Grading, Grubbing and Stockpiling

Kauai County Code (KCC) §22-7 "Grading, Grubbing, and Stockpiling" provides standards to safeguard the public health, safety and welfare; to protect property; to control soil erosion and sedimentation by setting standards for grading, grubbing and stockpiling; and to protect historic properties and burial sites in the County of Kaua'i; setting forth the requirements governing grading, grubbing and stockpiling and establishing the administrative procedures, minimum requirements for issuance of permits and the enforcement of such requirements.

For those that want to do any grading, grubbing, or stockpiling in the County, the applicant shall comply with all provisions of KCC §22-7. This shall include, but not be limited to, a grading and/or grubbing permit in compliance with the County Code, which is required if any of the following conditions apply:

  • The work area exceeds one (1) acre.
  • Grading involving excavation or embankment, or combination thereof exceeds 100 cubic yards.
  • Grading exceeds five (5) feet in vertical height or depth at its deepest point.
  • The work area unreasonably alters the general drainage pattern to the detriment of abutting properties.

A stockpiling permit would be required if the temporary storage of soil, sand, gravel, rock, or other similar material is in excess of five hundred (500) cubic yards upon any premises.

To apply for the appropriate permit, you must fill out one (1) of the three (3) forms below, which can be found on the "Applications, Instructions, and Other Resources" page:

Once the application is filled out and is ready for submission, you must also include a "Cover Transmittal/Letter". The transmittal must provide the following information:

  • Date:__________________________.
  • To: County of Kaua‘i, Department of Public Works, Engineering Division.
  • From:__________________________.
    Phone Number:_________________.
  • [Title and/or description of what is being submitted.]
  • TMK:__________________________.

If the plans are being submitted electronically, you must:

  1. Email your submittal to pwengineering@kauai.gov. If this is not the project's first submittal and it was previously reviewed by someone at the Department of Public Works Engineering Division, you can add them in your email recipients with submission
  2. The plans shall be submitted in a .pdf format. The .pdf must be "Flattened"
  3. If your drawings are very large, you can create a link in your email to a shared drive like One Drive, Dropbox, etc.
  4. The "Cover Transmittal/Letter" must be included with your email submittal

If the plans are being submitted in person, you must provide one (1) full size set for review at the following address:

Department of Public Works
Engineering Division
Mo'ikeha Building
4444 Rice Street, Suite 175
Lihue, Hawaii 96766-1340

When a grading permit is required, the plans must be stamped by a Professional Land Surveyor or Professional Civil Engineering currently licensed in the State of Hawaii. Once the plan set has been approved and signed, your permit application must include the following items:

  • The applicable Application Form (The Contractor must have a Type-A or C-17 License. Both pages of the form must be signed.)
  • DPW-ENGR Form A (Only if the applicant is not an individual)
  • Letter of Authorization (Only if the applicant is not the owner of the property. This is a required from the property owner.)
  • Two (2) full size sets of the fully approved construction plans
  • Permit fee per County Code § 22-7.12(b) (This fee will be calculated and provided after the plans are reviewed. Checks are to be made payable to the "Director of Finance, County of Kaua'i")
  • Original Permit Bond (Cash, Surety, or Deposit of Agreement)
  • A "Cover Transmittal/Letter" including Date, To/Form, Phone Number, Title, and Tax Map Key (TMK) Number

Please submit these items as one (1) complete package; incomplete submittals will not be accepted.

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