Are Short-Term Rentals Legal on Oahu?

Honolulu Ordinance 22-7: The Law That Rewrote Oahu's STR Rules

In 2022, the City and County of Honolulu adopted Ordinance 22-7, the law that governs short-term rentals across the island today. It tightened where short-term rentals can operate, raised the minimum stay outside approved areas, and created a registration system for legal rentals.

The 90-Day Minimum Stay Rule on Oahu

Across most of Oahu, renting a home for less than 90 consecutive days is not permitted. That is the default for residential-zoned property. Unless your property sits in an approved zone or holds a grandfathered certificate, the 90-day minimum applies to every booking.

Where Short-Term Rentals Are Still Legal on Oahu

Resort-zoned areas can still host nightly and weekly stays legally, including parts of Waikiki and other resort-designated pockets of the island. Some properties outside resort zones also operate legally under grandfathered status. Zoning is parcel-specific: two buildings on the same street, and even two units in the same building, can have different eligibility.

What Is a Nonconforming Use Certificate (NUC)?

A Nonconforming Use Certificate is a grandfathered permit that lets certain properties outside resort zones continue hosting short-term stays because they operated legally before the rules changed. NUCs attach to specific properties, are limited in number, and must be kept current. If a listing claims NUC status, that claim can be verified with the city.

How to Verify Your Property's STR Eligibility

Before you list, confirm your property's status directly. Check your parcel's zoning designation, confirm whether your building sits in a resort-designated area, and verify any NUC claim in writing. Eligibility belongs to the property, not the listing, and it is the owner's responsibility to confirm it.

Official Sources

Short-term rental regulation on Oahu is administered at the county level by the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting. Verify anything on this page against the county's own resources:

• DPP Short-Term Rentals page → Registration requirements, current rules, and official notices.
• Honolulu Real Property records search → Look up your own address to check your parcel's records and zoning designation.

Education, not legal advice. This overview is general information. Rules change, enforcement evolves, and eligibility is specific to each parcel. Confirm your property's status with the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting before listing, and consult a licensed professional for legal questions.