Current Airbnb Laws and Regulations in Hawaii 

Hawaii County (Big Island), Hawaii, Airbnb Regulations

New TVR Registration Required Under Ordinance 25-50—Effective September 2026

Hawaii County regulates short-term vacation rentals, referred to as Transient Vacation Rentals (TVRs), on the Big Island through two overlapping frameworks: the original Ordinance 2018-114 (Bill 108), which governs unhosted STVRs and defines where short-term rentals are permitted by zoning, and the newer Ordinance 25-50 (Bill 47), adopted in 2025 and effective Sept. 1, 2026, which adds a mandatory registration system for all transient vacation rentals — including hosted stays that were previously unregulated at the county level. Registration is administered through an online portal managed by Deckard Technologies on behalf of the Hawaii County Planning Department. A grace period for compliance runs through Dec. 31, 2026. After that date, operating without a valid registration number is subject to county enforcement.

• Definition: Hawaii County defines a transient vacation rental (TVR) as any short-term rental of fewer than 180 consecutive days. Both hosted rentals (where the owner lives on the property) and unhosted rentals fall under the registration requirement.
• Zoning: STRs are permitted in Resort-Hotel (V) zones, certain commercial districts, and General Plan Resort and Resort Node areas under Hawaii County Code § 25-4-16. STRs are not permitted in standard residential zones outside these designations. Owners operating outside permitted zones may hold a Nonconforming Use Certificate (NUC) under Ordinance 2018-114 if they qualified before the original law took effect. NUCs are not transferable upon sale; registration expires 90 days after a change in ownership, and the new owner must re-register, or the short-term rental is treated as unregistered.
• Registration: All TVR operators must register with Hawaii County through the county’s online registration portal before operating. Registration is annual and must be renewed each year. The registration number must appear in all advertising and listings on booking platforms.
  • Hosted rental (owner on premises): $250 initial registration / $100 annual renewal
  • Unhosted rental (owner not on premises): $500 initial registration / $250 annual renewal
• Taxes: STR income on the Big Island is subject to Hawaii’s General Excise Tax (GET) and the Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT), both administered by the Hawaii Department of Taxation. Operators must hold a GET license and a TAT certificate, and both must be submitted as part of the county registration process. Tax obligations apply to gross rental proceeds; operators may pass these taxes on to guests.
• Enforcement & Penalties: Operating a TVR without a valid county registration is subject to fines of up to $10,000 per violation, with continued violations subject to daily penalties. The county uses the Deckard Technologies platform to cross-reference active listings on Airbnb and Vrbo against the registration database to identify unregistered properties.
• Ownership Changes: Registration lapses 90 days after any change in ownership. New owners must re-register before operating. Prior operating history does not transfer.
• Grace Period: Hosts who were operating before Sept. 1, 2026, have a grace period through Dec. 31, 2026, to complete registration under Ordinance 25-50. Registration after that date without prior compliance may be subject to enforcement.
• More Information: Visit the Hawaii County Planning Department’s Short-Term Vacation Rentals page and Transient Vacation Rentals page for official guidance. Contact the Planning Department’s Hilo office at (808) 961-8288 or planning@hawaiicounty.gov, or the Kona office at (808) 323-4770.

Honolulu, Hawaii Airbnb Laws

Short-Term Rental Rules in the City & County of Honolulu (O’ahu)

The City and County of Honolulu regulates short-term rentals (STRs) under Ordinances 19-18, 22-7, and 24-14. These rules apply across the island of Oʻahu, defining STRs as rentals of less than 30 consecutive days.

• Zoning & Usage Restrictions: STRs are only legal in designated resort-zoned areas and certain apartment-zoned districts, and must be rented for less than 30 days after approval and licensing. Beginning September 2025, all non-B&B, Non-Conforming Use Certificate (non-NUC) residential rentals must have a minimum rental term of 90 consecutive days. Advertising shorter stays in these areas is prohibited. Check Honolulu’s Short-Term Rental Compliance Map to see if an area is eligible for licensing. 
• Licensing: All new STRs in Honolulu must be registered with Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) as either a Bed & Breakfast (B&B) or a Transient Vacation Unit (TVU), and complete a Statement of Compliance form. Each eligible unit must be registered separately. Hotels and STRs with valid Non-Conforming Use Certificates (NUCs) are exempt, but must remain in compliance with existing conditions.  
• Registration: Honolulu STR host should renew their registration annually, no earlier than 3 months before their license’s expiration, and no later than one month before the license expiration date. For registering a Honolulu short-term rental, hosts can visit the Informational Guide for Registration. For renewing a STR permit in O’ahu, visit the Informational Guide for Renewals. Once hosts register or renew their license on the Honolulu Online Permitting Portal, hosts will be able to access a copy of their STR license in the HNL Build portal. 
  • STR Types: 
    • Bed & Breakfast Homes (B&Bs): The host lives on-site during the guest’s stay and rents no more than two guest rooms, with a limit of two adult guests per room. 
    • Transient Vacation Units (TVUs): Whole-home, unhosted rentals allowed only in eligible zones with a limit of two adult guests per room. 
    • Non-Conforming Use Certificate (NUC) Units: STRs operating legally before October 22, 1986 and were given a Non-Conforming Use Certificate (NUC), must be renewed annually between September 1 and October 15. No new NUCs are issued. 
• Occupancy Limits: The maximum occupancy is two adult guests per bedroom. Additional limits may apply based on zoning or fire code requirements. 
• Insurance: Honolulu STR hosts must maintain $1,000,000 in Commercial General Liability coverage or Homeowner’s insurance with Business Liability Coverage. 
• Informational Binder: Hosts are required to keep an informational binder including the following documents:  
  • Floor plan 
  • Parking plan 
  • Trash collection/disposal instructions 
  • House rules and quiet hours 
  • Emergency contacts 
  • A copy of the certificate of insurance. Copies of general Excise Tax and Transient Accommodation Tax licenses 
  • A copy of the registration certificate or NUC 
• Inspections & Fees: Properties applying for registration are subject to DPP review and must meet zoning, building and safety requirements. Annual registration and renewal fees vary by STR type. 
• Signage & Advertising: Hosts must display their registration license or NUC number in all advertising and on the property itself, along with a tax key map. 
• Parking: B&Bs and TVUs must provide adequate off-street parking as determined by DPP. 
• Point of Contact: A local contact person must be available 24/7 to respond to complaints or emergencies. 
• Taxes: STR operators must collect and remit Hawaii’s Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) and General Excise Tax (GET) on all bookings, including platform such as Airbnb orVrbo as well as direct reservations. For previously registered properties, owners can pay O’ahu STR taxes at this portal. 
• More Information: Visit the City & County of Honolulu STR page for maps of eligible STR zones, registration forms and ordinance details, or visit the O’ahu Short-Term Renal FAQ page. For assistance, contact the DPP at info@honolulu.gov or (808) 768-8000.