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HRS §206N-8

Local authority over small wireless facilities

This section says state and county governments keep their usual zoning and permitting powers, but they cannot control how small wireless facilities are designed, built, or run if those facilities are inside a building or on a campus, stadium, or athletic field they do not own. They also cannot force wireless deployment or regulate wireless services, and they cannot add extra rules or fees on cable companies already allowed to use the right of way.

countiescourtsstate agencies

The statute, as written — Local authority

(a) Subject to this chapter and applicable federal law, the State or county may continue to exercise zoning, land use, planning, and permitting authority within its jurisdictional boundaries, including with respect to utility poles; except that neither the State nor a county shall have or exercise any jurisdiction or authority over the design, engineering, construction, installation, or operation of any small wireless facility located in an interior structure or upon the site of any campus, stadium, or athletic facility not owned or controlled by the State or county, other than to comply with applicable codes. Nothing in this chapter authorizes the State or a county to require wireless facility deployment or to regulate broadband or wireless services. (b) Except as provided in this chapter with respect to the wireless facilities subject to the permitting, rate, and fee requirements established herein, the State and each county shall not adopt or enforce any regulations or requirements or charge additional rates or fees on an entity's placement or operation of communications facilities in the right of way where the entity is already authorized by a cable television franchise to operate throughout the right of way. The State and each county shall not regulate or charge fees for the provision of additional communications services over a cable system authorized under such franchise, unless expressly authorized by applicable law.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.