ROH §16A-4.3
Minimum room sizes and ceiling heights for homes
Read the official text at honolulu.gov ↗This section sets minimum ceiling heights, floor areas, and room widths for homes. It also allows smaller efficiency units if they meet special rules. These rules apply to rooms where people live, sleep, or cook.
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The ordinance, as written (Honolulu County) — Room dimensions
A copy, taken August 22, 2026. The version published by Honolulu is the one that governs, and it may have changed since. Check it before relying on anything here.
(a) Ceiling heights.
(1) Habitable space shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet 6 inches except as otherwise permitted in this section. Kitchens, halls, bathrooms, and toilet compartments may have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet measured to the lowest projection from the ceiling. Where exposed beam ceiling members are spaced at less than 48 inches on center, ceiling height shall be measured to the bottom of these members. Where exposed beam ceiling members are spaced at 48 inches or more on center, ceiling height shall be measured to the bottom of the deck supported by these members, provided that the bottom of the members is not less than 7 feet above the floor.
(2) If any room in a building has a sloping ceiling, the prescribed ceiling height for the room is required in only one-half the area thereof. No portion of the room measuring less than 5 feet from the finished floor to the finished ceiling shall be included in any computation of the minimum area thereof.
(3) If any room has a furred ceiling, the prescribed ceiling height is required in two-thirds the area thereof, but in no case shall the height of the furred ceiling be less than 7 feet.
(4) Projections may be permitted to project below the ceiling provided the clearance is not less than 6 feet 6 inches.
(b) Floor area. Every dwelling unit and congregate residence shall have at least one room for living purposes that shall have not less than 120 square feet of floor area. Other habitable rooms except kitchens shall have a floor area of not less than 70 square feet. Where more than two persons occupy a room used for sleeping purposes, the required floor area shall be increased at the rate of 50 square feet for each occupant in excess of two.
Exception: nothing in this section shall prohibit the use of an efficiency dwelling unit meeting the following requirements.
(1) The unit shall have a living room of not less than 220 square feet of floor area. An additional 100 square feet of floor area shall be provided for each occupant of such unit in excess of two.
(2) The unit shall be provided with a separate closet.
(3) The unit shall be provided with a kitchen sink, cooking appliance, and refrigeration facilities, each having a clear working space of not less than 30 inches in front. Light and ventilation conforming to this code shall be provided.
(4) The unit shall be provided with a separate bathroom containing a water closet, lavatory, and bathtub or shower.
(c) Width. Habitable rooms, other than kitchens, shall not be less than 7 feet in any dimension. No water closet space shall be less than 30 inches in width. There shall be not less than 24 inches of clear space in front of each water closet stool and when sliding doors are not used, a door swing of not less than 90 degrees shall be provided for in front of each water closet stool.
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Published by the City and County of Honolulu through American Legal Publishing.
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.