During the process of designing your home, you’ll hear all about the permits you’ll need to get your home or commercial property completed. A building permit is an essential part of any construction project.
Maui requires building permits for most of the building and remodeling projects done on the Valley Isle. An approved permit ensures the worker’s safety and compliance with codes for building, construction, and zoning.
These building codes establish what projects need—or don’t need—a building permit. The general rule is that a project alters the structure of a home or other building and possibly leads to unsafe working conditions. Ultimately, the building codes and permits ensure that your home or other project is safe for occupancy when you move in, and in the years to come.
Who Needs One
Maui County’s web page for building permits states that a building permit is required for “the construction, alteration, moving, demolition, repair, and use of any building or structure within the county.” Basically, any type of construction, with rare exceptions, requires a building permit.
A building permit serves two functions:
• Shows the county that the proper planning is done for the work that will be involved in the construction
• The structure and the work involved is following all the relevant building codes, zoning, and land use ordinances
Projects that don’t involve the structural integrity of a building generally don’t need a permit but check with your architect to make sure. If you’re painting, installing new flooring, replacing your kitchen or other appliances, or doing any other type of aesthetic renovation, permits aren’t required. Smaller structures such as playhouses, playground equipment, agricultural buildings that are under 200 square feet, and other similar projects also don’t need permits.
The Permit Process
It’s one of the biggest obstacles to a new homeowner: the permits take a long time!
Last year, the County of Maui introduced its new Maui Planning And Permitting System, or MAPPS, to help reduce the backlog of permit applications. Everything is done online, and no more paper applications. However, any paper applications submitted prior to April 18, 2022, can continue paper-based.
Even with the new system, we understand that the permit process can be frustrating. We’re here to help. We can assist you with the application process, and can even help if you’d like to take care of some or all of the permitting yourself. In addition, we can help you with a wide range of permits. You can find the forms quickly on our website.
Need help? Call us. We’re happy to discuss how you can get your permits done and what to do with each one.
PRO DRAFT FOR ALL YOUR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN NEEDS
When you’re ready to begin building a house in Maui, remodeling, or adding to your home or commercial property, Pro Draft can help with architecture, drawings, blueprints, and permits, and answer all of your questions before the first day of construction. We’re happy to help and will work to ensure your project is exactly the way you envision.
Call Pro Draft today at (808) 579-9050 or 1-800-499-4699 from the Mainland.
