603 Permits For ADUs on O‘ahu Were Issued From Jan. 2016 to March 2019
A 2016 change in land-use laws on O‘ahu allows construction of a new category of smaller-scale homes. The change is gaining in popularity across the Island, according to Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting.

Image: Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting. CLICK THE IMAGE FOR A CLOSER LOOK.
We asked city planners to show us where people are getting permits to build and they provided this exclusive detailed map.
From 2016 until the end of January 2019, the city issued more than 603 permits to allow construction of ADUs, short for accessory dwelling units. Depending on your size of lot, owners can construct buildings up to 400 and 800 square feet added their property.
Read more stories by Robbie Dingeman
Read more about how five Island families live in small-kine spaces and some of their tips for making it work in the May issue of HONOLULU Magazine. Available on newsstands in May, or purchase the issue at shop.honolulumagazine.com. Subscribe to the print and digital editions now.