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County audit finds backlog, system gaps and training needs in Hawaii County building permit process; SB 66 could shift responsibilities
Summary
A May 2025 performance audit of Hawaii County’s building-permit process identified 13 findings and 29 recommendations, flagging higher application volumes than processing capacity, portal and inspection inconsistencies, and Epic system gaps; auditors said a pending state bill (SB 66) could shift responsibilities to licensed professionals and align with several recommendations.
The Office of the County Auditor presented a performance audit of the Department of Public Works (DPW) building-division permit process to the Communication Reports and Council Oversight Committee on May 20, identifying systemic issues that contribute to permit delays and recommending 29 actions to improve timeliness, quality and transparency.
Tyler Benner, county auditor, said auditors analyzed application data from July 26, 2021 to March 31, 2024, interviewed DPW staff and stakeholders, and conducted ride-alongs with inspectors. Audit team members reported 13 findings and 29 recommendations; management largely agreed and provided a detailed SMART action plan (report pages 93–131).
Key findings included: (1) volume pressures — approximately 15,600 permits received vs. about 11,100 processed in the period reviewed and average incoming 16 applications per day to 12 processed per day, creating a backlog; (2) time-measurement distortions where the department treats incomplete…
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