Building Division

Operations

  • Due to the flood event of June 18, 2023 Building Division office has temporarily relocated to the Hale Kokua office, Suite 302 in the Lihue Civic Center. The entrance is located across the DMV lobby at the end of the building, and modified hours of operation are 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • Customers should have their permit application(s) completed before approaching the front counter. Applications are also available at the front counter for your convenience.
  • General inquiries regarding construction, electronic plan review, inspections, violations, property or Realtor inquiries will be accepted by telephone at (808) 241-4854.

Announcements

***New web link for ePlan: https://eplans.kauai.gov/projectdox


Building Permit Application

New Building Permit Applications may now be accepted via email by filling out the form below and submitting to building@kauai.gov

Building Permit Application(PDF, 320KB)

Building Forms

BD-Commercial-Permit-Application-Checklist-2023(PDF, 198KB)

BD-Residential-Permit-Application-Checklist-2023(PDF, 224KB)

Contractor/Owner Builder Statement(PDF, 293KB)

Application for Formal Plan Revisions(DOC, 258KB)

Agricultural Building Exemption Form(DOC, 154KB)

Sign-Permit-Application(PDF, 132KB)

Request For Information(PDF, 127KB)

Accessibility-Statement(PDF, 160KB)

Special-Inspections-Form(PDF, 144KB)

Resource Documents

SFR-Duplex-Plan-Review-Checklist-2023(PDF, 285KB)

IECC Block Building Envelope Components(PDF, 278KB)

IECC Block Low-Rise Residential(PDF, 279KB)

IECC Block Electrical and Lighting Systems(PDF, 354KB)

IECC Block Mechanical Systems(PDF, 339KB)

Building Valuation Policy(PDF, 473KB)

Building Permits Minimum Requirements(PDF, 594KB)

Building Permits Minimum Requirements (Appendix A)(PDF, 3MB)

EPR Applicant User Guide(PDF, 9MB)

Kauai County Sign Ordinance Summary(PDF, 42KB)

Owner-Builders in Hawaii: A Guide to State Regulations(PDF, 14KB)

Alternate-Design-Material-or-Construction-Method-Application(PDF, 193KB)

Building Division Codes

The County of Kaua'i started enforcement of the following codes pursuant to Hawai'i Revised Statutes, Section 107-28, and is blended with the 2006 IBC and 2006 IRC amendments as adopted by the County of Kaua'i.

2018 International Building Code                      April 20, 2023

2018 International Residential Code                  November 17, 2022

2018 International Existing Building Code         November 17, 2022

2018 International Energy Conservation Code    December 15, 2022

2021 Uniform Plumbing Code as per Hawai’i Revised Statues, Section 107-24 (c) February 2024(PDF, 75KB)

2020-NEC-Code-Adoption.pdf(PDF, 273KB)    March 14, 2024

Kaua'i County Ordinances

Hawai'i State Building Code Council

ICC Codes

 

generic Approved Building Permit example

TWO WAYS TO REQUEST INSPECTION

Telephone icon
TELEPHONE
Email icon
EMAIL

BUILDING

SIXTO AGOTO SUPERVISOR 808-241-4872 sagoto@kauai.gov
TAJ LEONE Kīpū — LAWAI 808-241-4877 tleone@kauai.gov
RONSON VALDEZ PUHI — KAWAIHAU 808-241-4853 rvaldez@kauai.gov
GARY YOSHIMOTO Kalāheo — MANA 808-241-4869  jyoshimoto@kauai.gov
JUANITO RABAINO KEALIA — HAENA 808-241-4859 jrabaino@kauai.gov

PLUMBING

THOMAS MATSUYOSHI SUPERVISOR 808-241-4865 tmatsuyoshi@kauai.gov
GAVIN SHIMAMOTO LIHUʻE — KEKAHA 808-241-4864 gshimamoto@kauai.gov
VAUGHN FERNANDEZ KAPAʻA — HAENA 808-241-4862 vfernandez@kauai.gov

ELECTRICAL

FRANCIS LAYAOEN SUPERVISOR 808-241-4867 flayaoen@kauai.gov
EDWIN NAVARRO LIHUE — HAENA 808-241-4861 enavarro@kauai.gov
JIMMY ILORETA PUHI — KEKAHA 808-241-4860 jiloreta@kauai.gov
       

Your name, job site address, telephone number, permit number and inspection date are needed with your request. Submit your inspection request at least one or two days in advance and “CC” the supervisor when requesting inspection via email. 

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Kauai Online Hazard Assessment Tool

Geographic Information System (GIS)

FHAT - State of Hawaii Flood Hazard Assessment Tool is now online. Click here to access the FHAT tool

Public Works - Building Division Information

Mission Statement

The Division of Buildings is responsible for facility development and code development and enforcement. All programs are responsible for providing the people of Kauai with safely constructed public and private facilities.

Division Goals

  • To develop new facilities to replace old, dilapidated, overcrowded buildings and structures.
  • To ensure that the minimum construction standards contained within the Kauai County Codes, and referenced building trade codes, are adhered to.
  • Continually update the Kauai County Code to meet current building industry codes, which reflect the latest industry standards, and changing technologies.
  • Provide effective training and adequate staffing to increase the efficiency of services to the public in the review, issuance, and enforcement of building, electrical, plumbing, and sign permits.
  • Provide necessary services in the preparation, and management of construction contracts.

Program Descriptions

  • Administration - The Building Division's Administrative Section manages facility development and construction. The Section also oversees the operation of the Building Codes Enforcement Section.
  • Building Code Enforcement Section - The Building Code Enforcement Section is responsible for the review of projects to ensure compliance and enforcement, of the all applicable building trade codes and ordinances, related to building construction. as the central coordination agency in the building permitting process, the program is responsible for the circulation and consolidation of comments from County, State, and Federal agencies, prior to permit approval. The program is also responsible for building, electrical, plumbing, and sign code enforcement inspection, as part of the permitting process.

Contact Information

County of Kauai - Department of Public Works
Building Division
4444 Rice Street, Suite 175
Lihue, Hawaii 96766-1340

Phone: 808-241-4854

Fax: 808-241-6806

Need A Building Permit?

For information and answers to questions regarding obtaining a building permit, please visit our Guide To Obtaining A Building Permit. From here you will find links to instruction documents, applications and forms.

Building Permit Status Online!

Electronic Plan Review now available!