01-31-2008, 05:21 AM
Check out these links, Mgeary: http://www.hawaii-county.com/permits/how...ermit.html
http://www.hawaii-county.com/permits/permits.htm
That URL gives you the information on how to pull a building permit in the County of Hawaii the requirements for it.
There are probably about as many different ways to build a house under the "Owner-builder" rules as there are owner-builders out there. Some folks do it all, from drawing it up to building the house while others have all the work done for them and even hire someone to keep track of all the other workers. You are required to sub out the electrical and plumbing work and get a few engineer's blessings on certain types of plans but other than that you can do basically everything else.
If you already have a building permit, then basically follow the plans (more or less, there are always at least a few changes made on the jobsite). Technically, you are supposed to get the changes approved before making them, but sometimes that isn't necessary. It all depends on the changes and how much of a change it is. Moving a doorway over a few feet usually isn't a problem, adding additional square footage is a problem.
The requirements for an Owner-Builder permit are listed on the County website somewhere, it's been awhile since I looked them up. I think the basic requirements are you can't build more than one Owner-Builder house in more than a specific number of years and you have to live in the house when you are done with it for several years, too. They want the "Owner-Builders" to be just that - folks who are building their OWN house to live in when they are done. If that's what you are doing, then you shouldn't have any problems.
There was also some concern about Owner-Builders hiring unlicensed contractors to build their homes. If you are building your house with the help of family members and friends then there is no problem at all. You have to hire licensed plumbers and electricians so that's not an issue but some unlicensed contractors were pulling "owner-builder" permits and then building the houses and the County doesn't approve of that and if those folks get caught they levy big fines.
http://www.hawaii-county.com/permits/permits.htm
That URL gives you the information on how to pull a building permit in the County of Hawaii the requirements for it.
There are probably about as many different ways to build a house under the "Owner-builder" rules as there are owner-builders out there. Some folks do it all, from drawing it up to building the house while others have all the work done for them and even hire someone to keep track of all the other workers. You are required to sub out the electrical and plumbing work and get a few engineer's blessings on certain types of plans but other than that you can do basically everything else.
If you already have a building permit, then basically follow the plans (more or less, there are always at least a few changes made on the jobsite). Technically, you are supposed to get the changes approved before making them, but sometimes that isn't necessary. It all depends on the changes and how much of a change it is. Moving a doorway over a few feet usually isn't a problem, adding additional square footage is a problem.
The requirements for an Owner-Builder permit are listed on the County website somewhere, it's been awhile since I looked them up. I think the basic requirements are you can't build more than one Owner-Builder house in more than a specific number of years and you have to live in the house when you are done with it for several years, too. They want the "Owner-Builders" to be just that - folks who are building their OWN house to live in when they are done. If that's what you are doing, then you shouldn't have any problems.
There was also some concern about Owner-Builders hiring unlicensed contractors to build their homes. If you are building your house with the help of family members and friends then there is no problem at all. You have to hire licensed plumbers and electricians so that's not an issue but some unlicensed contractors were pulling "owner-builder" permits and then building the houses and the County doesn't approve of that and if those folks get caught they levy big fines.
Kurt Wilson