STR rules · verified 1mo ago
Short-term rental rules in Kailua-Kona, HI
Kailua-Kona is in Hawaii County (Big Island). Bill 108 (Ord. 2018-114, Nov 2018) is the core framework: unhosted STVRs limited to resort, resort-node and visitor-designation areas plus some multi-family condos. Existing pre-2018 STVRs outside permitted zones could apply for a Nonconforming Use Certificate (NUC). Bill 47 / Ord. 25-50 (2025) added mandatory island-wide STVR registration with a July 1, 2026 deadline. Bill 147 (under consideration) brings hosted rentals into the regulatory net. Kailua-Kona accounts for ~43% of the island's STVR inventory and 40% of its housing stock. Hawaii TAT (10.25%) + Hawaii County TAT (3%) + GET (4.4386% on Hawaii Island) stack.
What's behind the sign-in
- Registration fees — initial + annual renewal cost, per permit type
- Permit caps + waitlists — exact cap values, current waitlist counts
- Owner-occupancy rules — days/year requirement, permit-class splits
- Zoning carve-outs — which districts allow / disallow STR
- Tax stack — TOT, hotel, county + state layers
- Stay limits — min/max nightly, max nights/year
- Operational requirements — parking, insurance, fire inspection, neighbor notice
- Penalties — per-night fines, revocation thresholds
- City-specific gotchas — HOA carve-outs, pending legislation, recent court rulings
- Refresh on demand — re-run the agentic pipeline against the city's current ordinance
Frequently asked
Are short-term rentals legal in Kailua-Kona, HI?
Kailua-Kona is currently restricted for short-term rentals. Permitted but with material constraints — caps, owner-occupancy rules, zoning carve-outs, or active ordinance review. For the actual fees, caps, owner-occupancy rules, and city-specific gotchas, sign in.
Do I need a permit to run an Airbnb in Kailua-Kona?
Almost certainly yes — almost every U.S. city now requires a short-term rental permit, vacation rental permit, or transient lodging permit before you can legally list. The specifics for Kailua-Kona (cost, renewal cycle, required documents) are behind sign-in. You can also read the source ordinance directly: https://www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/resources/short-term-vacation-rentals.
What happens if I rent without a permit in Kailua-Kona?
Most cities charge per-night fines (a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per violation), escalating to cease-and-desist letters and platform delisting on repeat. Airbnb and Vrbo now share permit-validation feeds with most major cities, so unpermitted listings get blocked at the platform level. Sign in to see the specific penalty schedule for Kailua-Kona.
How current is this data for Kailua-Kona?
This record was verified 1mo ago against the city's published ordinance (.gov or the city's official municipal-code publisher). Cached cities re-verify on a cadence — daily for cities under active legislation, weekly otherwise. Signed-in users can hit Refresh on any city to force a fresh pull. If you're underwriting a deal, always confirm against the city's code-enforcement office before closing.
Can my HOA or condo association ban STRs even if Kailua-Kona allows them?
Yes. City permits authorize you under municipal law, but your HOA, condo association, or co-op board sets contractual rules that override the city for your unit. Many HOAs adopted blanket STR bans between 2018 and 2024 in response to neighbor complaints. Read the CC&Rs, bylaws, and rental addendums before you buy with an STR plan — the city saying yes does not mean your building says yes.