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HRS §521-52

Tenant must follow landlord rules and use property properly

Tenants must follow the landlord's rules about using and caring for the rental, but only if the rules are fair, clear, and were told to the tenant when signing the lease or later agreed to in writing. Landlords cannot ban political yard signs in single-family rentals, except for safety rules. Tenants in condos or co-ops must also follow those building's rules.

landlordstenants

The statute, as written — Tenant to use properly

(a) The tenant shall comply with all obligations or restrictions, whether denominated by the landlord as rules, or otherwise, concerning the tenant's use, occupancy, and maintenance of the tenant's dwelling unit, appurtenances thereto, and the premises of which the dwelling unit is a part, if: (1) Such obligations or restrictions are brought to the attention of the tenant at the time of the tenant's entry into the rental agreement; or (2) Such obligations or restrictions, if not so known by the tenant at the time of the tenant's entry into the rental agreement, are brought to the attention of the tenant and, if they work a substantial modification of the tenant's bargain under the rental agreement, are consented to in writing by the tenant. (b) No such obligation or restriction shall be enforceable against the tenant unless: (1) It is for the purpose of promoting the convenience, safety, or welfare of the tenants of the property, or for the preservation of the landlord's property from abusive use, or for the fair distribution of services and facilities held out for the tenants generally; (2) It is reasonably related to the purpose for which it is established; (3) It applies to all tenants of the property in a fair manner; and (4) It is sufficiently explicit in its prohibition, direction, or limitation of the tenant's conduct to fairly inform the tenant of what the tenant must or must not do to comply. (c) In a rental agreement for a single family residence, a landlord shall not prohibit a tenant from erecting, maintaining, or displaying an otherwise legal sign or outdoor advertising device that urges voters to vote for or against any person or issue; provided that reasonable restrictions are permissible for purposes of complying with applicable building and housing laws affecting health and safety. (d) If the dwelling unit is a unit in a condominium, the tenant shall comply with the bylaws of the association under chapter 514B, and if the dwelling unit is an apartment in a cooperative housing corporation, the tenant shall comply with the bylaws of the corporation.
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.