Honolulu Sign Permit: 1.5 sq ft per Foot & 250 sq ft Cap

Honolulu sign permit at a glance

Question	Short answer
Do I need a permit?	Yes. No one may install, construct, erect, alter, relocate or reconstruct a sign without a written permit from the director and payment of the fees. The exceptions are subdivision construction signs, small pump island and gas pump price signs, temporary signs, public signs, flags, plaques, small and address signs, directional signs and political campaign signs (ROH §21-7.60(a), (b)). Other cities compared.
How big can my wall sign be?	It depends on the district. B-1 neighborhood business: up to 1 sq ft per lineal foot of frontage, up to 100 sq ft. B-2 community business: up to 1.5 sq ft per foot, up to 250 sq ft and up to 15% of the wall. Industrial: up to 2 sq ft per foot, with the same 250 sq ft and 15% limits (§21-7.40(f), (g), (i)) (limits by district). Other cities compared.
What does it cost?	We could not confirm the permit fee. The ordinance says the fee is set in ROH Chapter 6, Article 41 (§21-7.60(d)), which we did not read. Work begun without a permit adds $100 to the fee the director specifies (§21-7.60(e)) (fees). Other cities compared.
How long does it take?	We found no review time for a sign permit. The DPP page lists the steps but no days (timing). Other cities compared.
How long is the permit good for?	If the work is not finished within six months of the date of issue, the permit is void and any sign put up after that violates the chapter (§21-7.60(g)).
Sidewalk A-frame sign?	Probably not. A-frames are portable signs, which are prohibited unless the chapter permits them; it permits them only in a special event display, for up to seven consecutive days (§21-7.20, §21-7.30(c)) (sidewalk rules). Other cities compared.
Blade or projecting sign?	A projecting sign extends more than 15 inches and up to 5 ft from the wall. B-2 and industrial districts list it as a business sign type; BMX-4 allows none. Over the public right-of-way it needs at least 2 ft of horizontal clearance from the street line and 8 ft of clearance below (§21-7.20, §21-7.40(g), (h)). Other cities compared.
Grand opening banner?	Banners are wind signs, prohibited except where permitted. A special event display on the premises may include banners, portable signs and wind signs, one event per six-month period and no more than seven consecutive days (§21-7.20, §21-7.30(c)) (banners). Other cities compared.
Digital or LED sign?	Prohibited. A flashing sign includes any sign with electronically generated or controlled images, such as an electronic programmable message sign, digital sign, or plasma or LED sign (§21-7.20, §21-7.30(e)). Other cities compared.
Already installed without a permit?	The permit fee for work begun without a permit is $100 plus the fee the director specifies (§21-7.60(e)). The director can also give written notice of up to 30 days to fix a violation, then remove the sign and charge the owner (§21-7.70). Other cities compared.

Size limits Checker Fees How to apply Timing No permit Sidewalk signs Banners and other types What we could not confirm FAQ

Your size cap comes from your zoning district and how much frontage you have.

Article 7 lists the signs allowed in each district, from Preservation and Agriculture up to Industrial, with separate rules for Waikiki (§21-7.40). In the business districts the cap grows with the lineal feet of building frontage, up to a fixed maximum. Find your district, then your frontage, then check the lighting and height rules.

Honolulu sign limits by district (ROH §21-7.40)

These are the standards for the districts most storefronts sit in, plus the others in short form. Other districts and the Chinatown special district are not covered here.

District	What is allowed	Section
P-2 Preservation and agricultural districts	One sign per zoning lot, up to 12 sq ft, indirectly lit or unlit, at least 10 ft from the street property line and no higher than 8 ft	§21-7.40(a), (b)
Country and residential districts	One sign or bulletin board per street front for a permitted nondwelling use, up to 24 sq ft, not directly lit, not in a required yard, no higher than 8 ft	§21-7.40(c)
Apartment and apartment mixed use	One wall or marquee fascia identification or directory sign per ground floor establishment, up to 9 sq ft, not directly lit	§21-7.40(d)
Resort	One wall or marquee fascia sign per ground floor establishment, up to 12 sq ft, not directly lit	§21-7.40(e)
B-1 neighborhood business	One wall sign per ground floor establishment, not directly lit: up to 1 sq ft per lineal foot of frontage and up to 100 sq ft. A 12 sq ft identification sign and, for a second floor establishment, one 6 sq ft unlit wall sign are also allowed	§21-7.40(f)
B-2 community business and BMX-3	Two business signs per ground floor establishment (hanging, marquee fascia, projecting or wall), which may be lit: up to 1.5 sq ft per lineal foot of frontage, up to 250 sq ft, and up to 15% of the wall they are on. One unlit ground sign per lot, up to 24 sq ft where buildings sit more than 50 ft back	§21-7.40(g)
BMX-4 central business mixed use	The B-2 standards, except up to 2 sq ft per lineal foot of frontage, and no projecting signs	§21-7.40(h)
Industrial and industrial-commercial mixed use	Two business signs per ground floor establishment (hanging, marquee fascia, projecting, roof or wall), which may be lit or moving: up to 2 sq ft per lineal foot of frontage, up to 250 sq ft, and up to 15% of the wall. One unlit ground sign per lot, up to 32 sq ft where buildings sit more than 50 ft back	§21-7.40(i)
Waikiki resort mixed use precinct	One business sign per building frontage, not directly lit, up to 1 sq ft per linear foot of frontage or 36 sq ft, whichever is less; English or Hawaiian must be the dominant language on every sign	§21-7.40(l)(2), (l)(5)
Planned development-housing	One sign per principal entrance, up to 24 sq ft	§21-7.40(j)

Source: ROH Chapter 21 (Land Use Ordinance) as published by the DPP in its May 2026 version of the Land Use Ordinance, Article 7, Sec. 21-7.40, page marked Revised April, 2026; downloaded and read 25 October 2026. The City's official code page is Revised Ordinances of Honolulu.

All wall signs, wherever they are, must not project more than 15 inches from the wall, must not extend above the exterior wall, and must not exceed 20 ft in height or the third floor level on buildings over two stories, whichever is higher (§21-7.20, "Wall signs"). Sign area is the whole area inside one continuous perimeter around the writing, emblem and any frame or background that is part of the display, leaving out poles and supports; on a sign with two or more faces it is the largest area projected on the vertical plane (§21-7.20, "Sign area").

Check your sign against the limit

This applies the business-district wall sign limits in §21-7.40(f), (g), (h), (i) and (l)(2) and the wall sign height rule in §21-7.20. It does not see special districts, sign master plans, other signs on the lot, or the Chinatown special district.

Zoning district

Length of your building frontage on that side (ft)

Proposed sign area (sq ft)

Other business signs already on that side (sq ft in total)

Area of the wall the sign goes on (sq ft, optional)

Top of the sign above the ground (ft)

The sign is directly lit (lit from inside or behind)

The work has already started without a permit

Calculated from ROH Chapter 21, Sec. 21-7.20, 21-7.40 and 21-7.60, read 25 October 2026. The permit fee is not calculated because we could not confirm it.

How much does a Honolulu sign permit cost?

We could not confirm the fee for a sign permit. Here is what the City's own documents say.

Fee	Amount	Section
Sign permit, per sign	Set in ROH Chapter 6, Article 41; we did not read it and cannot give the amount	ROH §21-7.60(d)
Work begun without a permit	$100 plus the fee the director specifies	ROH §21-7.60(e)
Sign master plan, initial review	$800, not refundable	DPP Sign Master Plan instructions, II.B
Sign master plan, processing	$400, due if the application moves to review	DPP Sign Master Plan instructions, II.B
Credit card payment	2.35% surcharge, per the sign master plan instructions	DPP Sign Master Plan instructions, II.B

The $100 is added to a fee we could not read. §21-7.60(e) says the fee for a permit for work commenced without a permit is $100 plus the fee specified by the director. It does not apply when the sign work may be commenced without a permit.
Sign master plans are a separate, optional route for developments with three or more principal uses on a lot. A plan can raise sign size, area or number by up to 20% each; the $800 and $400 are the plan application fees, not the sign permit fee. If the applicant was cited for acting without approvals, the instructions double those fees.
Building permit fees follow project value. The DPP's fee calculator for building permits cites ROH §18-6.1 and §18-6.2 and prices work by valuation. The DPP's sign permit page does not say whether a sign permit is priced that way, so we give no figure from it.

Sources: ROH Chapter 21 Sec. 21-7.60, read 25 October 2026; DPP Sign Master Plan instructions (Initial review fee $800, Processing fee $400), read 25 October 2026; DPP Building Permit Fee Calculator, read 25 October 2026.

How to apply for a Honolulu sign permit — 5 steps

1. Confirm the use of the space

If the use is the same as the existing or previous use, you can apply for a sign permit. If the use is not permitted, a building permit is required first (DPP sign permit page).

2. Apply and upload plans

The DPP page sends applicants to its online system, HNL Build. Plans must follow the 2025 SIGN Permit Plan Format Checklist; a plan that misses a checklist item is rejected and must be resubmitted. The ordinance asks for the owner's or agent's signature, the location, type and character of each sign, and a plan showing weight, dimensions, lighting, materials, attachment and position against the building, property lines and street lines (§21-7.60(c)).

3. Prescreen and plan review

The DPP prescreens the plans against the checklist, then routes them to the agencies that check code compliance.

4. Pay and get the permit

Once all agencies approve, you submit the documents and payment for permit issuance. We could not confirm the amount (see the fee section).

5. Build, get inspected, close the permit

Finish the work within six months of issuance or the permit is void (§21-7.60(g)). Call for the required inspections, and ask the inspector to close the permit when the work is done. The director can revoke a permit if the holder breaks the chapter or another rule (§21-7.60(h)).

Steps from the DPP's Sign Permits page and ROH Chapter 21 Sec. 21-7.60, read 25 October 2026.

How long it takes

We found no review time for a sign permit. The DPP's sign permit page lists the steps with no days attached, and Article 7 gives none. Ask the DPP for its current turnaround before you book an installer.

Sign master plans

A sign master plan, which is a different application, is checked for completeness within 10 business days, and the DPP must decide within 45 calendar days of accepting the completed application; if it does not, the permit is deemed approved (DPP Sign Master Plan instructions, I.C). This is not the timing for an ordinary sign permit.

Sources: DPP Sign Permits page; DPP Sign Master Plan instructions, I.C; read 25 October 2026.

Signs that need no permit — 5 items

Types listed as exempt: subdivision construction signs; temporary signs; public signs; flags; plaques; small signs and address signs; directional signs; and political campaign signs. District sign regulations do not apply to them either (§21-7.60(b)).
Small signs: up to 1 sq ft each, with copy no taller than 2 inches, and no more than 2 sq ft in total for one establishment (§21-7.20).
Address signs: up to 1 sq ft (§21-7.20). Directional signs: one per entrance or exit, and any name or address on them no more than 1 sq ft (§21-7.20).
Flags: up to 50 sq ft each and five per street frontage per zoning lot (§21-7.20).
Temporary signs: a real estate sign is limited to 4 sq ft in residential districts or 8 sq ft elsewhere, one per street frontage; an announcing sign on a building under construction to 16 sq ft in residential districts or 32 sq ft elsewhere (§21-7.20).

Source: ROH Chapter 21 Sec. 21-7.20 and 21-7.60(b), read 25 October 2026.

Sidewalk signs and projecting signs

Article 7 names A-frame signs as an example of a portable sign, and it is strict about them.

Portable signs: signs with no permanent attachment to a building or the ground, including A-frame signs, pole attachments, searchlights, stands and business signs not related to window displays. The standard is up to 16 sq ft and up to 16 ft high (§21-7.20). Portable signs are unlawful except as otherwise permitted in the chapter (§21-7.30(c)).
Where the chapter permits them: in a special event display on the premises of an establishment holding a grand opening or special event. We found no other place in Article 7 that permits a portable business sign (§21-7.20, "Special event displays").
Projecting signs: signs that extend more than 15 inches and up to 5 ft from the wall. Over the public right-of-way they need at least 2 ft of horizontal clearance from the street line and at least 8 ft of vertical clearance (§21-7.20). They are listed as a business sign type in B-2 and industrial districts and are not allowed in BMX-4 (§21-7.40(g), (h), (i)).
Hanging signs over a walkway need at least 7.5 ft of clearance between the lower edge of the sign and the ground (§21-7.20).
Garden signs and ground signs may not project into the public right-of-way (§21-7.20).

Using the public sidewalk is also governed outside Article 7, and we did not read those rules. Ask the DPP and the City's street use office before you put anything on a sidewalk.

Source: ROH Chapter 21 Sec. 21-7.20 and 21-7.30, read 25 October 2026.

Banners, electronic signs and other types — 4 items

Banners and wind signs: a wind sign is any moving sign or display fastened to move in the wind, including flags, banners, balloons, streamers and rotating devices. Up to 16 sq ft or 16 ft high (§21-7.20). Wind signs are prohibited unless the chapter permits them (§21-7.30(c)).
Special event displays: signs for a grand opening or special event on the premises may include portable signs, banners and wind signs. One event per six-month period, and no more than seven consecutive days. They advertise the event, not an establishment, service, price, product or commodity (§21-7.20).
Flashing, digital and LED signs: unlawful. The definition of a flashing sign covers a changing, revolving or flickering light source and any sign with electronically generated or controlled images, such as an electronic programmable message sign, digital sign, or plasma or LED sign (§21-7.20, §21-7.30(e)).
Roof signs: up to 3 ft above the roof level in business districts and 5 ft in industrial districts, on a one-story building only. Not permitted on buildings over one story or over 16 ft above ground level (§21-7.20). Roof signs are a listed business sign type only in industrial districts (§21-7.40(i)).

Source: ROH Chapter 21 Sec. 21-7.20 and 21-7.30, read 25 October 2026.

What we could not confirm

The permit fee. §21-7.60(d) says the fee is as specified in Chapter 6, Article 41 of the Revised Ordinances. We did not read that article. The DPP's sign permit page gives no amount.
Review time. We found no published review time for a sign permit.
Penalty beyond the $100. §21-7.70 gives a notice period of up to 30 days and lets the director remove the sign at the owner's cost. We did not look for fines in other chapters.
Special districts. §21-7.40 sets the Chinatown special district apart, and other special districts, historic districts and the Waikiki rules outside §21-7.40(l) may add limits. We did not read those.
Which district you are in. The limits depend on your zoning district. Look yours up with the DPP before you design a sign.
Current text. The Land Use Ordinance PDF we read is the DPP's version, marked Revised April, 2026. The City's official code is the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu; later amendments may not appear in the DPP copy.

Checked against ROH Chapter 21 Article 7 and the DPP's Sign Permits page on 25 October 2026.

Honolulu sign permit questions

Do I need a permit for a new storefront sign?

Yes. It is unlawful to install, alter, relocate or rebuild a sign without a written permit from the director. No permit is needed for temporary signs, public signs, flags, plaques, small and address signs, directional signs and political campaign signs, among a few others (ROH §21-7.60(a), (b)).

How big can my wall sign be?

In a B-2 community business district, up to 1.5 sq ft for each lineal foot of building frontage, up to 250 sq ft and up to 15 percent of the wall. B-1 allows up to 1 sq ft per foot and up to 100 sq ft. Industrial districts allow up to 2 sq ft per foot (ROH §21-7.40(f), (g), (i)).

What does a Honolulu sign permit cost?

We could not confirm the fee. ROH §21-7.60(d) sends the fee to Chapter 6, Article 41, which we did not read. Work begun without a permit costs $100 plus the fee the director specifies (§21-7.60(e)).

Can I put an A-frame on the sidewalk?

Probably not. Portable signs, which include A-frame signs, are prohibited except where the chapter permits them, and the chapter permits them only as part of a special event display of up to seven consecutive days (ROH §21-7.20, §21-7.30(c)).

Answers from ROH Chapter 21 Article 7, read 25 October 2026.

Not sure how the code reads for your sign?

Send your dimensions and we will reply with how the Honolulu Land Use Ordinance reads for that sign, at no charge. We are not a sign contractor and do not file permits.

Send your sign details →

This is an informational guide based on the public Revised Ordinances of Honolulu (Chapter 21, Land Use Ordinance, Article 7) and the DPP's published pages, not a permit, legal advice, or a guarantee of compliance. Zoning districts, special districts and historic areas can change what is allowed. Always confirm with the Department of Planning and Permitting before designing, ordering, or installing a sign.

Other US city sign guides

Sources & how this page is maintained

Sources and official references: Land Use Ordinance, ROH Chapter 21 (DPP version, May 2026) · Revised Ordinances of Honolulu (Office of Council Services) · DPP Sign Permits page · DPP Sign Master Plan instructions · DPP Building Permit Fee Calculator

Last inspected against the official code: October 2026 · confirm current rules with the city before you file

Not sure your sign qualifies? Send your dimensions and we will tell you how the Honolulu code reads for it →

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Send your dimensions and we will reply with what the Honolulu Land Use Ordinance allows for that sign. No charge. We are not a sign contractor and not a permit agent.

Honolulu sign permit: $100 added for unpermitted work, and up to 1.5 sq ft per foot of frontage