HB 2362: Housing; Building Permits; Automatic Approval; Retrofitting; Hurricane Resistant Housing

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO HOUSING.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that following the devastation of Hurricane Iniki and updated building codes, newer developments must be able to withstand a category 3 hurricane.  However, an article published by Hawaii News Now in 2023 found that nearly two-thirds of the single-family homes on Oahu have no hurricane protections.  In general, many of Hawaii's single-family homes are single-wall construction, which was a style only phased out in the 1970s.

     In summer 2025, many Hawaii residents began receiving notices of hurricane insurance cancellations from insurance companies.  This issue has been a national trend especially in other states such as California, Florida, and Louisiana, due to these states being in regions that have high-risk areas for wildfire and hurricanes.  Many insurance companies are re-evaluating their risk due to an uptick in natural disasters, aging infrastructure, and new construction risk.  Therefore, it is crucial for the State to aid residents' homes in being better prepared for natural disasters.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the counties to automatically approve permits for hurricane retrofitting.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§46-     Automatic permit approval for hurricane retrofitting.  (a)  Permit applications for single-family housing projects in each county shall be eligible for automatic permit approval pursuant to this section.

     (b)  A person who owns residential property and who seeks to retrofit a residential property under this section shall select an evaluator from a list of evaluators published by the county.

     (c)  The evaluator shall examine the person's residential property and shall identify all improvements necessary for the residential property to achieve the following standards:

     (1)  Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified roof;

     (2)  Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified silver;

     (3)  Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified gold; or

     (4)  Any similar standard approved by the county.

     (d)  A person receiving a permit under this section shall hire a contractor who meets eligibility requirements pursuant to this section.  To be eligible to perform retrofit work under this section, a contractor shall:

     (1)  Be certified by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety or another organization approved by the county;

     (2)  Be capable of performing work that satisfies the standards prescribed by the county;

     (3)  Maintain proof with the county that the contractor:

          (A)  Is licensed under chapter 444;

          (B)  Is registered to do business in the State;

          (C)  Maintains a general liability policy of $500,000 in liability coverage;

          (D)  Maintains workers' compensation as required by law; and

          (E)  Has an active Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified roof contractor certification or fortified professional certification, or another certification approved by the county;

     (4)  Maintain current and accurate contact information with the county;

     (5)  Have no record of disciplinary action by the contractors license board; and

     (6)  Meet any other eligibility requirements established by the county.

     (e)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to allow any violation of federal, state, or county laws, regulations, or rules.

     (f)  For the purposes of this section:

     "Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified roof" means construction featuring the following:

     (1)  Enhanced roof deck attachments;

     (2)  Sealed roof deck;

     (3)  Locked down roof edges; and

     (4)  Wind and rain resistant attic vents.

     "Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified silver" means construction in compliance with fortified roof standards and featuring the following:

     (1)  Impact protection for windows and doors;

     (2)  Impact and pressure rated garage doors;

     (3)  Reinforced soffits;

     (4)  Anchored attached structures; and

     (5)  Gable end bracing.

     "Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified gold" means construction in compliance with fortified silver standards and featuring the following:

     (1)  Pressure rated windows and doors;

     (2)  Stronger exterior sheathing;

     (3)  Engineered roof to wall connections;

     (4)  Engineered story to story connections; and

     (5)  Engineered wall to foundation connections."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Housing; Building Permits; Automatic Approval; Retrofitting; Hurricane Resistant Housing

Description:

Requires the counties to automatically approve permits for hurricane retrofitting under certain conditions.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to Housing.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that following the devastation of Hurricane Iniki and updated building codes, newer developments must be able to withstand a Category 3 hurricane.  However, an article published by Hawaii News Now in 2023, found that nearly two-thirds of the single-family homes on Oahu have no hurricane protections.  In general, many of Hawaii's single-family homes are single-wall construction, which was a style only phased out in the 1970's.

     In the summer of 2025, many Hawaii residents began receiving notices of hurricane insurance cancellations from insurance companies.  This issue has been a national trend especially in other states such as Florida, California, and Louisiana, due to these states being in regions that have high-risk areas for wildfire and hurricanes.  Many insurance companies are re-evaluating their risk due to an uptick in natural disasters, aging infrastructure, and new construction risk.  Therefore, it is crucial for the State to aid residents' homes in being better prepared for natural disasters.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the counties to automatically approve permits for hurricane retrofitting.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§46-    Automatic Permit for Hurricane Retrofit.  (a)  Permit applications for single-family housing projects in each county shall be eligible for automatic permit approval pursuant to this section.

     (b)  A person who owns residential property and who seeks to retrofit a residential property under this section shall select an evaluator from a list of evaluators published by the county.

     (c)  The evaluator shall examine the person's residential property and shall identify all improvements necessary for the residential property to achieve the following standards:

     (1)  Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified roof;

     (2)  Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified silver;

     (3)  Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified gold; or

     (4)  Any similar standard approved by the county.

     (d)  A person receiving a permit under this section shall hire a contractor who meets the eligibility requirements.  To be eligible to perform retrofit work under this section, a contractor shall:

     (1)  Be certified by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety or another organization approved by the county;

     (2)  Be capable of performing work that satisfies the standards prescribed by the county;

     (3)  Maintain proof with the county that the contractor:

          (A)  Is licensed under chapter 444;

          (B)  Is registered to do business in the State;

          (C)  Maintains a general liability policy of $500,000 in liability coverage;

          (D)  Maintains workers' compensation as required by law; and

          (E)  Has an active Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified roof contractor certification or fortified professional certification, or another certification approved by the county;

     (5)  Maintain current and accurate contact information with the county;

     (6)  Have no record of disciplinary action by the contractors license board; and

     (7)  Meet any other eligibility requirements established by the county.

     (e)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to allow any violation of federal, state, or county laws or rules.

     For the purposes of this section:

"Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified roof" means construction featuring the following:

     (1)  Enhanced roof deck attachments;

     (2)  Sealed roof deck;

     (3)  Locked down roof edges; and

     (4)  Wind and rain resistant attic vents.

     "Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified silver" means construction in compliance with fortified roof standards and featuring the following:

     (1)  Impact protection for windows and doors;

     (2)  Impact and pressure rated garage doors;

     (3)  Reinforced soffits;

     (4)  Anchored attached structures; and

     (5)  Gable end bracing.

     "Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified gold" means construction in compliance with fortified silver standards and featuring the following:

     (1)  Pressure rated windows and doors;

     (2)  Stronger exterior sheathing;

     (3)  Engineered roof to wall connections;

     (4)  Engineered story to story connections; and

     (5)  Engineered wall to foundation connections."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

Housing; Building Permits; Automatic Approval; Retrofitting; Hurricane Resistant

Description:

Requires the counties to automatically approve permits for hurricane retrofitting under certain conditions.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  700-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 2362

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 2362, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the counties to automatically approve permits for hurricane retrofitting.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from five individuals.

     Your Committee finds that much of Hawaii's residential construction predates modern wind-resistance standards.  Retrofitting these homes is not optional, it is essential.  However, the permitting process for even simple, life-saving upgrades can be slow, costly, and burdensome.  Your Committee further finds that this measure removes unnecessary barriers by requiring counties to automatically approve permits for hurricane retrofits when the planned retrofit work meet clear, objective safety standards.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2362, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  138-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 2362

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2362 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the counties to automatically approve permits for hurricane retrofitting under certain conditions.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission and two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that many single‑family homes in Hawaii, particularly those built with older single‑wall construction, are not resilient enough to withstand severe weather events, leaving residents vulnerable to property loss and insurance instability.  Recent hurricane‑related insurance cancellations and rising natural disaster risks have further highlighted the need for streamlined structural improvements that meet modern fortified protection standards.  Your Committee believes that automatically approving permits for qualified hurricane retrofit projects will ensure residents can more easily strengthen their homes against increasingly frequent and damaging storms.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2362, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2362, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,