Hawaii residents want affordable single-family homes, but current regulations favor luxury homes for wealthy non-residents.
It's time to legalize and prioritize affordable starter homes (small homes on small lots) to support the housing needs of our local families trying to get ahead. We need to allow these homes in all zones where large homes are permitted and enable subdivision of residential parcels affordable lot sizes.
The Proposal
Each county has minimum lot size requirements that vary slightly depending on the zoning of the parcels. However, since land values in Hawaiʻi are so high, mandating that a certain amount of land around each house be devoted to yard space guarantees higher housing prices.
Reduce minimum lot sizes
Minimum lot sizes encourage developers to build larger houses instead of smaller homes that could be affordable to more people. By reducing the minimum lot size requirements, homebuilders would find it financially feasible to build smaller, less expensive homes.
Allow lot splitting
Lot-splitting, also called subdividing, is the process of dividing a parcel into two or more lots. Allowing Hawaiʻi homeowners to divide their parcels into two or more lots without too much expense or regulatory hassle would boost the state’s housing stock while providing original homeowners with a new avenue to build their wealth.
FAQ
Can our infrastructure handle increased density?
In some places no, but in others it can.
Anyone seeking to build starter homes would still need to receive authorization from water, wastewater, etc. before construction, so this proposal doesn’t threaten infrastructure capacity.
Who are these homes for?
Hawaiʻi is missing an important piece to its housing market - small single family homes.
These homes are typically designed for young families hoping to stay (or move back), emerging professionals hoping to own a home, and kupuna hoping to downsize and live closer to their children, but there are many others also in need of affordable housing.
Would these homes be truly affordable?
Starter homes are one piece of the housing puzzle that can help us build adequate housing supply for middle-income working families. We still need many other reforms to fix the housing crisis, like support for public and social housing options that provide adequate homes for low-income residents.
More affordable housing for middle-income locals frees the government to focus its resources on people who need it most: less funds to 80% AMI and up, more to 60% and below.
Can’t a builder already do this with existing laws like 201H?
201H is for large master-planned developments, but not for small homes one-by-one. The review process requires work from experts in various fields, inflating the cost of the final project.
We should allow more affordable forms of housing without long and expensive permit processes, just like we do for large luxury homes.
How might this impact the environment?
One of the things that makes Hawaiʻi special is the aina. Our current minimum lot size restrictions encourage continued urban sprawl.
Lot splitting would allow for the utilization of land already being used for housing and promote more livable, walkable communities.
Will this change my neighborhood?
Far from it! Starter homes will easily blend into our communities.
These homes will still have to abide by the building code as well as height restrictions set by each county.
Take Action
Help make a difference by reaching out to your legislators and voicing your support for legalizing starter homes in Hawaiʻi.
Supporter organizations
