Bill Text: HI HB1632 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Bill 1632

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To Housing.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-24 - Referred to HSG/WAL/JHA, referral sheet 1 [HB1632 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-HB1632-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1632
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to housing.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is an ongoing housing crisis in Hawaii. In 2019, a study commissioned by the department of business, economic development, and tourism found that the State will require an additional 50,156 homes by the year 2025. However, over the past five years the State has been producing housing at roughly half the rate required to support the State's population. This dire shortage of housing has been a primary contributor to Hawaii having the highest housing prices in the nation.

The legislature recognizes that delays in the issuance of building permits for single-family and multi-family housing projects is one of the largest obstacles to the development and construction of new housing in Hawaii. An April 2022 study prepared by the university of Hawaii Economic Research Office found that Hawaii has the most regulated housing market in the country. According to the study, homebuilders in Hawaii "wait three times longer for permits, on average, than those in other states, which drives up costs significantly, creating uncertainty and serving as a disincentive to build new projects".

The extended wait times are partially due to the State's complicated regulatory structure, partially due to the thorough county review process, and partially due to staff shortages throughout county planning, public works, and water departments. In Hawaii, counties assume responsibility during the plan review process to ensure that a design meets all applicable county codes. However, in other municipalities around the United States, design professionals and contractors are responsible for ensuring that new construction meets all applicable codes.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the counties to establish a process to allow architects and professional engineers to self-certify that plans for any new construction are compliant with relevant state and county building codes.

SECTION 2. Chapter 46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§46- Building code; self-certification. No later than , , each county shall adopt an ordinance to establish a process to allow an architect or professional engineer licensed under chapter 464 to self-certify that any plans accompanying a building permit application are in compliance with all applicable state and county building codes."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Housing; Counties; Building Codes; Self-Certification

Description:

Requires the counties to adopt an ordinance allowing licensed architects and professional engineers to self-certify that plans accompanying a building permit application are in compliance with all applicable state and county building codes.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.