For many years, different building standards have applied in different counties in Hawaii despite somewhat similar building conditions throughout the State. According to the Building Code Council (http://hawaii.gov/dags/bcc), the last time the counties were in sync was in 1996 under the 1991 Uniform Building Code. In large part, discrepancies resulted because the counties were allowed to base their building requirements on different model codes and because each county was permitted to amend the version of the model code it used in any way it saw fit. Since 2007 when the Council was established, however, Hawaii has been taking steps towards adopting a statewide building code with the intent of increasing consistency, predictability and safety, among other things.
According to 2007’s Act 82 (http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2007/bills/SB795_cd1_.htm), all State construction projects must be in compliance with the statewide building code within 1 year of its adoption. The counties are given 2 years to adopt the statewide building code except that, if there is any delay or other failure to adopt it within the specified time period, the statewide building code “shall become applicable as an interim county building code until the county adopts the amendments.”
The Council’s September 13, 2011 meeting minutes suggest that new rules based on the 2009 International Building Code (IBC) are being finalized at the same time that members are reviewing the 2012 IBC. Those minutes also included the following adoption status regarding the various counties:
- Hawaii County: NEC and UPC effective November 15, 2011, 2006 IECC effective October 2006; 2006 IBC targeted for January 2012
- Maui County: 1997 UBC, 1991 UPC, 2008 NEC, 2006 IECC, current codes; 2006 IBC and UPC with corporation counsel.
- Kauai County: 2003 IBC, 2003 IRC, 2008 NEC, 2009 IECC, current codes; 2006 IBC, 2006 IRC and 2006 UPC expected to be adopted in early 2012.
- Oahu (Honolulu): 2008 NEC, 1997 UPC, 2003 IBC, 2003 IRC, 2006 IECC, current codes; 2006 UPC and 2006 IBC seeking public comment and expect to transmit to corporation counsel in [October 2011].
*NEC: National Electric Code; UPC: Uniform Plumbing Code; IECC: International Energy Conservation Code; IRC: International Residential Code
http://hawaii.gov/dags/bcc/meeting-minutes
A representative from Maui County’s office claimed that updated code provisions based upon the IBC could go into effect in Maui as soon as April 2012.
An overview of the process was provided in an November 2011 article in the Pacific Business News: http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/print-edition/2011/11/11/statewide-building-code-cant-keep-up.html?s=print