Hawaii · Sign permitting

Commercial sign permits in Hawaii.

Hawaii is one of only four U.S. states with a statewide billboard ban, and its ban is the oldest, dating to 1927. Off-premise outdoor advertising is broadly prohibited by statute (HRS Chapter 445), so on-premise commercial signage is the practical universe of sign work. Hawaii also has no incorporated cities or towns, so sign permitting is administered entirely at the county level by four county jurisdictions.

What makes Hawaii different

Hawaii is the original billboard-free state. Its statewide ban dates to 1927, the oldest of the four ban states, and grew out of The Outdoor Circle, which in the 1920s bought out and shut down the last local billboard company. Off-premise advertising is essentially zero.
Two-tier government: there are no incorporated cities or towns, so every sign permit is a COUNTY permit — Honolulu (Oahu) is a consolidated City and County, plus Maui, Hawaii (Big Island), and Kauai counties — each running its own sign code.
Scenic-beauty and tourism preservation is baked into the codes (Honolulu's sign-regulation purpose expressly references preserving natural scenic beauty), so expect aesthetic scrutiny on on-premise signs.

Statewide rules that apply broadly

Statewide billboard ban (HRS Ch. 445)

Off-premise outdoor advertising is broadly prohibited statewide under HRS Chapter 445, Part IV, with narrow exceptions (official notices, on-premise signs, certain temporary/event and approved scenic/cultural notices). Plan only on-premise signage — billboards and off-site advertising are not permittable.

County permitting + HDOT highway corridors

With no incorporated cities, sign permitting is administered by the four counties. Along state and federal-aid highways, the Hawaii DOT controls outdoor advertising under HAR Chapter 19-103 and HRS 264-72, tied to the federal program and Hawaii's Scenic Byways Program.

The typical permit process

01Confirm jurisdiction — Hawaii has no incorporated cities, so the permitting authority is one of four counties (Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii, or Kauai).
02Recognize the statewide gate — off-premise outdoor advertising is prohibited; plan only on-premise signage.
03In Honolulu, the Department of Planning and Permitting administers sign permits under the Land Use Ordinance (Article 7), through a multi-step online process (apply, plans, prescreen against the SIGN Permit Plan Format Checklist, plan review, issuance, inspection, closeout).
04In Maui County, commercial signs are regulated under Maui County Code Chapter 16.13 plus Title 19, with permits through the MAPPS online portal.
05In Hawaii County (Big Island), signs are governed by County Code Chapter 3, filed with the Planning/Public Works director; non-temporary signs are permitted like a structure.
06In Kauai County, sign permits come from the Building Division under the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance.
07Across all counties, confirm the zoning district (it drives allowable size, height, number, and illumination), submit a site plan and sign drawings, and budget for plan review and inspection.

Notable jurisdictions

City and County of Honolulu (Oahu)

The state's largest jurisdiction and a consolidated city-county — there's no separate City of Honolulu permit; the Department of Planning and Permitting administers it. Sign rules are in the Land Use Ordinance (Article 7), whose stated intent emphasizes preserving natural scenic beauty, with a multi-step online process. The LUO was overhauled by Ordinance 25-2 (effective largely Sept. 30, 2025) — use the current text.

Maui County (Maui, Molokai, Lanai)

Commercial signage is governed by Maui County Code Chapter 16.13 (Commercial Signs) plus Title 19 (Zoning), with permits handled online via MAPPS, Maui's automated permitting system.

Hawaii County / Big Island

Signs are governed by County Code Chapter 3, administered through the Planning Department / Public Works; non-temporary signs are permitted like structures, with temporary-sign caps that differ by district.

Kauai County

Sign permits are issued by the Building Division of Public Works under the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, with modest, district-specific on-premise limits; the county publishes a sign-ordinance summary and application.

Statewide / HDOT highway corridors

Beyond county codes, the Hawaii DOT controls outdoor advertising along state and federal-aid highways under HAR Chapter 19-103 and HRS 264-72, consistent with the federal program and Hawaii's Scenic Byways Program.

On timelines

Timelines vary by county and sign complexity; no single statewide number applies. Smaller on-premise signs in some counties move quickly once a complete, code-compliant application is in, while Honolulu routes applications through a multi-step plan review across agencies that can take longer, especially if plans fail the format checklist and must be resubmitted. Confirm current processing times with the relevant county planning/building department.

What adds review, time, or cost

Off-premise/billboard advertising is prohibited statewide. Only on-premise signage is permittable.
On-premise size, height, number, and illumination limits depend on the county's sign code and the parcel's zoning district.
Scenic-beauty and tourism rationale drives aesthetic scrutiny, and roof signs and certain animated/flashing signs face restrictions.
Signage near a state or federal-aid highway right of way can trigger HDOT outdoor-advertising control on top of the county permit.

Exemptions vary by county code (and certain on-premise, temporary, and official signs are exceptions to the statewide billboard prohibition), but no off-premise advertising is permittable anywhere. Confirm with the county.

Questions people ask

Why are there no billboards in Hawaii?

Hawaii has banned off-premise outdoor advertising since 1927 — the oldest of the four statewide billboard bans — after The Outdoor Circle bought out and shut down the last local billboard company in the 1920s. Off-premise advertising is essentially zero statewide.

Who issues sign permits in Hawaii?

A county. Hawaii has no incorporated cities or towns, so every sign permit is a county permit — Honolulu (a consolidated City and County covering Oahu), Maui, Hawaii (Big Island), or Kauai — each with its own sign code.

Is Honolulu a city permit or a county permit?

A county permit. Honolulu is a consolidated City and County, so even on Oahu the permit comes from the county's Department of Planning and Permitting under the Land Use Ordinance.

Sources

Informational only, not legal advice. Sign codes and fees change and vary by jurisdiction — confirm current requirements with the local department before you rely on them.

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