Hawaii County committee forwards Bill 47 to full council to register short‑term rentals after 6‑1 vote

The Hawaii County Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use and Economic Development voted to forward Bill 47 to the full County Council with a favorable recommendation after debate and public testimony, advancing a measure that would require most transient vacation rentals (TBRs) and hosting platforms to register with the county and pay annual renewal fees.

Bill 47 would add a new article to Chapter 6 of the Hawaii County Code to create a registration process for hosted and unhosted short‑term rentals, require hosting platforms to provide monthly listings, direct the Finance Department to manage registrations and initial tax checks, and preserve planning’s appeals process for land‑use compliance. The measure sets an annual renewal fee (presented in committee as $100 for hosted TBRs and $250 for unhosted TBRs) and a civil penalty for continued operation after final violation findings (listed in the draft as $10,000). Exemptions identified in state law (Hawaii Revised Statutes §237D and related sections) were included in the committee packet.

The bill’s sponsor, Councilmember Kimball, told the committee the measure is “just a registration bill. It is going to help us identify the actual number and locations of TBRs across the county.” She said the Finance Department will issue TBR numbers after owners submit an online affidavit and documents and that planning will review land‑use compliance.…