Ask the Mayor: Maui B&B Compliance Issues

Scenic Maui, photo by Wendy Osher.

The mayor answers questions from the public in this series.

By Mayor Alan Arakawa

Q: Are there penalties for Bed & Breakfast homes that are not in compliance? I live in an area that has a lot of B&Bs, and I know for certain not all of them are legal.

A: Yes; if a B&B is operating without a permit, or if a B&B has a permit and is not operating in compliance with its conditions, then it would be considered a zoning violation.

Zoning violations can result in a maximum $1,000 initial fine, plus a maximum of $1,000 per day for every day that the violation continues.

The enforcement of B&Bs, short-term rental homes and any other zoning violation is handled by the Planning Department’s Zoning Administration and Enforcement Division.

This Division responds to complaints filed by the public through the Request for Service system. To file a complaint about a specific property, visit www.mauicounty.gov/RFS; your name and contact information will be requested for the complaint to be reviewed by County staff.

The law allows advertising to be proof of operation, and since photos don’t necessarily prove evidence of short-term rental use, the best way to document a suspect property is to provide links to websites or other ads.

To view more information about permitted Bed & Breakfast properties, including the B&B ordinance, an online application and FAQs, visit www.mauicounty.gov/bedandbreakfast.

Want to Ask the Mayor?

Submit your questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa via email: AskTheMayor@mauicounty.gov, phone: 270-7855 or mail: 200 S. High Street, 9th Floor, Wailuku, Hawaii 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the Ask the Mayor column.