The Current Fragmented System
Hawaii doesn’t have one building code—we have four. Each county tweaks and updates their own on different timelines, creating a chaotic landscape for development.
Redesign Costs
Architects and engineers must redesign projects on a county-by-county basis, adding significant delays and unnecessary costs to every home.
Inconsistency
A house legal on Maui might be illegal on Oahu due to conflicting rules. This inconsistency confuses builders and inspectors alike.
Supply Barrier
Fragmented rules act as a bottleneck, reducing the statewide housing supply by making simple projects slower and more expensive to approve.
See Why It Matters
Triplexes and fourplexes are often treated like commercial apartment buildings, adding tens of thousands in unnecessary costs for features that aren't required for safety.
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Lower Construction Costs
Make housing more affordable by removing redundant regulations.
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Uniform Safety Standards
Maintain high safety without confusion across county lines.
The Solution: HB1725
This bill creates a single, sensible statewide building code that applies consistently across all counties, ending the patchwork system.
Residential Standards
Classifies triplexes and fourplexes under the International Residential Code.
Safety First
Ensures common-sense fire safety without cost-prohibitive commercial requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Would this bill make multifamily homes less safe?
No. The International Residential Code requires strict fire-safety protections such as fire-rated walls, egress points, and smoke alarms. It's built for safety.
What is so bad about requiring fire sprinklers?
Fire sprinklers dramatically increase costs (often tens of thousands of dollars) and are not required for similar residential buildings (single family homes) under the International Residential Code.
Would the counties lose all control?
No. Counties can adopt targeted amendments to address local needs, but the baseline code would remain consistent statewide to ensure predictability.
Are other states doing this?
Yes. States like North Carolina and Utah use the Residential Code for up to four units, recognizing them as small residential buildings rather than commercial structures.
Sign the Official Petition
Help us send a clear message to legislators.