# Sign Regulations in Honolulu, Hawaii

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Honolulu, Hawaii, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Honolulu, Hawaii (HI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/hawaii/honolulu
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Honolulu, Hawaii regulates 35 sign types across 14 zoning districts. Directory Sign (Apartment Mixed-Use Subprecinct only)s in the Waikiki district (Apartment precinct and apartment mixed-use subprecinct) zoning district are capped at 6 ft (if ground) tall and 12 sq ft (Sec. § 21-7.40(l)(1)(C)(i)). Most commercial signs in Honolulu require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (14 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 16 | 30 in (freestanding), or 6 ft above finished grade (wall attached) | 50 sq ft per flag | — |
| P-2 preservation district, Agriculture districts | 1 | 8 ft above finished grade | 12 sq ft | — |
| Country and residential districts | 1 | 8 ft above finished grade | 24 sq ft | — |
| Apartment and apartment mixed-use districts | 3 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| Resort district | 3 | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — |
| Waikiki district (Apartment precinct and apartment mixed-use subprecinct) | 8 | 6 ft for ground type | 12 sq ft | — |
| Waikiki district (Resort mixed-use precinct) | 5 | 6 ft (if ground) | up to 36 sq ft | — |
| B-1 neighborhood business district | 4 | 6 ft (ground sign) | up to 100 sq ft | — |
| B-2 community business district, BMX-3 community business mixed-use district | 5 | 6 ft (ground sign) | up to 250 sq ft, not more than 15% of wall area | — |
| BMX-4 central business mixed-use district | 2 | — | up to 250 sq ft, not more than 15% of wall area | — |
| Industrial districts, Industrial-commercial mixed-use districts | 5 | 6 ft (ground sign) | up to 250 sq ft, not more than 15% of wall area | — |
| Planned development-housing | 1 | — | 24 sq ft | — |
| Plan review uses | 1 | — | — | — |
| Chinatown special district | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 14 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | On property/building. | — | § 21-7.20 |
| Garden Sign | 30 in (freestanding), or 6 ft above finished grade (wall attached) | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Freestanding or attached to face of freestanding wall | — | § 21-7.20 |
| Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per entrance/exit | At entrances/exits | — | § 21-7.20 |
| Flag | — | 50 sq ft per flag | — | — | 5 per street frontage per zoning lot | On property/building | — | § 21-7.20 |
| Projecting Sign | 6 ft above roof (1-story) or 4 ft above second story (building over one story) | — | 5 ft projection from wall (minimum 15 in projection) | — | — | Perpendicular to exterior building wall | — | § 21-7.20 |
| Temporary Sign - Announcing Sign | — | 16 sq ft (residential), 32 sq ft (other districts) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage of building under construction/alteration/repair | — | § 21-7.20 |
| Temporary Sign - Real Estate Sign | — | 4 sq ft (residential), 8 sq ft (other districts) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Per street frontage | — | § 21-7.20 |
| Temporary Sign - Subdivision Construction Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street entrance | At entrance, on subject property | — | § 21-7.20 |

### Waikiki district (Apartment precinct and apartment mixed-use subprecinct)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building frontage | Wall, marquee fascia, or hanging sign | — | § 21-7.40(l)(1)(A),(5) |
| Ground Identification or Directory Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entry side | Near each entry side (with required setback) | — | § 21-7.40(l)(1)(B) |
| Garden Sign | 6 ft for ground type | — | — | — | 1 in lieu of other signs | Instead of ground/identification sign | — | § 21-7.40(l)(1)(B) |
| Directory Sign (Apartment Mixed-Use Subprecinct only) | 6 ft (if ground) | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per zoning lot | Ground, wall, or garden sign | — | § 21-7.40(l)(1)(C)(i) |
| Building Identification Sign (Apartment Mixed-Use Subprecinct only) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building frontage | Per building frontage | — | § 21-7.40(l)(1)(C)(ii) |
| Wall Identification Sign (Second Floor Establishment) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per second floor establishment | Wall, per second floor establishment with building frontage | — | § 21-7.40(l)(4) |
| Business Identification Sign (Outdoor Vending Structure) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per vending structure | On vending cart/kiosk/structure visible from street/public space | — | § 21-7.40(l)(3)(A) |
| Price Sign (Outdoor Vending Structure) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per vending structure | On vending structure | — | § 21-7.40(l)(3)(B) |

### Waikiki district (Resort mixed-use precinct)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign | — | up to 36 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building frontage | Wall, marquee fascia, or hanging sign for principal permitted uses (not one-/two-family dwellings) | — | § 21-7.40(l)(2)(A),(5) |
| Building Directory or Identification Sign | 6 ft (if ground) | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building frontage | Ground, wall or garden sign per building frontage | — | § 21-7.40(l)(2)(B) |
| Wall Identification Sign (Second Floor Establishment) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per second floor establishment | Wall, per second floor establishment with building frontage | — | § 21-7.40(l)(4) |
| Business Identification Sign (Outdoor Vending Structure) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per vending structure | On vending cart/kiosk/structure visible from street/public space | — | § 21-7.40(l)(3)(A) |
| Price Sign (Outdoor Vending Structure) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per vending structure | On vending structure | — | § 21-7.40(l)(3)(B) |

## Prohibited signs in Honolulu

- It is unlawful to erect or maintain any sign that is not included under the types of signs permitted in this chapter.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain any sign that advertises or publicizes an activity not conducted on the premises on which the sign is maintained.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain any wind or portable sign, except as otherwise permitted in this chapter.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain any sign that by reason of its size, location, movement, content, coloring, or manner of illumination constitutes a traffic hazard or a detriment to traffic safety by obstructing the vision of drivers, or by obstructing or detracting from the visibility of any official traffic control device, or by diverting or tending to divert the attention of drivers of moving vehicles from the traffic movement of the public streets and roads.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain flashing signs.
- No person shall erect, establish, construct, maintain, keep, or operate a sign, including portable signs, on, above or below any street right-of-way, including any sidewalk area or medial strip, or any public mall, except as may be permitted under applicable laws.
- Any sign constructed, erected, or maintained in violation of the sign chapter, after a permit has been revoked or becomes void, or that is unsafe, insecure, or in such condition as to be a menace to the safety of the public, is subject to abatement and removal.
- Nonconforming signs must be maintained in a safe condition and not be dangerous to the public or property; alteration or relocation causes loss of nonconforming status.
- A sign relating to a public project or governmental activity shall not display the personal name of any officer or employee, unless required by law or as a condition for state or federal funds.
- No person may remove or deface signs required to be erected by or under the authority of certain articles (e.g., city transit system passenger code).

## Signs exempt from permit in Honolulu

- No permit shall be required nor shall district sign regulations apply to subdivision construction signs.
- No permit shall be required nor shall district sign regulations apply to pump island information signs, not to exceed three square feet in sign area.
- No permit shall be required nor shall district sign regulations apply to gasoline price signs, not to exceed one square foot in sign area and located on a gasoline pump.
- No permit shall be required nor shall district sign regulations apply to temporary signs.
- No permit shall be required nor shall district sign regulations apply to public signs.
- No permit shall be required nor shall district sign regulations apply to flags.
- No permit shall be required nor shall district sign regulations apply to plaques.
- No permit shall be required nor shall district sign regulations apply to small signs and address signs.
- No permit shall be required nor shall district sign regulations apply to directional signs.
- No permit shall be required nor shall district sign regulations apply to political campaign signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applications for sign permits must include a plan or design of the sign showing its weight, dimensions, lighting equipment, materials, details of its attachment and hanging, and its position relative to the building, property lines, and street lines.
- Applicants for permits are required to submit plans with their application for signs regulated by the sign ordinance.
- Signage for plan review uses shall be determined during the review of the request for the plan review use permit.
- Review for permit issuance may require additional information as may be required by the director of planning and permitting.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 14 zoning districts in Honolulu — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Honolulu+HI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-honolulu

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