan. 1, 2026, under Act 96 (SLH 2025), the nation's first climate-impact lodging fee. Combined Oahu lodging taxes now total roughly 18.5% (GET 4.5% + TAT 11% + OTAT 3%). A December 2025 federal court ruling allowed the increase to take effect as scheduled (only the cruise-ship portion was blocked).
Official source →December 9, 2025material
Ordinance 25-52 (Bill 62, 2025) doubles initial registration fee to $1,000
A new city ordinance raised the STR initial registration fee from $500 to $1,000 (renewal stays $500), requires a full new $1,000 registration whenever an STR's owners or operators change, and reinstated several STR rules inadvertently omitted from the 2024 land use ordinance recodification. (Date shown is the report date; the ordinance was signed in late 2025.)
Official source →September 30, 2025material
Ordinance 25-2 takes effect: 90-day minimum rental period on the books
Ordinance 25-2 (signed by Mayor Blangiardi Jan. 3, 2025) took effect Sept. 30, 2025, redefining short-term rental so that unregistered rentals outside eligible zones require a 90-day minimum. It preserves NUCs, sub-30-day STRs in eligible zoned areas, and 30-89 day rentals operating before Oct. 23, 2022 (per the federal injunction). New federal litigation challenges the 90-day rule, and DPP has stated it will continue to enforce the sub-30-day standard across the board while the issue is resolved.
Official source →June 25, 2024
Ordinance 24-14 recodifies the Land Use Ordinance, including STR rules
Ordinance 24-14 (signed June 25, 2024) restated the STR framework within a comprehensive Land Use Ordinance update, including the $1,000,000 liability insurance requirement (subdivision (3)(D)) and annual tax-clearance renewal requirements; some STR provisions were inadvertently omitted and later restored by Ordinance 25-52.
Official source →May 3, 2024material
State Act 17 (SB 2919) empowers counties to phase out transient vacation rentals
The Hawaii Legislature transferred broad zoning authority over transient accommodations to the counties, expressly allowing counties to regulate, amortize, or phase out transient accommodations in any zoning district - undercutting the statutory basis (HRS 46-4(a)) of the 2023 HILSTRA injunction and paving the way for Honolulu's Ordinance 25-2.
Official source →December 1, 2023critical
Federal court permanently blocks Ordinance 22-7's 90-day minimum (HILSTRA v. City & County of Honolulu)
In December 2023 (following his October 2022 preliminary injunction), U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson issued a final ruling permanently enjoining enforcement of the 90-day minimum rental period against existing operators: rentals of 30-89 days operating on or before Oct. 23, 2022 may continue, effectively keeping Oahu's enforceable minimum at 30 days. (Exact day of the ruling not confirmed; December 2023.)
Official source →
Frequently asked questions
›Is Airbnb legal in Honolulu?
Airbnb is legal in Honolulu, HI, but with significant restrictions — check the zoning and eligibility rules on this page before listing. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Honolulu?
Yes. Honolulu requires 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) to operate a short-term rental, which costs $1,000 and must be renewed every year. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›How much does a Honolulu short-term rental permit cost?
The 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) costs $1,000 (annual renewal). Initial registration fee is $1,000 (non-refundable); annual renewal with continuing owners is $500. The initial fee was raised from $500 to $1,000 by Ordinance 25-52 (Bill 62, 2025) in late 2025, which also requires a brand-new $1,000 registration whenever the property's ownership or operator changes. Grandfathered NUC holders renew separately each year (Sept. 1 - Oct. 15).
›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in Honolulu?
Yes — Honolulu does not limit short-term rentals to primary residences. Zoning and other restrictions may still apply. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›What taxes do short-term rental hosts pay in Honolulu?
Hosts in Honolulu are subject to: Hawaii General Excise Tax (GET) incl. Oahu county surcharge (4.5%), Hawaii Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) (11%), Oahu Transient Accommodations Tax (OTAT) (3%) — roughly 18.5% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.
›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in Honolulu?
Initial violation: civil fine of $1,000 plus up to $5,000 per day; recurring violation: civil fine of $10,000 plus up to $10,000 per day until corrected. Fines also apply to advertising an unregistered dwelling for stays under 30 days; unpaid fines can become liens on the property. DPP actively investigates complaints (online reporting form) and issues Notices of Violation (NOV) and Notices of Order (NOO), including for illegal advertising - ads must display the registration certificate or NUC number and the property's tax map key. Enforcement is aggressive on paper (the city issued over $100 million in STR fines across three fiscal years through 2025) but collections have lagged (under 2% collected per April 2025 reporting); high-profile fines continued into 2026. Rentals of less than 30 consecutive days remain the enforcement threshold outside resort areas while the 90-day definition is litigated.
Honolulu's STR rules changed 3 times recently.
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Related
Nearby covered markets
- San Francisco, CAPrimary residence only
- South Lake Tahoe, CAPermit required
- Los Angeles, CAPrimary residence only
- Portland, ORPrimary residence only
- Vancouver, WAPermit required
Sources
- Short-Term Rentals - Department of Planning and Permitting, City and County of Honoluluretrieved July 10, 2026
- Short-Term Rental FAQ - Department of Planning and Permittingretrieved July 10, 2026
- DPP Informational Guide for Short-Term Rental (STR) Registration (Aug 2025)retrieved July 10, 2026
- DPP Informational Guide for Short-Term Rental (STR) Renewal (Aug 2025)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Hawaii Department of Taxation Announcement No. 2025-03 (TAT increase to 11%, Act 96)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Oahu Transient Accommodations Tax (OTAT) - Honolulu Department of Budget and Fiscal Servicesretrieved July 10, 2026
- Honolulu Board of REALTORS Agent Forum - Short Term Rental Update (Apr. 11, 2025; includes DPP enforcement statement and fines)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Avalara MyLodgeTax: Honolulu raises short-term rental registration fees (Dec. 9, 2025)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Oahu Transient Accommodations Tax FAQs - Honolulu Department of Budget and Fiscal Services (OTAT 3%, Ord. 21-33)retrieved July 10, 2026
This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with Honolulu and a qualified professional before operating.