How to get a short-term rental permit in Honolulu, HI (2026)
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) — the fee is $1,000, renewed annual. Here's how to get and keep it.
Permit at a glance
| 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 |
Step by step
- 1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. 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.
- 2
Apply for 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)
Submit 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) application to Honolulu and pay the $1,000 fee. 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).
- 3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Honolulu. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.
- 4
Renew on schedule
The permit renews annual — set a reminder so it never lapses, since operating on an expired permit typically triggers fines.
STR rules change without warning.
Get an email the moment Honolulu changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
Watch Honolulu for changes →Free monthly digest · same-day alerts from $5/mo · cancel anytime
Keep going
Verified July 10, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with Honolulu before applying.