Affordable Housing Dashboard

The County of Hawaiʻi Affordable Housing Dashboard provides a user-friendly interface where residents can easily view details such as project location and income limits, as well as status updates for units in the affordable housing pipeline and thousands of existing rental units. Click here to access the Affordable Housing Dashboard

2025 Affordable Housing Guidelines (PDF)

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Compliance Monitoring of Affordable Housing Agreements for Chapter 11, Hawaiʻi County Code, as amended

What is it?

"Compliance monitoring" is an OHCD internal procedure to ensure that affordable housing requirements have been met. These requirements are triggered by Chapter 11, Hawaiʻi County Code (HCC)-specifically in §11-4 HCC-and typically imposed by rezoning Ordinances. Developers with an affordable housing requirement who have constructed and either rented or sold affordable housing units are subject to an audit of tenant and resident files by the Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD). The resources provided below are available for the designated agent of the developer to properly screen applicants. Using these resources will ensure that proper documentation has been collected as evidence of tenant eligibility.

Procedure:

Developers with an affordable housing requirement (i.e. condition of a rezoning ordinance), will enter a contract with the County of Hawaiʻi. This contract, referred to as an Affordable Housing Agreement, includes details regarding the proposed project, and the proposed methods in which the project will satisfy the affordable housing requirements. The OHCD will conduct "compliance monitoring" to ensure that the terms of the Affordable Housing Agreement are adhered to for the entire duration of the affordability period.

Affordable Housing Requirement:

Development projects with an affordable housing condition and/or Affordable Housing Agreement with the County of Hawaiʻi are subject to compliance monitoring to ensure that the provisions of Chapter 11 Hawaiʻi County Code (as amended) are met. It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that the most up-to-date procedures stipulated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the OHCD are followed. The most stringent of the two policies will apply.

Additional information: 

The OHCD has created a quick reference guide to assist in evaluating the income of prospective tenants or buyers: Compliance Monitoring & Income Calculation Guide. This guide will highlight areas where the two policies diverge. For detailed guidance, review the resources below.

OHCD also created a fillable worksheet to aid developers and property managers:  COH OHCD Employment Income Calculation Worksheet. This worksheet allows the user to input collected data. There are four formulas that can be used to compare the estimated annual income for prospective tenants/buyers applying to rent/purchase a home. The highest figure is used for the purposes of establishing annual household income.

Developers are advised that the County of Hawaiʻi will undertake monitoring activities with respect to any development with affordable housing requirements in order to ensure compliance with Chapter 11 of the Hawaiʻi County Code and the provisions of the Affordable Housing Agreement. Such monitoring may encompass the evaluation of measures that differ from those implemented by other programs and agencies. Notably, there may be variations in the policies and procedures of agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. In order to avoid any potential conflicts, it is recommended that the strictest applicable policy is adhered to.

Resources:

• Chapter 11, Hawaiʻi County Code
• Overview of the Hawaii Land Use Regulatory System - Prepared by Hawaiʻi County Planning Director, March 2006
• Compliance Monitoring Income and Asset Calculation Guide
• COH OHCD Employment Income Calculation Worksheet 
• HUD Handbook 4350.3: Occupancy Requirements of Subsidized Multifamily Housing Programs
  • Under Chapter 5: Determining Income and Calculating Rent
  • Appendix 3: Acceptable Forms of Verification
•  Spectrum Forms, provided by Spectrum Enterprises
  • The Tenant Income Certification, referred to as "TIC" or "TIC Form" is located under "Management Forms"

201H Application

What is it?

This program is based on HRS §201H-38. It allows for exemptions including but not limited to: zoning, building permit fees, fair share, density restrictions, roadways, and utility installation.

Procedure:

The developer must hold a public meeting to discuss the project. The developer will submit their application to the Office of Housing & Community Development. Applications are available through OHCD who will collaborate with the developer and facilitate the process through Council. The application will be distributed to numerous State and County Departments for review before it submitted to Council for approval.

Affordable Housing Requirement:

All approved 201H applicants are obligated to create Affordable Housing units that equate to a minimum of 50% +1 of the sale or rental units or lots of the exempted project. Construction for 201H projects must comply with prevailing wages.

Additional information:

The project site must meet the purpose and intent of the 201H chapter as well as minimum health and safety requirements. Exemption requests may not contravene any safety standards, tariffs, or rates and fees approved by the public utilities commission for public utilities or of the various boards of water supply.

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G-37 General Excise Tax Exemption

What is it?

This is a tax form that allows General Excise Tax to be waived for development of new affordable housing or rehabilitation of eligible affordable housing projects.

Procedure:

The developer must first submit a letter to confirm that the project meets all eligibility requirements. Upon approval, the OHCD will accept G37’s for processing along with supporting documentation.

Affordable Housing Requirement:

Projects must meet income and developer restrictions pursuant to §15-306 HRS.

Additional Information:

The developer will be responsible to collect and submit all documents on behalf of subcontractors. In the case that a project is already built and submitting exemptions for a health and safety rehabilitation project, then the general contractor will take the lead role in submitting any required documentation to OHCD.

Resources:

It is recommended that the developer review the procedures provided as a guide through the submission process. A template letter and tally sheet are also available for use.

• Procedures for Developers
• Sample Developer Letter
• Sample/Template Tally Sheet

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Environmental Review Program (ERP) - Formerly Known as the Office of Environmental Quality Control (OEQC)

What is it?

The Environmental Review Program (ERP) facilitates Hawaiʻi’s environmental review process (commonly known as HEPA), pursuant to Chapter 343, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes. The ERP can allow for a developer to bypass the need for an Environmental Assessment (EA) for certain routine activities and ordinary functions, based on the exemption lists provided by County agencies and pursuant to Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules Chapter 11-200.1.

Procedure:

The developer will review the exemption list on the ERP website and contact OHCD to request that the exemption be made on their behalf. If OHCD concurs with the selection, then a request will be submitted to be reviewed and published by ERP in the Environment Notice after allowing 30 days for public comments.

Affordable Housing Requirement:

OHCD will process exemptions for Affordable Housing only. Each request is subject to approval by ERP.

Additional Information:

OHCD may process requests for an exemption that is listed on another department’s list of activities that are eligible for exemption. See Agency Exemption Lists.

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Other Helpful Tools & Programs for Developers

• Electronic Processing and Information Center (EPIC)
• Department of Public Works: Permits and Building Codes
• Department of Public Works: Resources
• Planning Department: Zoning & Land Use
• Planning Department: Forms
• Planning Department: Resources
• Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB)
• Department of Environmental Management: Solid Waste Division
• Department of Environmental Management: Wastewater Division
• Department of Water Supply