TAR (STVR) Info

TAR (STVR) Info

In November 2022, two Hawaii County Councilmembers published for public comment, a draft version of proposed legislation which would repeal and replace the existing STVR rules and create new, broader regulations which would apply to both hosted and unhosted rental properties across the county and become known as Transient Accommodation Rentals ("TAR"). There has been a tremendous amount of interest in the proposed legislation including a series of Zoom meetings, website creations, news articles and podcasts, private association petitions, social media posts and blogs and scholarly presentations. The draft legislation has not been formally proposed and the public awaits a fourth draft which promises significant revisions prior to its official proposal to the full Council.


Legislation Timeline:

  • November 2022 initial draft released via Zoom information Meeting w/chat
  • December 2022 second draft released.
  • January 2023 Council members host a Zoom information Meeting w/o chat
  • February 2023 third draft released.
  • June 19 2023 Joint GAC Meeting w/ Planning Dept., Finance Director, Tax Administrator, Council Members Kierkiewicz and Kimball.
  • June 2023 fourth draft released.
  • October 2023 fifth draft released.
  • January 2024: The complete Bill Package (121, 122, and 123) were introduced in front of the Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Development Committee. The entire hearing can be viewed here.
  • Bill 121
  • Bill 122
  • Bill 123
  • April 2024: Bill Package being heard at Planning Commission
  • April 4th - Winward Planning Commission Hearing 9:00 AM
  • April 18th Leeward Planning Commission Hearing 2:00 PM


WHAR and HIR began to hold joint GAC meetings in early 2023 to coordinate a response to proposed legislation and current Talking Points for the most recently released proposed legislation were sent out on January 19th, 2024.


On June 29th, 2023, WHAR and HIR released a joint position paper advocating against the passage of the proposed TAR legislation.


After the Bills were introduced, the WHAR BOD approved a revised joint position paper on 1/30/24.


Quick facts from Caravan Presentation on 3/28/24 can be found here


Other Resources:

Public articles, blog posts, research, podcast and other public domain information and opinion from both sides:


To receive updates about TAR Legislation sign up here:

https://slowdowntarhawaii.com/


To join the GAC Committee to work on this issue, email the WHAR Office at admin@westhawaiirealtors.com


Click below to view information from the County of Hawaii Planning Department and the current county ordinance regarding vacation rentals.


STVR - County of HI Planning Dept.

Bill 108, adopted by the Hawaiʻi County Council in November 2018 as Ordinance 2018-114, regulates Short-Term Vacation Rentals (STVR) on Hawaii Island. The new law: 1) defines where the use will be allowed; 2) establishes provisions and standards to regulate this use; and 3) provides an avenue for an existing STVR to apply for a Nonconforming Use Certificate that would allow continued operation outside of a permitted zoning district.


The Planning Department, which has been tasked with administering the provisions of Bill 108, has adopted Rule 23, which has been incorporated into the Planning Department’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. Rule 23 outlines the new practices and procedures necessary to implement the provisions set forth in Bill 108.



Complete Planning Department Rules of Practice and Procedure

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