Building Permits in Waipahu, Hawaii

City in Honolulu County

Verified August 2026

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Adopted Construction Codes

These are the state-level code editions for Hawaii. They apply in Waipahuunless a verified local adoption or amendment is noted — in local-adoption states, confirm the city or county's own code editions with the building department.

Code	Edition	Adoption
IBC — International Building Code	2021	Hawaii state building code, IBC component. NO ADOPTING INSTRUMENT NAMES THIS EDITION. The 2021 IBC became part of the Hawaii state building code AUTOMATICALLY under HRS 107-24(c), which provides that if the State Building Code Council "does not adopt a code or standard identified in section 107-25 within the two-year time period, that code or standard shall automatically become part of the Hawaii state building code until superseded by the adoption of an amended version of the code or standard by the council." Per the SBCC's own Building Code Publication and Adoption Schedule, the 2021 IBC was published Oct 2020, giving a state adoption deadline of Oct 2022, which passed with no adoption. Default expressly confirmed by the SBCC Annual Reports of Dec 2024 and Dec 2025. LAST EDITION NAMED BY AN INSTRUMENT: 2018 IBC, Hawaii State Building Code adopted by the SBCC on April 20, 2021 under HRS 107-24 (document rev. 8/17/2021). · source ↗
IEBC — International Existing Building Code	2021	Hawaii state building code, IEBC component. NO ADOPTING INSTRUMENT NAMES THIS EDITION. The 2021 IEBC became part of the Hawaii state building code AUTOMATICALLY under HRS 107-24(c). Per the SBCC's own Building Code Publication and Adoption Schedule (3/10/2023), the 2021 IEBC was published Dec 2020 and the "2021 STATE CODE ADOPTION DEADLINE" fell Dec 2022; that chart, drawn three months AFTER the deadline, records no corresponding "STATE CODE ADOPTED (ACTUAL)" entry. The SBCC Annual Report for 2022 lists only the 2018 IBC as adopted that year, and the Annual Reports for 2023, 2024 and 2025 each state the Council adopted no codes at all. AGS still posts the 2018 instrument as the current State Existing Building Code. LAST EDITION NAMED BY AN INSTRUMENT: 2018 IEBC, Hawaii State Existing Building Code ("Adopting the 2018 International Existing Building Code with Amendments"), adopted by the SBCC 11/17/2020, effective 11/17/2020. · source ↗
IECC — International Energy Conservation Code	2021	Hawaii state building code, IECC component. NO ADOPTING INSTRUMENT NAMES THIS EDITION. The 2021 IECC became part of the Hawaii state building code AUTOMATICALLY under HRS 107-24(c): the IECC is expressly named in HRS 107-25(3), and 107-24(c) provides that if the State Building Code Council "does not adopt a code or standard identified in section 107-25 within the two-year time period, that code or standard shall automatically become part of the Hawaii state building code until superseded by the adoption of an amended version of the code or standard by the council." Per the SBCC's own Building Code Publication and Adoption Schedule, the 2021 IECC was published Jan 2021, giving a state adoption deadline of Jan 2023, which passed with no adoption. Default expressly confirmed by name in the SBCC Annual Reports of Dec 2024 and Dec 2025. LAST EDITION NAMED BY AN INSTRUMENT: 2018 IECC, Hawaii State Energy Code ("Adopting the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)"), adopted by the SBCC 12/15/2020, effective 12/15/2020. · source ↗
IFC —	NOT ADOPTED — Hawaii has NO International Fire Code, of any edition, at state level, and the largest county does not adopt it either. The statewide fire code is the HAWAII STATE FIRE CODE, which is NFPA 1, FIRE CODE, 2024 EDITION, adopted by the STATE FIRE COUNCIL under HRS ch. 132, EFFECTIVE 2025-09-05, subject to 101 Hawaii amendments. ADOPTING SENTENCE READ AND QUOTED VERBATIM FROM THE INSTRUMENT: "The NFPA 1, Fire Code, 2024 edition is adopted (incorporated by reference), subject to the amendments provided in this chapter." THE PHRASES "INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE" AND "IFC" APPEAR NOWHERE IN THE HAWAII STATE FIRE CODE — CHECKED THIS RUN — AND NOWHERE ON THE HONOLULU FIRE DEPARTMENT'S OFFICIAL FIRE CODE PAGE. Hawaii is an NFPA fire state, not an ICC fire state. DO NOT RECORD AN IFC EDITION FOR HAWAII ON ANY DEFAULT, SUMMARY OR SIBLING-ROW THEORY.	HAWAII STATE FIRE CODE, adopted by the STATE FIRE COUNCIL under HRS ch. 132, effective 2025-09-05. Adopting words verbatim: "The NFPA 1, Fire Code, 2024 edition is adopted (incorporated by reference), subject to the amendments provided in this chapter." Statewide in application; the instrument records that individual counties may establish additional permit requirements by local ordinance. County layer for the City and County of Honolulu: NFPA 1 (2021 ed.) with state and county amendments, effective 2025-01-03, per the Honolulu Fire Department (county amendments carried in the Honolulu Code Library). NO ICC INSTRUMENT EXISTS FOR FIRE IN HAWAII AT EITHER LEVEL. · source ↗
IMC — International Mechanical Code	NO STATEWIDE ADOPTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL MECHANICAL CODE IN HAWAII — of ANY edition, and no state mechanical code of any publisher. HRS 107-25 establishes the Hawaii state building codes and enumerates their bases: (1) the state fire code adopted by the state fire council; (2) the Uniform Plumbing Code (IAPMO); (3) the International Building Code, International Residential Code and International Energy Conservation Code (ICC); (4) the National Electrical Code (NFPA); (5) Hawaii design standards under Act 5, SLH 2005 (Sp. Sess.); (6) "Code provisions based on nationally published codes or standards that include but are not limited to residential and hurricane resistant standards related to loss mitigation standards in accordance with section 431P-12, elevator, mechanical, flood and tsunami, existing buildings, and onsite sewage disposal." NO MECHANICAL CODE PUBLICATION IS NAMED ANYWHERE IN THE STATUTE. "Mechanical" appears only in paragraph (6), as a SUBJECT AREA in a non-exhaustive list, alongside "elevator", "flood and tsunami" and "onsite sewage disposal". Nothing has ever been adopted under it for mechanical: the State Building Code Council has promulgated NO state mechanical code, and there is no mechanical chapter in HAR Title 3.	NO ADOPTING INSTRUMENT EXISTS. The controlling authority is the ABSENCE of a mechanical code from HRS 107-25 (Hawaii state building codes; requirements) [L 2007, c 82, pt of s2; am L 2014, c 164, s6], which enumerates the bases of the Hawaii state building codes and names the state fire code, the Uniform Plumbing Code, the IBC, IRC and IECC, the NEC and the Act 5 (SLH 2005 Sp. Sess.) hurricane design standards — and no mechanical code. Confirmed by the absence of any mechanical chapter from HAR Title 3, Building Code Council, and by the absence of any mechanical row from the State Building Code Council's own published code list and Building Code Publication and Adoption Schedule. At the county level, express non-adoption: Revised Ordinances of Honolulu ch.16 s.16-1.1, adopting the 2018 IBC (first printing) with amendments, section 101.4.2: "Provisions in the International Mechanical Code are not adopted by this code but may be considered for guidance." · source ↗
IPC — International Plumbing Code	NO STATEWIDE ADOPTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODE IN HAWAII — of ANY edition, and no county adoption of it either. Hawaii plumbing is governed by IAPMO's UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE. HRS 107-25(2) names the Uniform Plumbing Code as a basis of the Hawaii state building codes; the IPC is named nowhere in HRS 107-25. Hawaii goes one step further than mere silence: the HAWAII STATE BUILDING CODE AFFIRMATIVELY REDIRECTS EVERY IPC CROSS-REFERENCE OUT OF THE ICC FAMILY. State Building Code (2018 IBC with state amendments, adopted by the State Building Code Council 4/20/2021) section 101.4.3, READ AND QUOTED VERBATIM: "Whenever the term International Plumbing Code is used in this code it shall mean the adopted State Plumbing Code." The adopted State Plumbing Code is the UPC (2018 UPC by instrument, HAR ch. 3-183 eff. 5/19/2020; 2021 UPC statewide by HRS 107-24(c) automatic default — see the Hawaii UPC row 852aacc8). THE CORRECT ANSWER TO "WHAT IPC EDITION IS HAWAII ON?" IS THAT THE QUESTION IS MALFORMED.	NO ADOPTING INSTRUMENT EXISTS FOR THE IPC IN HAWAII. The controlling authorities are (i) the ABSENCE of the International Plumbing Code from HRS 107-25 (Hawaii state building codes; requirements), whose paragraph (2) names the Uniform Plumbing Code instead, and (ii) the AFFIRMATIVE DISPLACEMENT in the Hawaii State Building Code (2018 IBC with state amendments, SBCC adoption 4/20/2021, document rev. 8/17/2021) at section 101.4.3: "Whenever the term International Plumbing Code is used in this code it shall mean the adopted State Plumbing Code." What IS adopted is the Uniform Plumbing Code: Hawaii State Plumbing Code, HAR Title 3 Chapter 3-183, effective May 19, 2020, adopting the UPC 2018 Edition (28th Ed., 6th Printing) with amendments; 2021 UPC statewide by automatic default under HRS 107-24(c). County confirmation: Revised Ordinances of Honolulu s.19-1.1, adopting the Hawaii State Plumbing Code by reference. · source ↗
IRC — International Residential Code	2021	Hawaii state building code, IRC component. NO ADOPTING INSTRUMENT NAMES THIS EDITION. The 2021 IRC became part of the Hawaii state building code AUTOMATICALLY under HRS 107-24(c), which provides that if the State Building Code Council "does not adopt a code or standard identified in section 107-25 within the two-year time period, that code or standard shall automatically become part of the Hawaii state building code until superseded by the adoption of an amended version of the code or standard by the council." Per the SBCC's own Building Code Publication and Adoption Schedule, the 2021 IRC was published Dec 2020, giving a state adoption deadline of Dec 2022, which passed with no adoption. Default expressly confirmed by the SBCC Annual Reports of Dec 2024 and Dec 2025. LAST EDITION NAMED BY AN INSTRUMENT: 2018 IRC, Hawaii State Residential Code ("Adopting the 2018 International Residential Code with Amendments"), adopted by the SBCC on November 17, 2020 under HRS 107-24; HAR Title 3 Ch. 185. · source ↗
NEC — National Electrical Code (NFPA 70)	2023	Hawaii state building code, NEC component. NO ADOPTING INSTRUMENT NAMES THIS EDITION. NFPA 70 (2023 NEC) became part of the Hawaii state building code AUTOMATICALLY under HRS 107-24(c): the National Electrical Code is one of the codes "identified in section 107-25" (HRS 107-25(4)), and 107-24(c) provides that if the State Building Code Council "does not adopt a code or standard identified in section 107-25 within the two-year time period, that code or standard shall automatically become part of the Hawaii state building code." The SBCC's own Building Code Publication and Adoption Schedule (dated 3/10/2023) records the 2023 NEC as published Sept 2022 and sets the "2023 STATE CODE ADOPTION DEADLINE" at Sept 2024; the SBCC Annual Reports for 2023, 2024 and 2025 each state that the Council adopted no codes during the year (Governor's Affordable Housing proclamations), so that deadline passed unmet. LAST EDITION NAMED BY AN INSTRUMENT: 2020 NEC, Hawaii State Electrical Code, HAR Title 3 Ch. 182, SBCC adoption effective 3/15/2022. · source ↗
NFPA 1 —	2024 (NFPA 1, Fire Code, 2024 edition). MODEL-CODE YEAR, NOT A HAWAII LABEL YEAR. ADOPTING WORDS READ FIRST-HAND FROM THE INSTRUMENT THIS RUN, VERBATIM: "The NFPA 1, Fire Code, 2024 edition is adopted (incorporated by reference), subject to the amendments provided in this chapter." *** THIS IS HAWAII'S ONLY STATEWIDE FIRE CODE. THERE IS NO INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE IN HAWAII AT ANY LEVEL -- see the sibling IFC row be9cc4f5.	HAWAII STATE FIRE CODE, adopted by the STATE FIRE COUNCIL under HRS ch. 132 (HRS 132-3), effective September 5, 2025. INSTRUMENT READ FIRST-HAND THIS RUN (run 1731, 2026-09-24), NOT INHERITED FROM A SIBLING ROW. ADOPTING SENTENCE VERBATIM: "The NFPA 1, Fire Code, 2024 edition is adopted (incorporated by reference), subject to the amendments provided in this chapter." EFFECTIVE-DATE LINE VERBATIM AS THE DOCUMENT PRINTS IT: "Effective Date: September 5, 2025". PURPOSE/SCOPE VERBATIM: the code sets "minimum requirements necessary to establish a reasonable level of fire and life safety and property protection from the hazards created by fire, explosion, and dangerous conditions." COUNTY RESERVATION VERBATIM: "Each county may, by ordinance, require that a permit be obtained from the AHJ for any area regulated by this chapter." · source ↗
UPC —	2021	Hawaii state building code, UPC component. NO ADOPTING INSTRUMENT NAMES THIS EDITION. The 2021 UPC became part of the Hawaii state building code AUTOMATICALLY under HRS 107-24(c): the Uniform Plumbing Code is expressly named in HRS 107-25(2), and 107-24(c) provides that if the State Building Code Council "does not adopt a code or standard identified in section 107-25 within the two-year time period, that code or standard shall automatically become part of the Hawaii state building code." Per the SBCC's own Building Code Publication and Adoption Schedule (3/10/2023), the 2021 UPC was published Mar 2020 and the "2021 STATE CODE ADOPTION DEADLINE" fell Mar 2022; that chart, drawn a full year AFTER the deadline, records no corresponding "STATE CODE ADOPTED (ACTUAL)" entry. The SBCC Annual Report for 2022 lists only the 2018 IBC as adopted that year, and the Annual Reports for 2023, 2024 and 2025 each state the Council adopted no codes at all. AGS still posts the May 2020 instrument as the current State Plumbing Code. LAST EDITION NAMED BY AN INSTRUMENT: 2018 UPC, Hawaii State Plumbing Code, HAR Chapter 3-183, effective May 19, 2020 -- the instrument reads "Adoption of the Uniform Plumbing Code. The 'Uniform Plumbing Code, 2018 Edition' including appendices A, B, C, G, I, J, K, L, and M, as copyrighted and published by [IAPMO] ... is incorporated by reference and made a part of this chapter." · source ↗

Permit Requirements

Statewide baseline under the codes as adopted by Hawaii. Local amendments and fee schedules for Waipahu are being verified — use the building department contacts to confirm before you build.

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