Permitting modernization, fines collection and staffing top Department of Permitting and Planning briefing

The Department of Permitting and Planning on Wednesday told the Honolulu City Budget Committee it has substantially reduced old backlogs while preparing to implement a new permitting system and to step up enforcement and fine collection.

Acting Director Donna Puna told the committee the department has cut prescreen averages to one day and reduced residential code review to about 11 days, while commercial code review now averages under two months. "We've gone all e‑plans with important upgrades … and since 2023, we have assessed hundreds of millions of dollars in short‑term rental fines," Puna said.

Why it matters: Permitting timelines and effective code enforcement affect housing production, neighborhood quality of life and city revenue. Committee members pressed the department for particulars about staffing, backlog counts, short‑term rental (STR) fines and the department's plan to automate parts of the workflow.

Puna outlined the department's near‑term priorities as full rollout of the Clarity permitting system, deployment of SIFCheck artificial intelligence for residential and commercial code review, continued ePlans integration, and improved…