STR Owners in Violation of Registering in Hawaii County Could Get Grace Period

7/28/2026

Hawaii County Council is considering a four-month grace period for short-term rental owners who have not registered their properties under new vacation rental regulations. The proposed measure would waive violation fees from September through December while the county completes development of a registration platform. The updated ordinance requires STR operators to register, pay fees, and meet requirements such as tax compliance, licensing, and property documentation. The county is working to streamline registration and plans to launch the system in September. Officials hope the grace period will encourage compliance while giving owners time to complete the process.

Big Island Now (Hawaii) (07/23/26) Kelsey Walling

Why It Matters: This change protects operators who did the right thing and applied before the deadline from getting swept up in the new regime. But the earmark for the enforcement fund, which will include the STR registration and violation fees, cuts the other way: The county is building a fund to police compliance, which signals sustained enforcement pressure ahead rather than a one-and-done rule change.