How building improvements affect property value and taxes

A. In determining the value of buildings, the director must consider any additions, alterations, remodeling, modifications, or other new construction, improvement, or repair work undertaken upon or made to existing buildings because they may result in a higher assessable valuation of the buildings; except that any increase in value resulting from additions, alterations, modifications, or other new construction, improvement, or repair work to buildings undertaken or made by the owner-occupant in accordance with the requirements of any urban redevelopment, rehabilitation, or conservation project under the provisions of part II of chapter 53 of the Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes will not increase the assessable valuation of any building for a period of seven years from the date of certification as provided in this section. B. The owner-occupant must file with the director, in the manner and place that the director may designate, a statement of the details of the improvements certified in the following manner: 1. For additions, alterations, modifications, or other new construction, improvement, or repair work to a building undertaken in accordance with any urban redevelopment, rehabilitation, or conservation project as mentioned in this section, the statement must be certified by the mayor or any governmental official designated by the mayor and approved by the council, that the work was completed and satisfactorily complies with the particular urban redevelopment, rehabilitation, or conservation act provision; or 2. For maintenance or repairs to a residential building undertaken in accordance with any health, safety, sanitation, or other governmental code provision, the statement must be certified by a County inspector, that the building was inspected and found to be substandard when the owner-occupant made the claim, and the maintenance or repairs to the buildings were made and satisfactorily comply with the particular code provision. ( Ord. No. 5020 , § 1, 2019; Ord. 1076 § 3 (part), 1980: prior code § 6-1.53(g) (part))