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HCR 98

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND LAND MANAGEMENT OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO DEVELOP A COUNTYWIDE HOUSING PATTERN BOOK TO STREAMLINE PERMIT APPROVALS AND REDUCE REGULATORY BARRIERS FOR SAFE, AFFORDABLE, AND WELL-DESIGNED HOMES.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terez Amato and 14 co-sponsors

Honolulu must create a standardized housing design guide to accelerate residential permitting and reduce regulatory costs, aiming to increase affordable housing supply across Oahu.

House agrees to Senate amendment(s).
#cityandcountyofhonolulu #housingpatternbook #streamlinedpermitting
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Bill Summary · HCR 98

Legislative bill overview

HCR 98 requests that Honolulu's Department of Planning and Permitting create a standardized "housing pattern book"—a design and regulatory guide—to streamline the permit approval process for residential construction. The measure aims to reduce bureaucratic barriers while maintaining safety and design quality standards across Oahu.

Why is this important

Hawaii faces a severe affordable housing shortage, with permitting delays and complex regulatory requirements significantly increasing construction costs and timelines. A pattern book could accelerate housing development by providing pre-approved design templates and clear standards, potentially making new homes more accessible to middle and lower-income residents. However, implementation success depends heavily on how comprehensively the guide is developed and whether it genuinely reduces approval timelines versus merely creating additional paperwork.

Potential points of contention

  • Design standardization concerns: Local community groups may worry that standardized patterns limit architectural diversity or don't reflect neighborhood character, particularly in culturally significant areas
  • Enforcement and compliance: Unclear how the pattern book interacts with existing zoning laws, environmental reviews, and community input requirements—it could either expedite or complicate processes depending on implementation
  • Affordability skepticism: A permit streamlining tool doesn't directly control housing prices or require developers to build affordable units, so critics may argue it primarily benefits developers rather than renters or low-income buyers

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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