Ask the Mayor: Is It Legal to Set Up Construction Storage on Vacant Property?

Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the questions submitted to his staff. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the “Ask the Mayor” column. Submit your own questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa at (808) 270-7855,  AskTheMayor@mauicounty.gov  or mail them to 200 S. High St., 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793.

Aloha Mayor,

Q: Somebody has set up a construction equipment and storage yard on vacant land between South Kīhei Road and Wela Street, almost across from Ahekolo Street.

There are shipping containers, forklifts, backhoes and construction material. It’s an eyesore.

Is this legal?

A: The property you mention is zoned “Open Zone,” which is very restrictive and any significant new use or change in use would require SMA review.

However, in other areas, the Maui County Code allows construction equipment used for work authorized by a valid permit or for work exempted from permit requirements.

As long as the work is being done somewhere nearby it can stay, such as if the construction were occurring on this site, but not for construction elsewhere unless the zoning allows it.

To submit a Request for Service (RFS) inquiry, visit www.mauicounty.gov/RFS and a County staff member will follow up on your complaint.