DPP prioritizes enforcement of under‑30‑day rentals; platforms and appeals remain enforcement challenges

The Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) briefed the Honolulu City Council Committee on Zoning and Planning on June 26 on enforcement progress against illegal short-term rentals (STRs), registration counts and outreach efforts.

DPP reported that, over the past 2½ years, its records show roughly 3,000 request-for-investigations (complaints), about 2,000 notices of violation (NOVs) and 831 notices of order (NOOs). The department also provided a registration tally for legal STRs and nonconforming uses (NUCs) and said it had approved more than 1,400 new registrations since July 2024.

Why it matters: The committee grappled with how to enforce after a federal court ruling that grandfathered certain operators in place. DPP told members that enforcing a 90-day minimum stay would impose a substantial administrative burden and would slow enforcement of disruptive short-term operators. DPP said it will focus resources on less-than-30-day listings because shorter stays are more likely to be disruptive and easier to identify and enforce.

Key points from DPP and stakeholders

DPP: The department said three investigators and two planners currently handle STR enforcement and noted the Kuka Coalition stipulation, which limits immediate enforcement of hosting-platform reporting requirements unless the plaintiff is given 60 days’ notice. DPP said it is pursuing voluntary cooperation with Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com while reserving the right to use legal mechanisms to compel platform data if necessary. Director-level remarks: "The department believes that it's best that we enforce for the 30 days or less versus 90 days," DPP said during the briefing, citing administrative burden, appeals and evasion tactics.

Platforms and lodging industry: Keikoa McClellan of the American Hotel and Lodging Association urged fuller enforcement of existing laws and quicker remedies for collection of fines, and asked that platforms be held accountable and compelled to share data. Industry representatives said enforcement and faster appeals resolution would reduce illegal supply.

Community and midterm-hosting advocates: Testifiers including Virginia Dutton and Kelly Lee urged caution about broad restrictions that could remove midterm and 30-day listings relied upon by local residents and workers. They requested a more detailed economic study on midterm housing impacts before further legislation.

Enforcement tools and next steps

DPP said it is mounting a public-awareness campaign, publishing eligibility and compliance maps, posting targeted notices and preparing at least 15 liens on properties with significant unpaid STR fines. The department said it has some foreclosure actions under review and is coordinating with the Real Property Tax office and the State Department of Taxation on tax compliance and notifications.

DPP asked the committee to consider resourcing alternatives to shorten the appeals backlog and to consider targeted measures such as first-time amnesty settlements to reduce the backlog at the Board of Zoning Appeals. Committee members and stakeholders also discussed whether the city should use its statutory authority under state law changes to phase out certain short-term rentals in targeted zones.

Ending: DPP said it will continue working with platforms, increase public outreach and pursue registration enforcement for unregistered legally-zoned STRs; council members signaled interest in further hearings about platform accountability, appeals process speed and the socioeconomic role of midterm rentals.