Punaweb Forum
Building permit/code question - Printable Version

+- Punaweb Forum (http://punaweb.org/forum)
+-- Forum: Punaweb Forums (http://punaweb.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Forum: Building in Puna (http://punaweb.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=12)
+--- Thread: Building permit/code question (/showthread.php?tid=3180)



Building permit/code question - puna_bound - 06-19-2007

Has anyone tried to build a small ohana first and then their "real home" later?

Will the county go for this if the Ohana includes only a kitchette with no oven? (I believe that's the rule for Ohana's.)

This strategy serves two purposes. First, it gives us a vacation home now. Second, we would have a place to live when the real place goes up.


Edited by - puna_bound on 06/19/2007 14:27:39


RE: Building permit/code question - Kahunascott - 06-19-2007

Pam Lamont




RE: Building permit/code question - Carey - 06-19-2007

If you are asking if anyone has built a small PERMITTED studio first, yes. There are property listing that even have permitted studios with permitted plans for a house. The key is to follow the county rules on what is allowed in studios.
There are also those that build an unpermitted place first then add a permitteed house. (The county does not seem to 'notice' these structures, but could...that could cause delays & costs to a project, if they ever enforce)
I have heard that oven or kitchen sinks seem to be a 'kitchen' trigger (we have a permitted studio that was added 5 years ago by the previous owner & it had both.... but I do not know when they were added.
That is one thing about this county, they do not keep the stamped plans on file, so unless the owner has kept them, you do not, nor does the county, have any idea as to exactly what was in the permitted plans)



Edited by - carey on 06/19/2007 14:54:50


RE: Building permit/code question - Rob Tucker - 06-19-2007

I have posted the zoniong code for Ohanas for your reading enjoyment. I have a legal ohana at my place. I prefer legal. It was a pain in the butt to get it approved though.

Punaweb moderator


RE: Building permit/code question - puna_bound - 06-19-2007

Thanks for posting the code, Rob! It would appear that the Ohana can be built first!

The one thing that is not clear to me is if a ohana dwelling is the same thing as a "guest house." The code seems to treat these differently. Are ohana's also limited to 500 square feet?

Also, I wonder if it is possible to have a full size septic tank and catchment tank put in for the ohana, which would later be used for the main house, too.

Finally, does anyone know of packaged home companies that do "matching" ohanas and main houses? It would be nice to have two buildings with a complementary style.






RE: Building permit/code question - Rob Tucker - 06-19-2007

An Ohana is not the same as a guest house. A guest house would lack a kitchen, and Ohana would have a kitchen.

I know of no limit on the size of the Ohana.

The setback requirements for an Ohana are different than those of a house too.

One septic system is allow for up to five bedrooms. Considering that the cost of a 1 bedroom system is very close to that of a 5 bedroom system I would always recommend the largest system. Whether that system would serve two occupied dwellings would depend on locations and pitch and grade.