The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Honolulu City and County Council Committee on Zoning on April 5, 2023.
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April 5, 2023
9 a.m.
Honolulu City Council Chambers
To: Honolulu City and County Council, Committee on Zoning
Councilmember Calvin Say, Chair
Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, Vice Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns
RE: BILL 56 (2022), CD1 — RELATING TO PERMITS REQUIRED.
Comments Only
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii would like to offer comments on Bill 56 (2022), CD1, which would expand the building permit exemptions to allow Oahu homeowners to more easily complete maintenance and renovations.
As drafted, Bill 56 would exempt from the building permit process certain repairs valued at $7,500 or less — up from the current $5,000 threshold.
However, Councilmembers Andria Tupola and Matt Weyer are both proposing amendments that would increase that value threshold to $10,000 for certain repairs.
We are supportive of both attempts to increase this threshold, though Councilmember Tupola’s amendment may be the preferred vehicle since it expands and clarifies the current exemptions and adds exemptions for residential energy projects.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit our comments.
Sincerely,
Ted Kefalas
Director of Strategic Campaigns
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
