HCC §5-9-6
What happens when a building is found unsafe
Read the official text at hawaiicounty.gov ↗If an inspector finds a building unsafe, the county sends a written notice and order to the owner and others responsible. The order tells them what to fix and by when. If they don't comply, it's a code violation. The county can also require immediate vacation, disconnect unsafe electrical or gas, and go to court for plumbing problems.
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The ordinance, as written (Hawaiʻi County) — Found to be unsafe; notice and order
A copy, taken August 21, 2026. The version published by Hawaiʻi County is the one that governs, and it may have changed since. Check it before relying on anything here.
(a) If upon inspection, the building, structure, portion thereof, or installation is found to be unsafe as defined in this article, the authority having jurisdiction shall serve a written notice of violation stating the defects thereof and an accompanying order, upon the parties responsible for the violation. At a minimum, the owner of the unsafe building, structure, portion thereof, or installation shall be deemed to be a responsible party. Additional responsible parties may include, but shall not be limited to any lessee or tenant of the building, structure, or portion thereof, and the owner of the property where the building, structure, or portion thereof, or installation is located. The notice and order shall be addressed to the responsible party and shall specify the date or time for compliance with such order. (b) Failure, neglect, or refusal to comply with any such notice and order shall be considered a violation of the construction code. (c) The notice and order may require the responsible party: (1) To commence within forty-eight hours, either the required repairs or improvements to, or demolition and removal of the building, structure, or portions thereof. All such work shall be completed within ninety days from the date of notice, unless otherwise required by the authority having jurisdiction; or (2) To vacate, or have vacated, the building, structure, or portion thereof immediately and not reoccupy it until the required repairs and improvements are completed, inspected, and approved by the authority having jurisdiction. (d) When an electrical installation is found to be unsafe or dangerous to persons or property, the defective installation shall be disconnected from the power source and tagged as unsafe to operate and the authority having jurisdiction may require other corrections as set forth in the order. (e) In the case of any gas piping or gas appliance, the authority having jurisdiction may order any person supplying gas to such piping or appliance, to discontinue supplying gas thereto, until such piping or appliance is made safe with respect to life, health, or property. (f) When any plumbing system is maintained in violation of the construction code and in violation of any notice and order issued pursuant to the provisions of this section, or where a nuisance exists in any building or on a site on which a building is situated, the authority having jurisdiction may institute an appropriate action or proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent, restrain, correct, or abate the violation or nuisance. SUPP. 9 (1-2021) 5-44 CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATIVE CODE § 5-9-6 (g) Service of such notice of violation and order shall be by personal service, certified mail by posting a copy of the notice of violation and order at the site of the violation, or by publication. Service by publication shall be effected through publication once a week for two consecutive weeks, in a daily publication in the County pursuant to section 1-28.5, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes. (2020, ord 20-61, sec 2.) 5-9-6
Published by the County of Hawaiʻi Office of the County Clerk.
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.