Welcome to the Planning Department

The Planning Department advises the Mayor, Planning Commission, and the County Council on planning and land use matters for the County of Kauai. The Department is also responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances, as well as the County's planning program, which includes long-range and regulatory policy documents like the General Plan and Comprehensive Zoning Ordinances.

Announcements

Friday, June 15, 2018
Emergency Ordinance FAQs and Qualification Form

Please click here to download the Emergency Ordinance Qualification Process FAQs.

Please click here to download the Rain 2018 Qualification Form.


Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Additional Rental Units (ARU) Forms Online

Additional Rental Units (ARU) are now permissible within the Residential Zoning District.

Please click here for the ARU clearance form and information sheet. 


Thursday, March 15, 2018
General Plan Hard Copy Order Form - Due April 20, 2018

The County of Kauaʻi Planning Department is now accepting orders for any individual, party, or entity to purchase hard copies of the document.

Copies of the plan are selling only as one total set, including appendices, at $130.00.

The Department will only conduct one mass publication of the plan in English, and this will be the only opportunity to order and receive a hard copy. Once the plan is translated into ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, and Niihauan, there will be a future opportunity to purchase that version as a hard copy.

Forms with advance payment must be submitted by April 20, 2018. Only checks or cash are accepted. Any checks must be made out to “County of Kauai Director of Finance”

We anticipate the hard copies for pick-up or mail delivery a month later.

To place an order, please fill out and complete the 2018 General Plan Update order form and submit payment to the Planning Department by April 20, 2018. 


Friday, January 5, 2018
Planning Dept. to no longer accept paper plans requiring building permits (Effective Feb. 1, 2018)

 

The Planning Department is announcing that it will no longer be accepting paper plans for any project requiring a building permit, effective Feb.1, due to the county’s transition to 100 percent Electronic Plan Review (EPR) Services.

Projects requiring building permits must first be administered by the Building Division before further processing. Additionally, the County Department of Public Works will require electronic copies of construction documents (drawing sets) requiring a building permit.

As a reminder, a zoning application and commensurate fee must still be submitted in person to the Planning Department to initiate the office’s EPR.

However, the only exception will be those projects that do not require a building permit; only those requiring a zoning permit such as:

1) Perimeter fencing;

2) Retaining walls (not retaining more than 4 feet of fill/grade material);

3) Accessory structures under 200 square feet (Storage sheds); and

4) Concrete pads on residential parcels.

In this instance, the applicant is required to complete a zoning permit application and must pay the applicable fees. The department may require additional information to supplement the submittal.

Further, zoning permit applications requiring Planning Commission approval prior to plan submittal, those projects shall maintain present requirements.

However, any construction plan review related to these Planning Commission zoning permits and requiring a building permit from DPW must submit through the EPR process to receive Planning Department review and approval.

The EPR process is a web-based solution that allows plans for building permits to be submitted electronically, which will be replacing the traditional paper-based review method. For more information about the County’s EPR process, please visit www.kauai.gov/EPR.


Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Planning Department educates viewers on shoreline setbacks and coastal erosion

 

Watch Kaua‘i Planning Department Deputy Director Kaaina Hull and Sea Grant Extension Agent Ruby Pap discuss shoreline setbacks and coastal erosion on Voice of the Sea!  

Click on the links below to watch the episode:

https://vimeo.com/215422926

https://youtu.be/yXPmxXlCIgQ


Wednesday, November 2, 2016
ADDITIONAL DWELLING UNIT (ADU) ON OTHER THAN RESIDENTIALLY ZONED LOTS

RE-CERTIFICATION APPLICATION INFORMATION RELATING TO ADDITIONAL DWELLING UNIT (ADU) ON OTHER THAN RESIDENTIALLY ZONED LOTS 

Pursuant to Ordinance No. 1006 approved on October 10, 2016:

  • This amendment is only applicable to lots outside of the “Residential” zoning district.
  • Every re-certification applicant must already possess an ADU Facilities Clearance Form that was completed on or before June 15, 2007. After being approved by all required agencies, the form shall be submitted with the Building Permit application. Completion of the ADU Facilities Clearance Form shall not guarantee the issuance of a Building Permit.
  • You must re-certify this form with the Planning Department by Friday, June 30, 2017, otherwise you will lose your entitlements for building and zoning permits.
  • A regulatory fee of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) shall be charged upon registration for re-certification.
  • For lots on which an Additional Dwelling Unit is developed, no guest house shall be allowed. 
  • An existing guest house may be converted into an additional dwelling unit but no additional guest house may be constructed.
  • Please refer to Ordinance No. 1006 (approved 10/10/2016) and  Ordinance No. 1003 (approved 6/27/2016) for more information.

Visit the Planning Department at the Līhu‘e Civic Center or call 241-4050

for more information.


Tuesday, September 6, 2016
New Procedures - Condominium Property Regime (CPR) Zoning Clearance

Information regarding the new procedures for all Kauai Department of Planning Condominium Property Regime (CPR) Zoning Clearance Requests are available here:

Memorandum

CPR Form


Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Inspections for County Verification of CPR Applications

See link below for instructions on scheduling inspections for the county verification of CPR applications before the Real Estate Commission.

CPR_Instructions.pdf 


Monday, November 23, 2015
Transit Feasibility Study

 

The Kaua'i Transit Feasibility Study is underway!  This project will explore how the use of new local shuttles on the North Shore, South Shore, and East Side can help mitigate congestion and improve accessibility for residents and visitors.  Visit the project website here:  Kauai Shuttle Study

 

 


Monday, November 2, 2015
NEW Community Place- Type and Visioning Workshops for General Plan Update

 

Do you care about the form and character of a place today and how they may change in the future?   Come join us this week for presentations that focus on the communities of Waimea- Kekaha, Hanapēpē-‘Ele‘ele, and North Shore!  

Waimea-Kekaha Closing Presentation

Wednesday, November 4th

Noon to 1:30 PM at the Waimea Courthouse

 Hanapēpē-Eleele Closing Presentation

Wednesday, November 4th

5:30 – 7 PM at the Hanapēpē Library

 North Shore Closing Presentation

Friday, November 6th

5:00 – 6:30 PM at the Church of the Pacific, Princeville

For more information check out our website: plankauai.com

*All tours are booked. 

 


Monday, June 29, 2015
NEW Zoning Permit Form Available

An updated zoning permit application form is now available online. 


Tuesday, March 3, 2015
NEW Shoreline Setback Application available online

NEW Shoreline setback applications are available in hard copy at the Planning Department or can be accessed online in the "Resource Documents" folder under the "Zoning and Land Use Permits" tab located on the top-left hand corner of this website.


Monday, February 9, 2015
NEW Shoreline Setback Ordinance Effective December 5, 2014


Effective December 5, 2014, the Department will enforce the new shoreline setback ordinance.  Click here to read the new shoreline setback ordinance.


Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Rice Street Week Starts November 17

The Planning Department, in partnership with the Department of Public Works, is developing concept plans for the future of Rice Street.  These plans will be shared with the public through a series of events during Rice Street Week.  Your input is welcomed as we plan for the future of Rice Street!  Click here for more information on Rice Street Week.


Friday, October 3, 2014
Attention TVR Owners: NEW Renewal Fees Take Effect Sept. 30,2014

EFFECTIVE 9-30-14

Pursuant to Ordinance 974, the TVR-NCU Renewal fee will be set at $750.00.  Please check out the 2014 TVR-NCU renewal form found online on our Transient Vacation Rental Homepage which reflects the new fee increases.


Thursday, October 2, 2014
East Kauai Community Plan 2035 Public Outreach Events This Saturday, October 4, 2014

The Kauai County Planning Department encourages the East Kauai Community to attend the following community outreach events to provide input on policy objectives and goals that have been developed through community visioning workshops.  The input will be used to develop an implementation plan. The highlights of the plan include: recommended locations for infill development, future growth areas for new housing, and recommendations for capital projects.

Please come and join us!

 

When: Saturday, October 4th, 2014

9:00am - Noon @ Kapaa Middle School Cafeteria - Ranking Exercise

12:30pm- 4:00pm @ Coconut Festival, Kapaa Beach Park - Public Outreach

4:30pm- 7:00pm @ Kapaa Art Night, Bank of Hawaii-Public Outreach

 

 For more information, please call 241-4050.  If you need an ASL interpreter, materials in an alternate format, or other auxiliary aid support, please contact the Planning Department at the phone number listed above.


Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Attention TVR Owners: NEW Administrative Rules to Take Effect in 2014

Effective April 25, 2014, the Department will enforce new interpretative administrative zoning rules and regulations to be applied to Transient Vacation Rentals.   The 2014 TVR-NCUC Renewal Application Form, which is available on the TVR homepage, incorporates the requirements outlined in the administrative rules. 


Friday, June 28, 2013
Digital Intake Policy for Planning Determination Requests

Beginning July 15, 2013, the Department will no longer intake and process any written inquiries requesting a Director for Departmental Determination on potential and existing permit or zoning requirements without the required new form, "Determination Request Form", now available in "Quick Links" or in "Planning Resource Documents".

Read the new policy here.


Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Attention: New 2014 NCU Renewal Form Available Online

TVR-NCU permit holders must fill out this new 2014 TVR-NCU Renewal Application form, now available online on the Transient Vacation Rental page.  

This 2014 TVR-NCU Renewal Application has been updated and revised with the new requirements set forth in the Interpretative Administration Rules enacted on April 25, 2014.


Thursday, November 17, 2011
New Special Management Area Rules are online

The new Special Management Area Rules are available. These rules regulate shoreline activities in accordance with HRS 205A and are effective November 5, 2011.

Contact Information

photo of Kaaina Hull
Kaʻāina S. Hull
Director

photo of Jodi Higuchi Sayegusa
Jodi A. Higuchi Sayegusa
Deputy Director

Kauai County Planning Department
4444 Rice Street., Ste A473
Lihue, Hawaii 96766

Phone: (808) 241-4050
Fax: (808) 241-6699

Front Counter Hours:
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
(Monday through Friday,
except for Holidays)

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