1. BUILDING
PERMIT
After viewing this presentation you will have an
understanding of:
• Why NOT having a building permit is BAD and why
HAVING a building permit is GOOD
• How to figure out if work is permitted or not
• What to expect as we get the work “PERMITTED”
• Who to call if you need help with a project
TJR WORKS! (808) 625-3500 Dream House Drafting (808) 371-8031
www.tjrworks.com www.dreamhousedrafting.com

2. WHY “NOT” HAVING
A BUILDING PERMIT CAN
CAUSE YOU GRIEF!

3. Not having permitted projects can either
delay or kill a sale
because the potential buyer walks for
fear of the unknown consequences of
those illegal improvements.
No sale means
YOU DON’T GET PAID!

4. Home Insurance Companies can refuse
to cover damages if they find out the
damaged structure or improvements
were never permitted.
NO permit, NO coverage.

5. A mortgage can be called due within
24 hours if the lender finds out about
unpermitted work. Tighter banking
regulations have effected
unpermitted work on the homes you
are helping to buy and sell.

6. • Property tax issues are another dilemma.
Imagine being sued by a home owner who
is assessed retroactive property taxes on
illegally built work that you should have
known about.
• If you think retroactive property taxes
are unrealistic? Remember who makes the
laws? --- THEY ARE BROKE RIGHT NOW
AND WOULD LOVE TO COLLECT!

7. WHY HAVING A
PROJECT PERMITTED IS
“GOOD”

8. Permitted projects ensure both
design and construction,
meet all current codes:
Building, Mechanical, Electrical,
Plumbing, Fire and Energy.

9. A building permit assures that the
design and construction of the
structure do not infringe on any
setbacks or easements and is
compliant with City ordinances

10. A building permit can protect
the owner from liability in
case of catastrophic events.
For example:

11. Case and Point
• More than 75% of the people who
are on a deck when it collapses are
injured or killed.
• Since 2000, there have been 30 or
more deaths as a direct result to a
deck collapse, at an average of 5
deaths per year as of 2008.
• Injuries average over 7,000 per
year for structural failure or collapse

12. YOU DON’T WANT THIS GUY AS YOUR CLIENT
Vino Wong / vwong@ajc.com

13. Every 82 seconds there is a house fire in
the United States.
That’s about 375,000 fires per year!
49% are caused by electrical work or
equipment. socioecohistory.wordpress.com

14. Typical issues with unpermitted work that must be fixed

15. A typical structural requirement that
must be performed is providing for a
“Continuous Load Path.” A
Continuous Load Path is what
transfers wind and earthquake
applied energy from the house
structure down into the foundation so
the house stays put in the storm. It
can be extensive at times, generally
requiring removal of drywall and
fixtures to access the building
framing. It may require an engineer
to determine the correct system to be
installed and it will require inspection
before closing drywall.
Hanley Wood

16. Work does not need to look this bad to be illegal.
This deck had dozens of code violations!

17. Does this the proper permits?
house have permits?
Does this house have
Hard to tell…
freshome.com

18. This kitchen remodel needed a permit because the oven was
moved and the value of the electrical work exceeded $500.00.
Waialae Iki kitchen by TJR WORKS!
As nice as the kitchen looks, if no permit had been pulled, it’s
still illegal. Let’s find out why…

19. When a permit is needed?
Per Honolulu Building Permit Dept:
Revised Ordinances of Honolulu (ROH) Chapter 18,
and part of Chapter 16
Chapter 189
FEES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR PERMITS FOR
BUILDING, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING AND
SIDEWALK CODES
DOWNLOAD THE IMPORTANT PARTS AND WATCH
THIS ENTIRE NARRATED PRESENTATION AT:
tjrworks.com

20. Revised Ordinances of Honolulu (ROH) Sec. 18-3.1 Required.
(a) No person shall perform any of the following or cause any of the following to
be performed without first obtaining a building permit therefore as prescribed in
this section:
(1) Erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert or
demolish any building or structure;
(2) Any electrical work;
(3) Install, remove, alter, repair or replace any plumbing, fire sprinkler, gas or
drainage piping work or any fixture, gas appliance, or water heating or treating
equipment; or
(4) Construct, reconstruct or improve any sidewalk, curb or driveway in any
public street right-of-way.
(b) Exceptions. A permit shall not be required for the types of work listed
below. Exemption from the permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed
to grant authorization for any work to be done in violation of
the provisions of the technical codes or any other laws or ordinances of this
jurisdiction.
(1) Work excepted from building code provisions under Chapter 16. Work on
sidewalks, curbs or driveways regulated under the provisions of Chapter 14,
Article 18, however, is not exempt from permit requirements.
(2) Temporary construction sheds and temporary construction fences.
(3) Reroofing work which will not adversely affect the structural components for
Groups R-3 and U occupancies.

21. Sec. 18-3.1 Required.
(4) Installation of siding to existing exterior walls which will not adversely affect
the structural components of the walls of Groups R-3 and U occupancies.
(5) Temporary tents or other coverings, for periods not to exceed 14
consecutive days, used for private family parties or for camping.
(6) Retaining walls, fences and planter boxes which are not more than 30
inches in height, walkways, riprap walls, and outside paving within private
property.
(7) Individual residential television and radio antennas, excluding dish-type
antennas.
(8) Window awnings supported by the exterior walls of Groups R-3 or U
occupancies, when projecting not more than four feet six inches.
(9) Installation of wallpaper or wall covering which is exempted under the
provisions of Chapter 16.
(10) Repairs which involve only the replacement of component parts of existing
work with similar materials for the purpose of maintenance, and which do not
aggregate over $1,000.00 in valuation in any 12-month period, and do not affect
any electrical, plumbing, or mechanical installations.

22. Sec. 18-3.1 Required.
(11) Painting, installation of floor covering and cabinet work without limit as to
valuation; provided, however, that the values thereof shall be included as part of
the value of any new construction for which a permit is required by this code, for
the purpose of determining the amount of the fee to be
paid for such permit.
(12) Work located on federal property.
(13) Work performed for any state government agency, except where permits
are specifically requested by the agency.
(14) Playground equipment, monuments, statues, ornamental ponds less than
18 inches in depth, and golf course pedestrian and golf cart bridges.
(15) Temporary motion picture, television, and theater stage sets and scenery.
(16) One-story detached buildings:
(A) Accessory to Group R-3 occupancies and used as tool and storage
sheds, playhouses and similar uses; or
(B) Accessory to crop production in AG-1 Restricted Agricultural or AG-2
General
Agricultural zoning districts and used as storage sheds or for water catchment
and not used as dwelling or lodging units;
provided the aggregate floor area does not exceed 120 square feet.

23. Sec. 18-3.1 Required.
(17) Movable cases, counters, and partitions not over five feet nine inches
high.
(18) The following electrical work:
(A) Electrical work and installation to which the provisions of the electrical
code are expressly declared to be not applicable;
(B) Installation of any portable motor or other portable appliance energized
by means of a cord or cable having an attachment plug, if such cord or cable is
permitted by the electrical code;
(C) Repair of any fixed motor or other appliance, or replacement of any
fixed motor with another having the same horsepower rating and situated at the
same location;
(D) Maintenance work for commercial and industrial processing equipment
by a duly licensed electrician;
(E) Electronic equipment, sound public address systems, cable television
and communication systems for a single-family or two-family dwelling;
(F) Radio and television receiving antenna systems other than master or
community systems;
(G) Sound recording systems for a single-family or two-family dwelling;

24. Sec. 18-3.1 Required.
(H) Interior telephone work subject to regulation by the public utilities
commission of the State of Hawaii and wiring of interconnecting cable of data
processing equipment; and
(I) Repair work performed by a licensed electrical contractor which does
not aggregate over $500.00 in valuation in any 12-month period and does not
involve service entrance equipment.
(19) The following work by a public utility supplying gas:
(A) Disconnecting defective gas piping or equipment when authorized
under Chapter 19; and
(B) Disconnecting or reconnecting existing gas piping or equipment for
repair, servicing, replacement or removal.
(20) The following plumbing work:
(A) Repair work in plumbing systems when the work does not involve or
require the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures; and
(B) Repair work performed by a licensed plumbing contractor which does
not aggregate over $1,000.00 in valuation in any 12-month period and which
involves or requires only the replacement of valves, pipes or fixtures.

25. Sec. 18-3.1 Required.
(21) All structures, other than buildings, which are constructed in conjunction with
board of water supply and public works projects undertaken by or on behalf of the
city.
(22) All structures, other than buildings, which are constructed in conjunction with
the subdivision of lands and in accordance with plans approved by the city under
its subdivision rules and regulations.
(23) Sidewalks, curbs and driveways in public street rights-of-way which are:
(A) Constructed in conjunction with public works projects undertaken by or on
behalf of the city;
(B) Constructed in conjunction with the subdivision of land and in accordance with
plans approved by the city under its subdivision rules and regulations; or
(C) Subject to compliance with Chapter 14, Article 18.
(24) Minor repairs to sidewalks, curbs and driveways in public street rights-of-
way. However, reconstruction and/or replacement of any portion of sidewalks,
curbs and driveways shall not be construed as repair which is exempt under this
subdivision. (Sec. 18-3.1, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 93-59, 96-50, 96-58,
97-47, 00-39)

26. Sec. 18-3.1 Required.
Sec. 18-3.2 Separate building permit required.
A separate building permit shall be required for each building or structure,
provided that one permit may be obtained for:
(a) A dwelling and its accessories, such as fence, wall, pool and garage without
living quarters;
(b) For Electrical Work Only. Electrical work for main building and electrical work
for a private garage, shed or accessory building located on the same premises as
the main building, and supplied electrical power by a feeder or circuit from the
main building;
(c) For Plumbing Work Only. Plumbing work for main building and plumbing work
for a private garage, shed or accessory building located on the same premises as
the main building and served by the same building water supply and building
sewer as that serving the main building;
(d) Sidewalks, curbs and driveways in public street rights-of-way and any building
or structure together with which they constitute all or part of a construction
project.

27. Sec. 18-3.1 Required.
(Sec. 18-3.2, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 93-59)
Sec. 18-3.3 Emergency work.
Emergency work may commence without a permit. However, an application for a
permit for the work shall be submitted on the working day immediately following
the day work is commenced. (Sec. 18-3.3, R.O. 1978 (1983
Ed.); Am. Ord. 93-59)

28. Building Permit On-Line Info
You can check for building permit info and
status for a property on-line at:
http://dppweb.honolulu.gov/
dppweb/

29. DEPARTMENT
DPP Home
Honolulu Home
ACCOUNT Search Engine/Filters will ask for any of
Sign In the following info to FIND property:
PERMITTING
Building Permits • Application Number
Properties • Building Permit Number
New Online Permit
Building Permit • House Number
Application • Street Name
Subdivisions
Trenching Permits • TMK No.
Calculate BP Fees • Created Date
SEARCHING
Properties
• Issue Date
Other Permits • Completed Date
Building/Sign Permits

35. You can see the
building permit
application’s
progression
through the
various
departments

36. Here, you can see who applied for the permit, who
the main three contractor’s of record are, who the
owner is and who drew the plans.

37. Plan review’s
by department
Zoning can take a
while….be prepared!

38. Check here for status of
actual inspection of
work on the job site.
This is a great feature
for an anxious
homeowner or buyer

39. Current Building
Permits for
Honolulu will
be on green
paper.
Older permits
are on orange
cardstock.
The actual permit is the only place where you can
find the actual inspectors assigned to the job

41. Find information on the property description ,
building permit info, description and date of
work done to see if home/project
“is permitted”.

42. Provide inspection of home/project and
compare with blueprints to find out if there
is any “unpermitted work “ or illegal
additions or any deficient work.

43. Provide an Action Plan Proposal and Estimate
for any known deficient work items within
48 hours from the assessment date.

44. Provide Architectural/Drafting Services.
Provide Construction/General Contracting
Services.

45. We solve the problem of
unpermitted work by pulling an
“AFTER THE FACT BUILDING PERMIT”.
An after the fact building permit is a regular
permit and must meet all
standard building permit requirements but it
has as a penalty a 200% fee.

46. THE NORMAL BUILDING PERMIT
AND CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
HOW IT WORKS:

47. Unpermitted work must be made to comply with
all current building codes, irrespective of when
the structure was actually built. This means
that the existing project will need:
• Architectural Drawings developed.
• An Architect or Engineer Stamp in some
cases.
• A sign off by a general contractor.
• A sign of by a plumbing and/or electrical
contractor if that work was included.
• Submittal of the plans and routing of the
plans through applicable departments.
• Pulling the permit and paying the 200%
permit fee.

48. Unpermitted work must be made to comply with
all current building codes. This means that the
existing project may need:
• Opening of drywall and concrete for
inspectors to inspect structure and mechanical
elements.
• Modifications to the structures and or
mechanical systems to meet code.
• Elimination outright of some structure to meet
zoning or setback rules in certain cases.
• Inspections by appropriate field inspectors
who must be able to actually see the elements
they are inspecting.

49. Assuming most of the structure was
actually built to code ---
This process typically takes:
• 1 to 2 weeks for drawings.
• 2 to 3 weeks for permit routing.
• 1 month plus to actually get the permit
opened and closed for most illegally built
structures requiring structural, plumbing
and electrical inspections.
Typical bare minimum for a simple job—
One Month
Each project is different.

50. Why Us?

51. Our team of professionals has years of
experience in providing Hawaii with
impeccable service.
Our team of licensed professionals
includes design and drafting services, a
general contractor, architect, permit
router, plumbers and electricians, and
other skilled tradesmen.

52. We are knowledgeable and familiar
with the building permit process and
current construction codes.
We only do work that is required to
open and close the permit and make
the work legal.
We help you save valuable time and
money so you can close your deal.

53. Job Name: North Shore New
Construction with Exotic Indonesian
Wood Decking
By: Dream House Drafting

54. Job Name: Marinas Ridge Deck Transformation
By: Dream House Drafting

55. Kitchen By: TJR WORKS! LLC

56. Job Name: New Deck in Portlock
By: TJR WORKS! LLC

57. Job Name: Kitchen Remodel/Lanai
Enclosure, Waianae, Hawaii
By: Dream House Drafting

58. Job Name: Second Story “pop top”,
Hawaii Kai
By: TJR WORKS! LLC

59. Job Name: New Six Bedroom, Four
Bath Home, Hawaii Kai
By: Dream House Drafting

60. TJR WORKS!
tjrworks.com dreamhousedrafting.com
94-1007 Lalama Loop
Waipahu, HI 96797
(808) 625-3500
info@tjrworks.com
LIC: BC-26337