Allow farm accessory dwelling units

Support HB1737/SB2006

This bill would allow accessory employee housing as a type of farm dwelling in the state’s agricultural district.

Many Hawaii farmers and ranchers are unable to expand their operations because affordable housing is not available for workers.

Meanwhile, Hawaii’s four counties generally limit how many farm dwellings agricultural property owners can build on their own land

Accessory employee housing would be allowed on agricultural land as a type of farm dwelling.
Farmers and ranchers could build multiple accessory employee dwellings on a single agricultural lot, each with no more than 800 square feet of living space.
The structures could be used only by farm or ranch employees.
Using condominium property regimes to divide ownership between a primary farm dwelling and an accessory employee dwelling would be prohibited.

Taken together, these changes would allow agricultural operators to provide on-site housing for workers in a controlled and limited way.

Could farm ADUs be used as short-term rentals?
Each county would be able to decide this for itself.
Would this change contribute to the suburbanization of agricultural land?
The goal of this bill is to help farmers and ranchers build housing for their employees, which will in turn help keep agricultural lands in production.
How many housing units would be built if this bill is passed?
It is impossible to predict how many farmers or ranchers would take advantage of this legislation. However, after Kauai County implemented a similar measure in 2024, more than three dozen owners applied for permits in less than a year.