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About Permanent Housing
As you begin planning for the rebuilding of the permanent structure on your property, the following is important information you should know. Our County’s Office of Recovery is committed to continuously updating this information, ensuring you have access to the latest resources and support during this permitting and rebuilding phase.
Emergency Building Permits
The Development Services Administration has launched a streamlined process for building permits for emergency reconstruction in fire-affected areas. The Disaster Recovery Building Permit is for alterations, repairs, reconstruction, and new construction of structures.
Expedited Permitting Outside of Burn Area
Homeowners affected by the August 2023 Wildfires may request for expedited permitting for a property outside the burn area that they will occupy as their primary residence.
Kāko‘o Maui Pre-Development Grant
Applications for this grant are currently closed. Learn more at our Kāko'o Maui Resource Center.
This program is available to Lahaina and Kula homeowners whose primary residence was destroyed or deemed uninhabitable due to the August 8, 2023 wildfires. Approved households are eligible to receive up to $15,000 in funding to cover pre-development needs that are necessary to rebuild your primary residence.
It’s important to note that applicants do not need to be of Native Hawaiian descent to apply for this program.
Tips for Plan Reviews
Reviewing the first 40 plans submitted for Maui Disaster Recovery Permits revealed that several comments occur frequently. Here are many of the most common comments and how to satisfactorily incorporate the required information into plans:
from meetings
Housing Handouts
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- FEMA Mitigation Assessment Team Wildfire Recovery Resources for Maui
- Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for New Home
- DSA Permitting FAQs
- Elec Service Restoration Process
- FAQ Infrastructure
- Hawaiian Electric FAQ for Homeowners Meeting
- Homeowner Debris Removal FAQ
- Homeowner Fire Prevention FAQs
- Lahaina Temporary Dwelling Flyer
- Wahikuli Cesspool FAQ
Find Resources in Maui Recover's Online Help Center
- Latest Rental Assistance
- Housing for Survivors
- Resources for Landlords
FAQs for Permanent Housing
Building Permit Questions - For structures destroyed in the 2023 Wildfires
Information on how to apply is available at: mapps.mauicounty.gov/320/DSA-Disaster-Recovery-Building-Permit.
A property owner may apply for a building permit under the Disaster Recovery work class for structures destroyed in the 2023 fires for alterations, repairs, reconstruction, and new construction of structures.
There are no restrictions regarding building permit application submittal, so you can apply now. Information on how to apply is available at: mapps.mauicounty.gov/320/DSA-Disaster-Recovery-Building-Permit.
A property owner may apply for a building permit under the Disaster Recovery work class. If qualified, the plan review is anticipated to take up to fifteen (15) calendar days. However, the time it takes for a permit to be issued will depend on a variety of things as each permit application is unique and will be dependent on the location of the property and the proposed improvements.
There are fees associated with a building permit that must be paid for permit review and issuance. Contact the Recovery Permit Center at (808) 270-5724 for additional information.
The following are some guides to your rebuild:
1. Hire a design professional and begin designing your home. The first step in the permit process is completing the design of your house. Designs must be prepared by an architect or structural engineer licensed in the State of Hawaii. A list of architects can be found on Maui AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapter’s website here.
2. Research land use requirements that may affect the design of your home. Your design professional can assist you in understanding the requirements based on your land use zoning and how the requirement may affect your design.
3. Once your design professional has completed building plans for your home, you may apply for a building permit. A property owner may apply for a building permit under the Disaster Recovery work class. Information on how to apply is available at: mapps.mauicounty.gov/320/DSA-Disaster-Recovery-Building-Permit.
A property owner may apply for a temporary building permit for a temporary dwelling. Information on how to apply is available at: mauirecovers.org/temporaryhousing. Please note that the building permit will not be issued until debris removal has been completed.
A property owner with a home destroyed in the 2023 fires may rebuild to house someone other than the property owner. A property owner may apply for a building permit under the Disaster Recovery work class. Information on how to apply is available here.
Regarding permits that had been issued prior to the 2023 wildfires
The building permit application submitted prior to the 2023 fires should continue to be reviewed. Contact the Recovery Permit Center at (808) 270-5724 to confirm if the existing permit application qualifies under the new emergency permitting process.
The permit application should be withdrawn and a new building permit application should be submitted. Contact the Recovery Permit Center at (808) 270-5724 to confirm if the new building permit application qualifies under the Disaster Recovery permitting process.
If the building permit is still valid, and the rebuild will be done per the approved plans, a property owner may be able to start construction using the approved plans after fire debris removal has been completed for the parcel. Contact the Recovery Permit Center at (808) 270-5724 to verify if your permit is still valid and resubmittal of plans is not required.
The permit should be withdrawn and a new building permit will need to be submitted. Contact the Recovery Permit Center at (808) 270-5724 to verify if your parcel qualifies for the Disaster Recovery Building permit.
Get Support
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County of Maui Recovery Permit Center
Get assistance for permanent rebuild permits within the burn area in Lahaina and Kula from the 4LEAF team.
County of Maui Service Center
110 Alaihi St., Suite 207, Kahului, HI 96732
Get Directions
Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To contact the center, call (808) 270-5724.
Office of Recovery-West Maui
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
(closed 12:30-1:30 p.m. for lunch/meetings)
Get access to County, State, Federal, and community service agencies
- CNHA's Kāko‘o Maui Resource Center
- MEMA: Re-entry and contractor access passes
- FEMA, SBA
- Recovery Permit Center: 4LEAF, Inc. (For additional information, please call 808-270-5724)
- County of Maui Office of Economic Development and partners' business support
- Maui County Councilmember Tamara Paltin and staff
- Rotating agencies include: Maui AIDS Foundation, Project Vision (SNAP, Med-QUEST), Kaiser Permanente, Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO), United Policyholders, Pono Legal, Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation.
Phone: (808) 270-4343
Lahaina Gateway
325 Keawe Street, Suite B102 (near Ace Hardware)
Get Directions
CNHA's Kāko‘o Maui Resource Center
Monday – Friday
8:00am – 4:30am
MEMA
Monday – Friday
8:00am – 11:30am
FEMA
Monday – Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm
SBA
Monday – Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm
4LEAF Emergency Building Permits
Monday – Friday
1:30pm – 4:30pm
Disaster Case Management Program
Monday – Friday
9:00am – 4:00pm
Councilmember Tamara Paltin
Monday – Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm
Office of Economic Development / Business Support
Monday – Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm
Maui AIDS Foundation/Kaiser Permanente/Imua
Tues & Thursday
9:00am – 3:00pm
Project Vision (SNAP and MedQuest)
Thursday
9:00am – 12:00pm
MEO
Wednesday
9:00am – 3:00pm
Tidal Basin (Hawaii Interim Housing Program)
Monday
8:00am – 4:30pm
United Policyholders
Friday
10:00am – 4:00pm
Pono Legal
Monday-Wednesday, Friday
10:00am – 2:00pm
Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation
1st and 3rd Wednesday
10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
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Helping Maui CNHA
Resources have been specially curated to connect you with highly trained, local design professionals who can assist you from the application for your permit to the completion of your new home.
- Free or discounted architectural Plans
- Connect with local based builders
- Navigate financing
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American Institute of Architects, Maui Chapter
To connect or find a local architect visit AIA, Maui Chapter.
CNHA's Kāko‘o Maui Relief & Aid Services Center
Survivors can meet with Kako‘o support staff to get support for Housing, FEMA, Legal assistnace and more across multiple community organizations.
- Housing Pathways, Right of Entry, Rebuild - Architectural Designs,
- Legal Aid. Financial Counseling and Mental Health Counseling
- Support with SBA, FEMA appeals, Social Services and Application Assistance
Maui Mall
153 E Kamehameha Ave, Kahului, HI 96732
Get Directions
Open: Monday-Friday at 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Phone: 808-204-2722
Email: kakoomaui@hawaiiancouncil.org
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