Help for common Honolulu permit problems
Residential permit problems can show up in many ways: a DPP notice, HNL Build message, correction comment, failed inspection, open permit, unpermitted work concern, or issue during a sale, purchase, or refinance.
Start with the notice, screenshot, photo, permit record, or message. If you do not have a file, briefly describe what happened.
You do not need to know the exact permit term
Some homeowners know exactly what the issue is. Others only know that something does not look right, a notice arrived, or a permit record raised a concern.
Either way, the next step is the same: start with the document, screenshot, photo, message, or brief description that shows what happened.
A licensed Honolulu architect can review what you submit and help identify what the issue appears to involve and what may need to happen next.
Permit problems homeowners ask about
Each link below leads to a page with more detail on that specific issue.
- Unpermitted Work
- After-the-Fact Permits
- Selling With Unpermitted Work
- Refinancing With Unpermitted Work
- Buying With Unpermitted Work
- DPP Correction Notices
- Code Violations
- Stop Work Orders
- Plan Check Help
- HNL Build Delays
- Inspection Issues
- SHPD Historic Review
- Shoreline Setback / SMA
- FAR / Large Home Compliance
- O‘ahu Permit Help
A clearer next step for the problem in front of you
The goal is to help you move from “I have a permit problem” to “I know what may need to happen next.”
That may mean understanding what the City is asking for, what document or drawing may be missing, what records should be checked, whether the issue looks simple or more involved, or whether professional help may make sense.
This is not a promise of approval. It is not a guaranteed timeline. It is a clearer starting point for dealing with the problem.
A few situations that can bring homeowners here
- A DPP notice arrives and you are not sure how to respond.
- HNL Build shows a status, task, or message that is hard to understand.
- A permit has been sitting in review and feels stuck.
- A plan reviewer issued correction comments.
- An inspector failed part of the project.
- A buyer, lender, appraiser, or realtor raised a permit concern.
- Old work on the home may not match the records.
- A previous owner may have done work without permits.
- The property may involve shoreline, SMA, historic review, FAR, or large home compliance issues.
Upload the document or briefly describe the issue
You can upload the notice, screenshot, photo, permit record, inspection note, correction comment, HNL Build message, escrow email, lender message, realtor message, or buyer concern.
If you do not have a file, briefly describe what happened.
Need help with a Honolulu permit problem?
Start with the document or message in front of you. A licensed Honolulu architect will review it and help identify what may need to happen next.