Revised Ordinances of Honolulu
(Link to original Word Processing Version)
Article 10. Wastewater System Facility Charges
Sections:
14-10.1 Liability for payment of wastewater system facility charges.
14-10.2 Time of payment.
14-10.3 Residential wastewater system facility charges.
14-10.4 Nonresidential wastewater system facility charges.
14-10.5 Mixed residential and nonresidential wastewater system facility charges.
14-10.6 Reduction of wastewater system facility charges for low-income housing projects.
Sec. 14-10.1 Liability for payment of wastewater system facility charges.
(a) New Applicants for Service.
(1) All applicants for structures to be completed after the effective date of this
article shall be liable for the payment of wastewater system facility charges, provided,
they will be served directly or indirectly by the city's wastewater system.
(2) Applicants for structures on any existing vacant, residential zoned property shall be exempt
from paying a system facility charge for connecting one equivalent single-family dwelling unit
to the city's wastewater system. In the event more than one equivalent single-family
dwelling unit is connected to the system, system facility charges shall be assessed
for each additional equivalent single-family dwelling unit connected.
(3) Applicants for structures on any vacant residential zoned property that is created in
accordance with city subdivision rules and regulations after the effective date of this
article shall be assessed system facility charges for each equivalent single-family dwelling unit
connected to the system.
(4) Applicants for structures to be completed after the effective date of this article
which will initially be served by either private individual wastewater disposal systems or
private wastewater treatment plants shall be subject to a deferred wastewater system facility
charge. Payment of the deferred charge shall not be required until such time
as connection is actually made either directly or indirectly to the city's wastewater
system.
(5) All other applicants for structures to be completed after the effective date of
this article which will be served either directly or indirectly by the city's
wastewater system shall be subject to the wastewater system facility charge, including federal,
state, city, charitable, religious or other tax-exempt entities; except that the wastewater system
facility charge shall be reduced for low-income housing projects in accordance with Section
14-10.6.
(b) Existing Structures.
(1) All existing structures as of the effective date of this article which are
currently served either directly or indirectly by the city's wastewater system or by
private individual disposal systems or treatment plants, shall be exempt from the wastewater
system facility charge with respect to their existing wastewater system capacity entitlement. Structures
that are determined to be illegal by the city shall not be entitled
to any wastewater system facility charge exemption.
(2) The existing wastewater system capacity entitlement for residential structures shall be based on
the number and type of existing dwelling units.
(3) The existing wastewater system capacity entitlement for nonresidential structures shall be based on
the size of the existing water meter serving the existing structures as determined
from board of water supply water service records. For those structures served by
a private water well, the water meter size shall be determined from the
state department of land and natural resources records.
(4) The owner of an existing residential or nonresidential structure shall be liable for
the wastewater system facility charge increment associated with any enlargement of the existing
structures or for any increase in the owner's wastewater system capacity entitlement.
(Added by Ord. 90-80; Am. Ord. 04-12)
Sec. 14-10.2 Time of payment.
(a) Residential Service.
(1) New Residential Applicants for Service.
(A) A wastewater system facility charge shall be paid by each new applicant for
service as a precondition to the issuance of a building permit by the
city, where the new applicant is subject to liability under Section 14-10.1(a); provided
that the director may defer payment of the facility charge for low-income housing
projects and city or city-sponsored, or state or state-sponsored housing projects, but in
all instances no connection to the city's sewer system shall be allowed until
the facility charge is paid. The required payment shall be based on the
number and type of dwelling units to be constructed in accordance with Section
14-10.3.
(B) Wastewater system facility charges for subdivision or development projects shall be paid as
a precondition to final subdivision approval by the city. The minimum required payment
shall be based on one equivalent single-family dwelling unit per lot. In the
event more than one equivalent single-family dwelling unit is constructed per lot, wastewater
system facility charges for each additional unit shall be paid as a precondition
to the issuance of a building permit by the city; provided that the
director may defer payment of the facility charge for low-income housing projects and
city or city-sponsored, or state or state-sponsored housing projects, but in all instances
no connection to the city's sewer system shall be allowed until the facility
charge is paid. Subdivision or development projects which have received final subdivision approval
prior to the effective date of this article shall be exempt from paying
the minimum one equivalent single-family dwelling unit charge.
(2) Existing Residential Structures.
(A) An existing residential structure is exempt from liability under Section 14-10.1 for its
existing wastewater system capacity entitlement.
(B) An applicant for a building permit to enlarge an existing residential structure shall
be liable for the wastewater system facility charge increment associated with the enlargement
project, based on the number and type of dwelling units to be constructed
in accordance with Section 14-10.3. Payment of the charge shall be a precondition
to the issuance of a building permit by the city.
For the purposes of this subsection, "city or city-sponsored housing project" shall mean
a housing project that is city-owned, city-funded and/or developed pursuant to HRS Section
46-15 or 46-15.2 and/or under HRS Chapter 201G as applicable to the city
through HRS Section 46-15.1, "state or state-sponsored housing project" shall mean a housing
project that is state-owned, state-funded and/or developed under HRS Chapter 201G, and low-income
housing project means the same as is defined in Section 14-10.6, provided that
a city or city-sponsored housing project and a state or state-sponsored housing project
may also be a low-income housing project for purposes of the reduction of
the wastewater system facility charges pursuant to Section 14-10.6.
(b) Nonresidential Service.
(1) New Nonresidential Applicants for Service. A wastewater system facility charge shall be paid
by each new nonresidential applicant for service as a precondition to the issuance
of a building permit by the city, where the new applicant is subject
to liability under Section 14-10.1(a). The required payment shall be based on the
procedures indicated in Section 14-10.4.
(2) Existing Nonresidential Structures.
(A) An existing nonresidential structure is exempt from liability under Section 14-10.1(b) for its
existing wastewater system capacity entitlement.
(B) An applicant for a building permit to enlarge an existing nonresidential structure shall
be liable for the wastewater system facility charge increment associated with the enlargement
project, based on the procedures set forth in Section 14-10.4. Payment of the
charge shall be a precondition to the issuance of a building permit by
the city.
(C) An applicant wishing to increase its wastewater system capacity entitlement when no increase
in structure size is required, shall be liable for the wastewater system facility
charge increment
associated with the increase, based on the procedures set forth in Section 14-10.4.
Payment of the charge shall be a precondition to the issuance of a
building permit by the city.
(c) Mixed Residential and Nonresidential Service.
(1) New Mixed Applicants for Service. A wastewater system facility charge shall be paid
by each new applicant for service as a precondition to the issuance of
a building permit by the city, where the applicant is subject to liability
under Section 14-10.1(a); provided that the director may defer payment of the facility
charge applicable to the residential portion of a city or city-sponsored or state
or state-sponsored housing project upon consideration of the applicant's financial situation, but in
all instances no connection to the city's sewer system shall be allowed until
the charge is paid. The required payment shall be based on the procedures
set forth in Section 14-10.5.
(2) Existing Mixed Structures.
(A) An existing structure is exempt from liability under Section 14-10.1(b) for its existing
wastewater system capacity entitlement.
(B) An applicant for a building permit to enlarge an existing structure shall be
liable for the wastewater system facility charge increment associated with the enlargement project,
based on the procedures set forth in Section 14-10.5. Payment of that charge
shall be a precondition to the issuance of a building permit by the
city.
(C) An applicant wishing to increase its wastewater system capacity entitlement to accommodate a
change in use of the existing structure shall be liable for the wastewater
system facility charge increment associated with the increase, based on the procedures set
forth in Section 14-10.5. Payment of that charge shall be a precondition to
the issuance of a building permit by the city.
For the purposes of this subsection, "city or city-sponsored housing project" shall mean
a housing project that is city-owned, city-funded and/or developed pursuant to HRS Section
46-15 or 46-15.2 and/or under HRS Chapter 201E as applicable to the city
through HRS Section 46-15.1, and "state or state-sponsored housing project" shall mean a
housing project that is state-owned, state-funded and/or developed under HRS Chapter 201E.
(Added by Ord. 90-80; Am. Ord. 95-11, 04-12)
Sec. 14-10.3 Residential wastewater system facility charges.
(a) Each applicant for a residential building permit for a new structure, or for
an enlargement of an existing structure, shall be required to pay a wastewater
system facility charge based on the total number of equivalent single-family dwelling units
in the project to be constructed, provided that the director shall reduce the
amount of the facility charge upon consideration of the applicant's financial contribution for
backup facilities constructed or to be constructed for the project and dedicated or
to be dedicated to the city.
This requirement is applicable to those new applicants for service and to those
existing structures which are subject to liability under Section 14-10.1.
(b) The following weights shall be assigned to the various categories of residential developments
for wastewater system facility charge purposes:
Description
|
Number of ESDUs Per Unit
|
|
Single-family dwellings, duplexes, triplexes and quadraplexes
|
1.0
|
|
Multiple-family dwellings (five units
or more), condominiums, townhouses, retirement homes, mobile homes and housing projects
|
0.7
|
(c) The applicable wastewater system facility charge per ESDU is set forth in Appendix
14-D of this chapter.
(Added by Ord. 90-80; Am. Ord. 01-52)
Sec. 14-10.4 Nonresidential wastewater system facility charges.
(a) Each applicant for a nonresidential building permit for a new structure, or for
an enlargement of an existing structure, or for an increase in the wastewater
system entitlement shall be required to pay a wastewater system facility charge based
on the imputed number of equivalent single-family dwelling units in the project to
be constructed, provided that the director shall reduce the amount of the facility
charge upon consideration of the applicant's financial contribution for backup facilities constructed or
to be constructed for the project and dedicated or to be dedicated to
the city.
This requirement is applicable to those new applicants for service and to those
existing structures which are subject to liability under Section 14-10.1.
(b) The new applicant for service, or an owner wishing to increase the owner's
wastewater system capacity entitlement, shall be required to obtain from the board of
water supply, or from the state department of land and natural resources in
the case of private water wells, the size of water meter to be
provided for the project to be constructed. The number of ESDUs shall be
determined from the following table based on the water meter size:
Meter Size
(in inches)
|
Number of ESDUs
|
|
5/8
|
1
|
|
¾
|
1
|
|
1
|
2.4
|
|
11/2
|
5.8
|
|
2
|
13
|
|
3
|
33
|
|
4
|
57
|
|
6
|
87
|
(c) The applicable wastewater system facility charge per ESDU for domestic strength wastewater is
set forth in Appendix 14-D of this chapter.
(d) With respect to wastewater strength, a reasonable estimate of the suspended solids loading
shall be consistent with the estimates utilized by the department for strength surcharge
purposes, in accordance with Section 14-6.6.
(e) The applicable wastewater system facility charge for extra-strength wastewater shall be based on
the following formula:
Wastewater System Facility Charge
for extra-strength wastewater = A + ((SSi/200) x B);
where SSi = the imputed suspended solids loading, in mg/L.
The applicable values for terms "A" and "B" in the above formula are
set forth in Appendix 14-D of this chapter.
(f) All nonresidential applicants who are liable for payment under this article may install
a sub-water meter to monitor their sewage discharge.
(Added by Ord. 90-80; Am. Ord. 01-52)
Sec. 14-10.5 Mixed residential and nonresidential wastewater system facility charges.
(a) Each applicant for a building permit for a new structure, or the owner
of an existing structure who wishes to increase the owner's wastewater system capacity
entitlement, shall be required to pay a wastewater system facility charge based on
the number of equivalent single-family dwelling units in the project to be constructed.
This requirement shall be applicable to those new applicants for service and to
those existing structures which are subject to liability under Section 14-10.1.
(b) The new applicant for service, or the owner of an existing structure who
wishes to increase the owner's current wastewater system capacity entitlement, shall be required
to install a sub-water meter to monitor the water flow to the nonresidential
units. The sub-water meter size shall be obtained from the board of water
supply, or from the state department of land and natural resources in the
case of private water wells, for the project to be constructed. The number
of ESDUs shall be determined in accordance with Section 14-10.3 for the residential
units and Section 14-10.4 for the nonresidential units.
(Added by Ord. 90-80)
Sec. 14-10.6 Reduction of wastewater system facility charges for low-income housing projects.
(a) A developer of low-income housing may apply for a reduction of wastewater system
facility charges in accordance with this section.
(b) An applicant for a reduction of wastewater system facility charges shall provide the
city with information, as prescribed by the director, to demonstrate that the applicant
is developing a low-income housing project and otherwise qualifies for a reduction of
the citys wastewater system facility charges.
(c) If the city determines that an applicant qualifies for a reduction of the
wastewater system facility charges, the city shall reduce the charges only for those
housing units in the applicants housing project that are to be sold or
rented to low-income households. The reduced charges shall be as provided in Appendix
14-D(2).
(d) For the purposes of this section:
(1) Low-income means the same as is defined in Section 8-10.20;
(2) Low-income housing project means a housing project in which at least 25 percent
of the units are reserved for rent for low-income housing pursuant to an
agreement with the county, state or federal government, or reserved for sale to
low-income households;
(3) Low-income housing unit means a housing unit in the applicants housing project that
is sold or rented to a
low-income household; and
(4) Director means the director of environmental services.
(e) If a developer to whom a reduction has been granted under this section
sells a low-income housing unit in a low-income housing project to other than
a low-income household, or rents a low-income housing unit in a low-income housing
project to other than a low-income household within any period in which the
sale or rental of the unit is prohibited by any agreement with the
county, state or federal government, the developer shall notify the director of environmental
services within 30 days of such sale or rental and shall, within such
30-day period, pay to the city the difference between the wastewater system facility
charge that would have been applicable under Appendix 14-D(1), and the reduced charge
that was paid under Appendix 14-D(2), plus interest on the difference at eight
percent per annum from the date of payment of the reduced wastewater system
facility charge for the housing unit.
(f) In accordance with HRS Chapter 91, the director may adopt rules having the
force and effect of law for the implementation, administration and enforcement of this
section.
(Added by Ord. 04-12)
(Article 11. Penalty for Sewers. Repealed by Ord. 94-73)
Article 11. Reserved
Article 12. Drainage, Flood and Pollution Control
Sections:
14-12.1 Legislative findings- Intent.
14-12.2 Definitions.
14-12.3 Adequacy of drainage.
14-12.4 Considerations.
14-12.5 Approval of drainage plans.
14-12.6 Exceptions.
14-12.7 Determination of boundary lines.
14-12.8 Buildings adjacent to drainage facilities.
14-12.9 Subdivision drainage facilities.
14-12.10 Open drainways.
14-12.11 Fences along improved channels.
14-12.12 Connection to city-owned separate storm sewer system--Violation.
14-12.13 Allocation of costs.
14-12.14 Improvements under the improvement district assessment ordinance.
14-12.15 Election by property owners to pay additional amounts.
14-12.16 Land requirements and maintenance of drainage facilities.
14-12.17 Exception.
14-12.18 Inequities.
14-12.19 Provisions subject to state statutes.
14-12.20 Federal aid projects.
14-12.21 Approval denied.
14-12.22 Discharge of effluent other than storm water runoff--Violation.
14-12.23 Environmental quality control- Violation.
14-12.24 Administrative enforcement.
14-12.25 Judicial enforcement of order.
14-12.26 Enforcement.
14-12.27 Appeals.
14-12.28 Violation provisions.
14-12.29 Injunctive relief.
14-12.30 Nonliability of department personnel.
14-12.31 Rule-making powers.
14-12.32 Decisions of the chief engineer.
Sec. 14-12.1 Legislative findings- Intent.
(a) The council of the City and County of Honolulu finds that:
(1) (A) Heavy rain storms have periodically created destructive floods in certain areas of the
city threatening the lives of its inhabitants and causing heavy damage to property;
(B) The continued development of these areas without providing adequate drainage and appropriate flood
control measures would only aggravate the conditions conducive to flooding; and
(C) Every effort should be made to minimize flood damage potential and to protect
the lives and property of the inhabitants of the City and County of
Honolulu.
(2) There is a growing need to protect our city's natural watercourses and other
vital water resources from contamination and pollution.
(3) Natural methods of drainage and soil infiltration, which absorb and slowly release runoff,
are preferred methods of storm water management.
(b) Therefore, the council deems it necessary to enact the ordinance codified in
this article for the sound, economic development of the City and County of
Honolulu and in the interests of the health, safety and general welfare of
the inhabitants of the City and County of Honolulu.
(Sec. 16-6.1, R.O. 1978 (1987 Supp. to 1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 96-34)
Sec. 14-12.2 Definitions.
As used in this article, the following definitions shall apply unless the context
indicates otherwise:
"Best management practices" or "BMPs" means pollution control measures, applied to nonpoint sources,
on-site or off-site, to control erosion and the transport of sediments and other
pollutants which have an adverse impact on waters of the state. BMPs may
include a schedule of activities, the prohibition of practices, maintenance procedures, treatment requirements,
operating procedures, and practices to control site runoff, spillage or leaks, or drainage
from raw material storage.
"Chief engineer" means the director and chief engineer of the department of public
works, or the director and chief engineer's authorized representative.
"City" means the City and County of Honolulu.
"City standards" means the storm drainage standards approved by the chief engineer, a
copy of which shall be on file in the division of engineering, department
of public works. These standards are intended to be minimum standards only and
are not to be construed as a guarantee to property owners adjacent to
a drainage facility against flood or drainage damage.
"Department" means the department of public works, City and County of Honolulu.
"Developer" means one who causes land to be developed.
"Development" means land which is being developed or developed lands.
"Discharge" means the deposit, disposal, injection, dumping, spilling, leaking or placing of any
substance into a drainage facility or natural watercourse.
"Domestic wastewater" means the water-carried wastes produced from noncommercial or nonindustrial activities and
which result from normal human living processes.
"Drainage facility" means any city drainage structure or separate storm sewer system, including
stream structures, constructed principally for the conveyance of storm and surface waters, street
wash, or drainage.
"Drainage problem" means the discharge of effluent or a pollutant onto a public
right-of-way and/or into a drainage facility which causes the hydraulic capacity of that
drainage facility to be exceeded and results in flooding. This definition includes the
discharge of a pollutant which reduces the hydraulic capacity of a drainage facility
by the deposit of solids therein.
"Effluent" means any substance other than storm water runoff that is discharged onto
a public right-of-way and/or into a drainage facility including nonstorm water discharges which
are not sources of pollutants, and any NPDES-permitted discharges.
"Engineering control facility" means any drainage device such as a basin, well, pond,
ditch, dam, or excavation used for the temporary or permanent storage of storm
water by means of detention, retention, divergence, or infiltration for the purpose of
reducing storm water volume and/or peak storm discharge flows, and which may provide
gravity settling of particulate pollutants. It includes but is not limited to detention
ponds, retention ponds, infiltration wells or ditches, holding tanks, diversion ditches or swales,
drainpipes, check dams, and debris basins.
"Flood" or "flooding" means the inundation to a depth of three inches or
more of any property not ordinarily covered by water. The terms shall not
apply to inundation caused by tsunami wave action.
"Hazardous substance" means the same as that term is defined in HRS Section
342D-38.
"Industrial wastewater" means all water-carried wastes and wastewater, excluding domestic wastewater.
"Maximum extent practicable" or "MEP" means economically achievable measures for the control of
the addition of pollutants from existing and new categories and classes of nonpoint
sources of pollution, which reflect the greatest degree of pollutant reduction achievable through
the application of the best available nonpoint source pollution control practices, technologies, processes,
siting criteria, operating methods or other alternatives.
"National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit" or "NPDES permit" means the permit issued
to the city pursuant to Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 122,
Subpart B, Section 122.26(a)(1)(iii), for storm water discharge from the citys separate storm
sewer systems; or the permit issued to a person or property owner for
a storm water discharge associated with industrial activity pursuant to Title 40, Code
of Federal Regulations, Part 122, Subpart B, Section 122.26(a)(1)(ii), or other applicable sections
of Part 122; or the permit issued to a person or property owner
for the discharge of any pollutant from a point source into state waters
through the city's separate storm sewer system pursuant to Hawaii Administrative Rules, Chapter
11-55, "Water Pollution Control."
"Person" means and includes corporations, estates, associations, partnerships and trusts, as well as
one or more individuals.
"Pollutant" means any waste, cooking or fuel oil, waste milk, waste juice, pesticide,
paint, solvent, radioactive waste, hazardous substance, sewage, dredged spoils, chemical waste, rock, sand,
biocide, toxic substance, construction waste and material, and soil sediment. The term also
includes commercial FOG waste as defined under Section 14-5A.1.
"Pollution problem" means the discharge of any pollutant into state waters directly or
by conveyance through a drainage facility which creates a nuisance or adversely affects
the public health, safety or welfare, or causes a drainage facility to violate
any provisions of the city National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit or violates
any water quality standards of the State of Hawaii.
"Private storm drain connection" means any conveyance of storm water, including but not
limited to any drainage pipe, ditch, or swale connected to any drainage facility
or separate storm sewer system, including any curb or gutter.
"Property owner" means the fee simple owner of record, lessee of record, administrator,
administratrix, executor, executrix, personal representative, receiver, trustee, property management agent, or any other
individual, corporation, or unincorporated association who has the use, control or occupation of
land with claim of ownership, whether the owner's interest be in absolute fee
or a lesser estate.
"Redevelopment" means developed land, which is subsequently subdivided or redeveloped or renovated.
"Relief drain" means an additional drainage facility or an enlarged facility constructed in
place of any existing drainage system.
"Remedial work" means the construction or installation of catch basins or other devices
to resolve localized drainage problems.
"Separate storm sewer" means a conveyance or system of conveyance including city roads
and streets with drainage systems, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels, or
storm drains owned by the city, and designated or used for collecting or
conveying storm water.
"State waters" means the same as that term is defined in HRS Section
342D-1.
"Storm water" means storm water runoff, surface runoff, street wash, or drainage and
may include discharges from fire fighting activities.
"Storm water runoff associated with industrial activity" means storm water discharge associated with
industrial activity as defined in Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 122,
Subpart B, Section 122.26(b)(14).
"Water quality standards" means the water quality standards adopted by the State of
Hawaii pursuant to HRS Section 342D-5.
(Sec. 16-6.2, R.O. 1978 (1987 Supp. to 1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 92-122, 96-34,
02-14)
Sec. 14-12.3 Adequacy of drainage.
No building permit shall be issued without the prior written approval of the
chief engineer as to the adequacy of drainage within the areas designated by
the shaded portions on the maps attached to the adopting ordinance and incorporated
by reference as: Exhibit A - Waimanalo; Exhibit B-1 - Kailua-Kaneohe; Exhibit C - Kaneohe-Heeia; Exhibit
D-1 - Heeia-Kahaluu; Exhibit E-1 - Kaalaea-Kahaluu; Exhibit F - Waiahole-Kualoa; Exhibit G - Kaaawa-Kahana; Exhibit I
- Pupukea-Paumalu; Exhibit J - Waianae Kai-Makaha; Exhibit K - Lualualei-Nanakuli; Exhibit L - Pearl City-Waimalu; and
Exhibit M - Niu Valley. (Sec. 16-6.3, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-12.4 Considerations.
In making a determination as to the adequacy of drainage the chief engineer
shall consider topographic conditions, rainfall, runoff, land use, depth and width of drainage
channels, size of other drainage facilities, and past history of flooding, including the
extent of flooding. (Sec. 16-6.4, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-12.5 Approval of drainage plans.
Any applicant for a building permit for the construction of a structure within
the areas indicated in Exhibits A through M, mentioned in Section 14-12.3, shall
submit plans for the improvement or construction of drainage facilities to the chief
engineer for approval. Upon approval of such plans the applicant shall be entitled
to the issuance of the building permit, if all other requirements of law
have been complied with. (Sec. 16-6.5, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-12.6 Exceptions.
If the application for a building permit otherwise qualifies under Chapter 16 and
under all other applicable laws, rules and regulations, the provisions of Section 14-12.3
shall not apply to the issuance of a building permit for the following
work:
(a) To perform work permitted under Section 301 of the Uniform Building Code
on a building or structure dislocated or damaged by floods or rains. This
exception shall not extend to the moving or relocation of a building or
structure into another area within which the issuance of building permits is prohibited,
as designated in Section 14-12.3.
(b) To perform work permitted under Section 301 of the Uniform Building Code
necessary or required to make an existing building or structure comply with applicable
laws, rules and regulations.
(c) To perform alterations or repairs to an existing structure or building which
will not increase the number of inhabitants in said structure or building.
(d) To erect temporary structures, not for residential purposes, as permitted by Chapter
16.
The "Uniform Building Code" means the Building Code, as amended and adopted under
Chapter 16, Article 1. (Sec. 16-6.6, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 96-58)
Sec. 14-12.7 Determination of boundary lines.
In the event of a dispute as to whether the property or proposed
work of an applicant for a building permit falls within any area indicated
by Exhibits A through M mentioned in Section 14-12.3, the chief engineer shall
determine from the plot plan submitted by the applicant the location of the
property and the proposed work in relation to the reference points on the
applicable exhibit. The decision of the chief engineer shall be final. (Sec. 16-6.7,
R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-12.8 Buildings adjacent to drainage facilities.
All applications for a building permit for buildings or structures which will be
located on property adjacent to any drainage facility shall be submitted to the
chief engineer for review. (Sec. 16-6.8, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-12.9 Subdivision drainage facilities.
(a) In the case of subdivisions, the owner shall dedicate and the city accept
the land or any interest in land necessary for the drainage facilities which
are constructed to city standards and which are to be maintained and repaired
(and operated as the case may be) by the city pursuant to HRS
Section 265A-1, by way of easements or in fee simple as determined by
the chief engineer. The land document for stream improvements shall include the following
covenant:
That the grantor shall include in all conveyances of its land in the
vicinity of the stream improvement area a statement that the drainage structure was
designed and constructed by the grantor or the grantor's authorized agent or developer
to at least meet the minimum criteria set forth in the storm drainage
standards of the city, dated , but that the city does not guarantee
that the drainage structure is adequate to confine all flood waters to the
stream improvement area.
(b) In the case of subdivisions, drainage facilities which only serve private properties shall
have easements in favor of the affected property owners. This includes interceptor ditches.
(c) Before the subdivision of any land is approved by the chief engineer, the
chief engineer shall check the subdivision plans against the areas of possible inundation
in the watershed area as shown shaded on the maps incorporated by reference
in Section 14-12.3. Such possible inundated areas are to be designated "possible flood
areas." No subdivision shall be approved by the chief engineer unless all lots
in a subdivision which are wholly or partially within the "possible flood area"
designation have been subjected to the following encumbrance and noted as a legend
on the subdivision map to the effect that:
This lot (Lots ) is(are) in a "possible flood area." All existing drainage
structures have been designed and have been or are being constructed to at
least meet the minimum criteria set forth in the storm drainage standards of
the city; however, the city does not guarantee that the drainage structures will
confine all flood waters to the drainage facilities at all times.
(d) The developer shall pay the entire cost of the drainage facilities to satisfy
the anticipated drainage requirements of all surface water which may flow through or
over the proposed subdivision.
(e) Where city standards require drainage facilities of greater capacity than necessary to serve
the land being subdivided or developed, in order to dispose of water diverted
or concentrated by the city into such drainage system, the city may pay
the difference in costs of materials and excavation, if any. The cost of
materials to the city shall be based on the costs of the materials
delivered at the site. Upon a determination by the chief engineer that such
larger facilities are required, and if the provisions of HRS Chapter 103, or
any amendatory act thereto, are applicable, the property owner shall deposit with the
city an amount equal to the cost of construction of the drainage facilities
allocable to the property owner's land, based upon current city cost data for
comparable installations, but the amount paid by the property owner shall be adjusted,
if necessary, on the basis of final costs.
(f) The chief engineer may require the construction of permanent detention or retention drainage
structures or other engineering control facilities to contain or divert storm water runoff
to satisfy the anticipated drainage requirement of all surface waters which may flow
through or over the proposed subdivision, or to meet any conditions of the
city's NPDES permit. When required, such facilities will be constructed to provide gravity
settling of sediments, suspended solids, and other particulate pollutants.
(g) The chief engineer shall, pursuant to federal requirements, establish controls on the timing
and rate of discharge of storm water runoff from any new development or
redevelopment as may be appropriate to reduce storm water runoff pollution to the
maximum extent practicable through the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) and engineering
control facilities, designed to reduce the generation of pollutants. This may, where feasible
and pursuant to city standards, include limiting peak storm water runoff rates for
storms of higher frequencies to predevelopment levels.
(Sec. 16-6.9, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 92-122, 96-34)
Sec. 14-12.10 Open drainways.
(a) Open drainways, such as streams, ravines, channels and ditches, shall not be
covered or modified except when the chief engineer determines that such covering or
modification of the open drainways will not be dangerous to the public health,
safety and welfare.
(b) If a property owner desires, at the property owner's own cost, that
an open drainway be covered or modified, the property owner shall submit all
the pertinent data to substantiate the desirability of covering or modifying such a
facility, including data showing that the function of the facility will not be
hampered. The construction plans for such covering or modification shall be approved by
the chief engineer.
(Sec. 16-6.10, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-12.11 Fences along improved channels.
(a) The chief engineer may require that fences be constructed as part of
any channel improvement based upon a consideration of the height of the wall
or bank, or shape of the channel, or the land use of the
adjoining properties, or the depth of normal flow in the channel, or the
location of the channel improvement and/or the possibility of people injuring themselves because
of the channel improvement.
(b) Fences when required shall generally be erected on or immediately adjacent to
the channel walls and they shall be maintained and repaired by the city.
(c) The minimum height of such fences shall be 42 inches.
(Sec. 16-6.11, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-12.12 Connection to city-owned separate storm sewer system--Violation.
(a) Private Storm Drain Connection Licenses.
(1) All connections from nonmunicipal and private drainage systems to the city-owned separate storm
sewer system shall require a storm drain connection license issued by the chief
engineer.
(2) The license may require if applicable a description of the property owner activity
and/or standard industrial classification code which best reflects the principal products or services,
and a description and/or analysis of the effluent to be discharged from the
private drainage system into the city-owned system. No license is transferrable without the
prior written consent of the chief engineer.
(3) Nonstorm water discharge into the city-owned separate storm sewer system may be allowed
if the discharge has been issued an NPDES permit from the department of
health, State of Hawaii, or the United States Environmental Protection Agency, subject to
requirements herein.
(4) The chief engineer, or the chief engineer's authorized representative, shall be authorized to
enter any property, building or premises in the discharge of the chief engineer's
official duties to inspect or investigate, measure or test any effluent that is
discharged in a private drainage system connected, directly or indirectly, to the city-owned
system.
(5) Effluent, including NPDES-permitted discharges and nonstorm water discharges, which are not sources of
pollutants, may be allowed into a private drainage system, connected directly or indirectly
to the city-owned system.
(6) All required analysis submitted by property owners on the characteristics of the constituents
in the discharge shall be performed by qualified personnel in a laboratory acceptable
to the chief engineer.
(7) The chief engineer may condition the granting of the license with requirements to
prevent drainage and/or pollution problems or mitigative measures which will meet any conditions
of the city NPDES permit.
(8) Where a private drainage system is common to one or more parcels and
is owned by more than one property owner, each property owner is required
to have a private drain connection license and be responsible for the maintenance
of the common private drainage system.
(9) Failure of the property owner(s) to obtain a license shall be a violation
of the provisions of Article 12.
(b) Private Storm Drain Connection License Agreement. A property owner may be allowed to
connect the property owner's private drainage system to the city-owned separate storm sewer
system if the chief engineer determines that the existing system is adequate to
accommodate the potential peak-designed flows of both systems, and if the property owner
agrees to the following conditions:
(1) That the property owner shall bear the entire cost of engineering, construction and
maintenance of the private drainage system.
(2) That the property owner shall indemnify and hold the city free and harmless
from all suits and actions caused by the property owner's acts or failure
to act in connection to the city-owned system.
(3) That the construction of the drain connection shall be made in accordance with
plans and specifications approved by the chief engineer, and subject to compliance by
the property owner with applicable provisions of this section including conditions if any
and all applicable statutes, ordinances, and rules and regulations of federal, state or
city agencies having the effect of law.
(4) That no additions or alterations to the private drainage system will be made
without the prior written consent of the city.
(5) That the private drainage system shall remain the property owner's property.
(6) That in the event the private drainage system within the public right-of-way shall
at any time interfere with any public use, the property owner shall relocate
the private drainage system at the property owner's expense.
(7) That in the event any portion of the city-owned separate storm sewer system
is damaged or destroyed during the construction of the private storm drain connection,
the property owner shall bear the entire cost of engineering and construction, or
replacement of the damaged facility.
(8) That in the event the discharge into the city-owned system includes storm water
discharge associated with industrial activity, the property owner shall have an NPDES permit
and provide data on the characteristics of the constituents, quantity of the effluent
and discharge at the property owner's expense within one year after the date
of connection, and annually thereafter or as the need may arise as determined
by the chief engineer.
(9) That any time the property owner or anyone using the property owner's property,
discharges pollutants or other objectionable material which exceeds applicable water quality standards into
the city-owned system or otherwise misuses the system, or causes a violation of
any provisions of the city NPDES permit, the discharge shall be deemed a
violation of this section and the city by written notice may terminate this
license.
(c) Termination of License Agreement.
(1) The chief engineer may order a license to be terminated upon finding that
the property owner has violated a provision of the agreement or any provisions
of this section.
(2) A property owner whose license has been terminated shall immediately stop the discharge
of any pollutant if applicable covered by the license into the city-owned separate
storm sewer system. The chief engineer may disconnect or permanently block from the
city-owned separate storm sewer system, the private storm drain connection from any property
owner whose license has been terminated if such action is necessary to insure
compliance with the order of termination.
(3) A property owner whose license has been terminated may apply for a new
license and pay all delinquent charges, penalties, and such other sums as may
be due to the city. Any cost that might be incurred by the
city in terminating the prior license and disconnecting the private storm drain connection
shall be paid by the property owner before issuance of a new license.
(d) Private Storm Drain Connections.
(1) All licenses for private storm drain connections to the city-owned separate storm sewer
system issued to the property owner of record shall remain in force. The
city may reissue new license agreements for those connections which are discharging nonstorm
waters or any effluent which requires an NPDES permit into the city-owned separate
storm sewer system.
(2) Any private storm drain system that is connected to the city-owned separate storm
sewer system without a license issued to the property owner of record shall
be considered an illegal storm drain connection.
(3) Whenever a property owner is cited for an illegal private storm drain connection
to the city-owned separate storm sewer system, the property owner shall be given
90 days after the date of the citation to obtain a connection license.
The city will issue a connection license to the property owner without penalty
within the 90-day period provided, however, no nonstorm water is being discharged into
the city-owned separate storm sewer system. After the 90-day period, the property owner
shall be in violation of the provisions of Article 12 of this chapter.
(4) Whenever a property owner caused or is causing a discharge of storm water
runoff associated with industrial activity or polluted industrial process water or other objectionable
material into the city-owned separate storm sewer system, the property owner within 10
days after being notified by the city of such violation shall cease such
discharges. If an NPDES permit is obtained by the property owner for such
discharge, said discharge may be resumed.
(e) Any other storm drain connections to the city-owned separate storm sewer system requires
approval by the chief engineer in writing.
(f) Private Storm Drain Connection Fee.
(1) A license fee of $100.00 shall be collected prior to the issuance of
a private storm drain connection license. All license fees collected shall not be
refundable.
(2) When the license is issued on behalf of the city, state or federal
government, the chief engineer shall waive the collection of the license fee.
(3) All license fees shall be deposited into the highway fund.
(Sec. 16-6.12, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 92-122, 96-34, 03-12)
Sec. 14-12.13 Allocation of costs.
(a) Except as otherwise provided, the city may pay the entire cost for
the following types of drainage facilities:
(1) Public stream improvements;
(2) Bridge to replace an existing bridge;
(3) Relief drains which will take care of the drainage requirements of the
existing land use; provided, that if a property owner desires the construction of
a larger facility to meet the drainage requirements attributable to a proposed higher
land use of such person's property, the city may construct such larger facility
provided that the property owner bears the additional cost of such enlarged facility;
and
(4) Remedial work for the disposal of water collected or accumulated on public
streets and/or remedial work necessitated by the disposal of such water over land
not heretofore subject to such disposal.
(b) Except as otherwise provided, the city may participate in remedial work to
existing private drainage facilities, situated in or abutting on private properties, for the
resolution of localized drainage problems to the extent of the cost of engineering
and 50 percent of the cost of construction. Examples of such drainage facilities
are:
(1) Stream walls to minimize erosion or to prevent flooding where such walls
will show some public benefit; and
(2) Drainage facilities to resolve seepage problem in the sidewalk area.
(Sec. 16-6.13, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-12.14 Improvements under the improvement district assessment ordinance.
Nothing contained in this article shall be deemed to affect the initiation and
construction of drainage improvements under the improvement district assessment ordinance. (Sec. 16-6.14, R.O.
1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-12.15 Election by property owners to pay additional amounts.
Notwithstanding any provision above mentioned as to apportionment of costs, owners of properties
may pay more than the amounts required by such provisions relating to apportionment
of costs. (Sec. 16-6.15, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-12.16 Land requirements and maintenance of drainage facilities.
(a) Except as otherwise provided, the city shall acquire the land or any
interest in land necessary for the construction, maintenance and repair (and operation as
the case may be) of drainage facilities which are to be constructed by
the city by way of easements or in fee simple. Nothing herein shall
prevent the city from acquiring easements for other improvements or for utilities or
other uses through the same land.
(b) The city shall maintain and repair (and operate as the case may
be) only structures in improved drainage facilities which have been constructed to city
standards and have been accepted or constructed by the city.
(c) The cleaning of debris from public or private drainways may be performed
as part of any general cleanup or beautification program of the city but
shall not be performed as a part of maintenance and repair of drainage
facilities; however, the chief engineer may cause to be removed any potential obstruction
to the operation of any culvert, gate, bridge or drain opening, or similar
drainage structure which has been accepted or constructed by the city.
(Sec. 16-6.16, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-12.17 Exception.
This article shall not apply to the construction of any drainage facility for
subdivisions, the final subdivision map of which has been approved by the city
planning department within 30 days of the approval date of this article, nor
to any drainage improvement where participation by the city has been approved by
the chief engineer prior to the approval date. (Sec. 16-6.17, R.O. 1978 (1983
Ed.))
Sec. 14-12.18 Inequities.
Whenever the chief engineer finds that the apportionment of costs, as proposed in
this article, would result in inequities, the chief engineer is authorized and directed
to submit his or her recommendations to the council as to how such
inequities may be corrected. (Sec. 16-6.18, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-12.19 Provisions subject to state statutes.
(a) Any drainage facility, open drainway or other similar facility which extends to the
shoreline may be subject to the provisions of HRS Chapter 205A, Part III.
(b) In such case, approval of the appropriate agency is required before approval
of any construction plans may be granted by the chief engineer.
(Sec. 16-6.19, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 96-58)
Sec. 14-12.20 Federal aid projects.
(a) The contents of this article may be adjusted, modified or deleted to
meet federal requirements under a federal aid project.
(b) In the case of federal projects, the city may obtain the necessary
channel right-of-way in such form as required by federal regulations.
(Sec. 16-6.20, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-12.21 Approval denied.
The chief engineer shall disapprove any drainage facilities, open drainways and other similar
facilities which do not conform with the provisions of this article. (Sec. 16-6.21,
R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-12.22 Discharge of effluent other than storm water runoff--Violation.
(a) No person shall discharge any effluent other than storm water runoff onto any
public right-of-way and/or into any drainage facility without first obtaining a permit from
the chief engineer. The chief engineer will only issue a permit upon application
when the chief engineer determines that such discharge will not create a drainage
or pollution problem or cause a violation of any provisions of the city
NPDES permit. The chief engineer may condition the granting of the permit with
requirements to prevent drainage and/or pollution problems or mitigative measures which will meet
any conditions of the city NPDES permit. Except for those nonstorm water discharges
authorized by the city NPDES permit, no discharge shall commence unless an NPDES
permit is first obtained from the department of health, State of Hawaii, for
the discharge of any pollutant into state waters through the municipal separate storm
sewer system.
(b) Any person desiring the permit required under this section shall apply to the
chief engineer on form(s) prescribed by the chief engineer.
(c) Any permit issued under this section shall be for the duration of the
effluent discharge but shall not extend beyond the term of the city's NPDES
permit. The permit shall meet any conditions of the city's NPDES permit.
(d) A fee of $100.00 shall be required for each permit application. All application
fees collected shall not be refundable. When the discharge is performed by or
on behalf of the city, state or federal government, the collection of the
permit fee shall be waived. All permit fees shall be deposited into the
highway fund.
(e) Any discharge which violates any condition of the permit or the state water
quality standards in Chapter 11-54, Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR), shall also be a
violation of Article 12 of this chapter and may result in a cease
and desist order. In addition, the city by written notice may terminate the
permit for any discharge which violates any condition of the permit or the
state water quality standards in Chapter 11-54, HAR.
(f) Failure to obtain a permit required under this section shall be a violation
of Article 12.
(Sec. 16-6.22, R.O. 1978 (1987 Supp. to 1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 92-122, 96-34,
03-12)
Sec. 14-12.23 Environmental quality control--Violation.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge or cause to be
discharged any pollutant into any drainage facility which causes a pollution problem in
state waters, or causes a violation of any provision of the city NPDES
permit or the water quality standards of the State of Hawaii.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge or cause to be
discharged any storm water runoff associated with industrial activity into any drainage facility
which causes a violation of any provision of the city NPDES permit.
(c) It shall be unlawful to discharge domestic wastewater and industrial wastewater into any
drainage facility or any separate storm sewer system.
It also shall be unlawful to discharge commercial cooking oil waste and commercial
FOG waste, as defined under Section 14-5A.1, into any drainage facility or any
separate storm sewer system.
(d) It shall be unlawful to discharge any storm water on any public right-of-way
which creates a drainage problem or causes a nuisance.
(e) The provisions of this section are not applicable to employees of the city
who, during the performance of their duties or in cases of emergency or
a hazardous substance spill, may discharge sewage, other pollutants or wash water from
cleanup operation of a hazardous substance spill into any drainage facility.
(f) Upon presentation of proper credentials, the chief engineer or the chief engineer's duly
authorized representatives may enter at reasonable times any building or premises in the
City and County of Honolulu in the discharge of the chief engineer's official
duties, to inspect or investigate the discharge of any pollutant or effluent into
or onto a drainage facility; provided, that such entry shall be made in
such manner as to cause the least possible inconvenience to the persons in
possession; and provided further, that an order of a court authorizing such entry
shall be obtained in the event such entry is denied or resisted.
(Sec. 16-6.23, R.O. 1978 (1987 Supp. to 1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 92-122, 96-34,
02-14)
Sec. 14-12.24 Administrative enforcement.
If the chief engineer determines that any person is violating any provision of
Article 12 of this chapter, any rule adopted thereunder, or any permit or
license issued pursuant thereto, the chief engineer may have the person served, by
mail or delivery, with a notice of violation and order. Whenever a corporation
violates any of the provisions of Article 12 of this chapter, the violation
shall be deemed to be also that of the individual directors, officers or
agents of such corporation who, in their capacity as directors, officers or agents
of such corporation, have authorized, ordered or done any of the acts constituting
in whole or in part such violation.
(a) Contents of the Notice of Violation. The notice shall include at least the
following information:
(1) Date of the notice;
(2) The name and address of the person served with the notice and the
location of the violation;
(3) The section number of the ordinance or rule, or other law which has
been violated;
(4) The nature of the violation(s); and
(5) The deadline for compliance with the notice.
(b) Contents of the Order. The order may require the person to do any
or all of the following:
(1) Cease and desist from the violation:
(2) Correct the violation at the person's own expense before a date specified in
the order;
(3) Payment of an administrative fine; or
(4) Appear before the chief engineer or a person designated by the chief engineer
at a time and place specified in the order and answer the charges
specified in the notice of violation.
(Added by Ord. 92-122)
Sec. 14-12.25 Judicial enforcement of order.
The chief engineer may institute a civil action in any court of competent
jurisdiction for the enforcement of any order issued. Where the civil action has
been instituted to enforce the civil fine imposed by said order, the chief
engineer need only show that the notice of violation and order was served,
a hearing was held or the time granted for requesting a hearing had
expired without such a request, the civil fine imposed, and that the fine
imposed had not been paid. (Added by Ord. 92-122)
Sec. 14-12.26 Enforcement.
(a) Show Cause Order. Whenever the chief engineer finds that a discharge of storm
water or effluent or any pollutant is taking place or threatening to take
place in violation of any requirement imposed by ordinance, regulation or other law,
the chief engineer may issue a notice of violation and show cause order
requesting the property owner or permit holder or discharger to meet with someone
designated by the chief engineer to show why there should be no formal
enforcement action. This meeting is not a prerequisite to taking formal enforcement action
against the property owner or permit holder or discharger, and neither does this
preclude in any way informal meetings of discussions with the property owner or
permit holder or discharger.
(b) Cease and Desist Order. Whenever the chief engineer finds that a discharge of
storm water or effluent or any pollutant is taking place or threatening to
take place in violation of any ordinance, order, regulation or other law, the
chief engineer may issue an order directing the property owner or permit holder
or discharger to cease and desist such discharges and directing the property owner
or permit holder or discharger to achieve compliance in accordance with a detailed
time schedule of specific actions the property owner or permit holder or discharger
must take in order to correct or prevent violations of this ordinance, regulation,
order or any other law. The chief engineer may order the revocation or
suspension of any permit or license. Any order issued by the chief engineer
may require the property owner or permit holder or discharger to provide information
as the chief engineer deems necessary to explain the nature of the discharge.
The chief engineer may require in any cease and desist order that the
property owner or permit holder or discharger pay to the city the costs
of any extraordinary inspection or monitoring which in the discretion of the chief
engineer was necessary as a result of the violation together with civil penalties.
(c) Cleanup and Abatement Orders.
(1) Any person who is in violation of this ordinance, regulation, order or any
other law, shall upon the chief engineer's order and at the total expense
of the property owner or permit holder or discharger clean up the discharge
and do whatever is necessary or required by the chief engineer to abate
the effects of the violation.
(2) The chief engineer may initiate any cleanup, abatement or remedial work required that
the chief engineer deems necessary as a result of the magnitude of the
violation or when necessary to prevent harm to public health or the environment.
The chief engineer may take this action, notwithstanding that injunctive relief and this
action may be in addition to any action taken by the property owner
or permit holder or discharger or other persons.
(3) Any property owner or permit holder or discharger violating the ordinance, regulations, order
or any other law shall be liable to the city for costs incurred
in the cleanup, abatement or remedial actions undertaken by the chief engineer, including
but not limited to administrative costs, inspection costs, attorney's fees and penalties or
other liability imposed upon the city by other agencies, persons or organizations whether
by way of court action, administrative action or settlement.
(d) Termination of Discharge. In addition to other remedies available and as provided in
Article 12 of this chapter or by law, when in the discretion of
the chief engineer the property owner or permit holder or discharger has not
or cannot demonstrate satisfactory progress toward compliance with the requirements of this ordinance,
regulation, order or other laws, the chief engineer, after providing written notice to
the property owner or permit holder or dischargeer by certified mail 30 days
in advance of any action, may sever or plug the connection from the
property owner's or permit holder's or discharger's system to the city-owned separate storm
sewer system or otherwise prevent the discharge of storm water or effluent or
any pollutant from the property owner's or permit holder's or discharger's system to
the city-owned separate storm sewer system.
(e) Administration Fines. In addition to other remedies available and as provided in Article
12 of this chapter or by law, the chief engineer may impose administrative
penalties.
(Added by Ord. 92-122)
Sec. 14-12.27 Appeals.
(a) The property owner, permit holder or discharger may petition to appeal the terms
of a permit or license issued herein by the city, its modification, revocation,
suspension, or denial, or the chief engineer's order, including but not limited to
enforcement within 30 days of the chief engineer's final action on the matter
in accordance with the rules and regulations of the department.
(b) Failure to submit a timely petition for appeal shall be deemed to be
a waiver of the administrative appeal.
(c) In its petition, the appealing party must indicate the permit or license provisions
objected to, the reasons for this objection, and alternative condition, if any, it
seeks to place in the permit or license, or the specific basis for
its objections to the permit or license modification, suspension, revocation or denial and
alternatives, if any, it suggests; its specific grounds for its objection to the
chief engineer's order.
(d) The effectiveness of the permit or license issued herein or the chief engineer's
final action regarding the permit or license modification, suspension, revocation or denial; or
regarding the chief engineer's order, including but not limited to enforcement, shall not
be stayed pending the appeal.
(e) If the petition for appeal is not acted upon within 30 days by
the chief engineer, the petition shall be deemed to be denied and the
property owner or permit holder or discharger shall comply with the terms of
the permit, license or the chief engineer's final action regarding the permit or
license modification, suspension or revocation; or the terms of the chief engineer's order.
(f) The chief engineer shall take final action on a permit or license denial,
issuance, modification, or renewal, or the order, including but not limited to enforcement,
by sending the permit, license or the chief engineer's order to the applicant
by certified mail.
(Added by Ord. 92-122)
Sec. 14-12.28 Violation provisions.
(a) Administrative and Civil Penalties. Any person violating any provisions of Article 12 of
this chapter, any order, permit or license issued hereunder, or any other standard
or requirement shall be liable for an administrative or civil penalty of not
less than $1,000.00 nor more than $25,000.00 per violation per day, except that
in cases where such offense shall continue after due notice, each day's continuance
of the same shall constitute a separate offense. In determining the amount of
the fine, the chief engineer shall consider the seriousness of the violation or
violations, any history of such violations, any good-faith efforts to comply with the
applicable requirements, the economic impact of the fine on the violator, and such
other considerations that have a bearing on the amount of the fine. In
addition to the penalties provided herein, the city may recover reasonable attorney's fees,
court costs, court reporter's fees and other expenses of litigation by appropriate suit
at law against the person found to have violated this ordinance or the
orders, rules, regulations, permits and licenses hereunder.
(b) Criminal Penalties. Any person:
(1) Who willfully, intentionally, recklessly or negligently violates any provision of Article 12 of
this chapter, order, permit or license issued hereunder, or any other requirement, shall
upon conviction be punished by a fine not less than $1,000.00 nor more
than $25,000.00 or by imprisonment not exceeding 90 days, or both, except that
in cases where such offense shall continue after due notice, each day's continuance
of the same shall constitute a separate offense; or
(2) Who knowingly makes any false statement or misrepresentation in any record, report plan,
or other document filed with the chief engineer, or tampers with or knowingly
renders inaccurate any monitoring device or sampling and analysis method required under Article
12 of this chapter or by other law, shall be punished by a
fine of not more than $25,000.00 or by imprisonment for not more than
six months, or both.
Unless otherwise provided, this section shall be controlled by the provisions of HRS,
Hawaii Penal Code.
(Added by Ord. 92-122)
Sec. 14-12.29 Injunctive relief.
Whenever a property owner or permit holder or discharger has violated a requirement
or continues to violate the provisions of Article 12 of this chapter, permits,
licenses or orders issued hereunder, the city may petition the Circuit Court of
the First Circuit, State of Hawaii, or the United States District Court, State
of Hawaii, through the city's attorney for the issuance of a temporary or
permanent injunction, as appropriate, which restrains or compels the specific performance of the
permit, license or order, or other requirement imposed by this article on activities
of the property owner or permit holder or discharger. Such other action as
appropriate for legal and/or equitable relief may also be sought by the city.
A petition for injunctive relief need not be filed as a prerequisite to
taking any other action against a property owner or permit holder or discharger.
(Added by Ord. 92-122)
Sec. 14-12.30 Nonliability of department personnel.
Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, no member, employee, or officer of
the department of public works shall be civilly or criminally liable or responsible
under this ordinance for any acts done by the member, officer, or employee
in their performance of the member's officer's, or employee's duties. (Added by Ord.
92-122)
Sec. 14-12.31 Rule-making powers.
The chief engineer shall be empowered to promulgate rules and regulations pursuant to
HRS Chapter 91, for the implementation of the provisions of Article 12 of
this chapter. (Added by Ord. 92-122)
Sec. 14-12.32 Decisions of the chief engineer.
Decisions of the chief engineer made in accordance with the provisions of this
article, and/or decisions involving variations from the standards referred to herein shall be
made a matter of record in the permit or license file. (Added by
Ord. 92-122)
Article 13. General Provisions for Grading, Soil Erosion and Sediment Control
Sections:
14-13.1 Purposes.
14-13.2 Scope.
14-13.3 Definitions.
14-13.4 Hazardous conditions--Stop work order.
14-13.5 Exclusions.
Sec. 14-13.1 Purposes.
The purposes of Articles 13 through 16 of this chapter are to provide
standards to protect property and to promote the public health, safety and welfare
by regulating and controlling grading, grubbing, stockpiling, soil erosion and sedimentation within the
city. The public health, safety and welfare require that environmental considerations contribute to
the determination of these standards insofar as they relate to protecting against erosion
and sediment production. (Sec. 23-1.1, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-13.2 Scope.
Articles 13 through 16 of this chapter set forth the rules and regulations
for the control of grading, grubbing, stockpiling, soil erosion and sedimentation; establish the
administrative procedure and minimum requirements for issuance of permits and provides for the
enforcement of such rules and regulations. (Sec. 23-1.2, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-13.3 Definitions.
Wherever used in Articles 13 through 16 of this chapter, the following words
shall have the meaning indicated:
"Best management practices" or "BMPs" means structural devices or nonstructural practices employed at
construction sites that are designed to contain storm water on-site and prevent the
discharge of pollutants from entering any drainage facility or any state waters or
to redirect storm runoff flow. BMPs may include a schedule of activities, the
prohibition of practices, maintenance procedures and other management practices to accomplish the same.
"Chief engineer" means the director and chief engineer, department of public works, City
and County of Honolulu, or such person's duly authorized representative.
"Conservation program" means a document submitted by a land user containing information for
the conservation of soil, water, vegetation and other applicable natural resources for an
area of land currently being implemented and maintained.
"Director" means the director of the department of land utilization of the City
and County of Honolulu or such person's duly authorized representative.
"Earth material" means any rock, coral, sand, gravel, soil or fill and/or any
combination thereof.
"Engineer" means a person duly registered as a professional engineer in the State
of Hawaii.
"Engineer's soils report" means a report on soils conditions prepared by an engineer
qualified in the practice of soils mechanics and foundations engineering.
Engineering slope hazard report means a report that utilizes the application of engineering
and geologic knowledge and principles in the investigation, evaluation and mitigation of hazards
posed by potential rock, soil or other slope movement.
"Erosion" means wearing away of the ground surface as a result of action
by wind and/or water.
"Excavation" or "cut" means any act by which earth material is cut into,
dug or moved, and shall include the conditions resulting therefrom.
"Fill" means any act by which earth materials are placed or deposited by
artificial means, and shall include the resulting deposit of earth material.
"Grading" means any excavation or fill or any combination thereof.
"Grubbing" means any act by which vegetation, including tree, timber, shrubbery and plant,
is dislodged or uprooted from the surface of the ground.
"Maximum extent practicable" or "MEP" means economically achievable measures for the control of
the addition of pollutants from existing and new categories and classes of nonpoint
sources of pollution, which reflect the greatest degree of pollutant reduction achievable through
the application of the best available nonpoint pollution control practices, technologies, processes, siting
criteria, operating methods or other alternatives.
"National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit" or "NPDES permit" means the permit issued
to a permittee pursuant to Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 122,
Subpart B, Section 122.26(a)(1)(ii), for construction activity including clearing, grading and excavation activities;
or a permit issued to a permittee pursuant to Hawaii Administrative Rules, Chapter
11-55, "Water Pollution Control" for construction dewatering activity; or a permit issued to
the city pursuant to Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 122, Subpart
B, Section 122.26(a)(1)(iii), for storm water discharges from the city's separate storm sewer
systems.
"Permittee" means the person or party to whom the permit is issued and
shall be the owner or developer of the property whether it is a
person, firm, corporation, partnership or other legal entity responsible for the work.
"Soil and water conservation districts" means the legal subdivisions of the State of
Hawaii authorized under HRS Chapter 180.
"State waters" means the same as that term is defined in HRS Section
342D-1.
"Stockpiling" means the temporary open storage of earth materials in excess of 100
cubic yards upon any premises except the premises upon which a grading permit
has been issued for the purpose of using the material as fill material
at some other premises at a future time.
"Surveyor" means a person duly registered as a professional land surveyor in the
State of Hawaii.
"Wetland" means the same as that term is defined in Chapter 25.
(Sec. 23-1.3, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 92-122, 96-34, 04-27)
Sec. 14-13.4 Hazardous conditions--Stop work order.
(a) Whenever the chief engineer determines that any existing grading, grubbing or stockpiling is
or will become a hazard to life and limb, endangers property, or adversely
affects the safety, use or stability of a public way or drainage channel,
the owner of the property upon which the excavation or fill is located,
or other person or agent in control of the property, upon receipt of
notice in writing from the chief engineer shall abate the hazard and shall
conform with the requirements of Articles 13 through 16 of this chapter. When
there are reasonable grounds to believe that hazardous conditions may exist, the chief
engineer or an authorized representative may obtain a warrant and shall enter upon
the property to investigate or to enforce the provisions stated of this section,
or both.
(b) If the chief engineer determines that work must stop due to hazardous conditions,
the chief engineer shall issue a stop work order to the owner of
the property and shall concurrently notify and transmit a copy of the order
to the chief of police who shall have the power to enforce the
stop work order pursuant to Section 6-1604, Revised Charter of Honolulu, 1973, as
amended.
(Sec. 23-1.4, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 91-07)
Sec. 14-13.5 Exclusions.
This chapter shall not apply to the following:
(a) Mining or quarrying operations regulated by other city ordinances;
(b) Excavation and backfill for the construction of basements and footings of a building,
retaining wall or other structure authorized by a valid building permit. This shall
not exempt any fill made outside the building lines or the placing of
fill material obtained from said excavations on other premises;
(c) Grading and grubbing individual cemetery plots;
(d) Land which is being managed in accordance with soil conservation practices acceptable to
the applicable soil and water conservation district directors, and that a comprehensive conservation
program is being actively pursued for the entire area in the program and
that the conservation program with appropriate modification is reviewed and accepted by the
soil and water conservation district directors periodically but not less than once every
five years and shall be made available to the city and county; provided,
however, that no grading which, in the opinion of the chief engineer, endangers
abutting properties or which alters the general drainage pattern with respect to abutting
properties shall be commenced or performed without a grading permit;
(e) Excavation which does not alter the general drainage pattern with respect to abutting
properties, which does not exceed 50 cubic yards of material on any one
site, and does not exceed three feet in vertical height at its deepest
point; provided, that the cut meets the cut slopes and the distance from
property lines requirements in Section 14-15.1;
(f) Fill which does not alter the general drainage pattern with respect to abutting
properties, which does not exceed 50 cubic yards of material on any one
site and does not exceed three feet in vertical depth at its deepest
point; provided, that the fill meets the fill slopes and distance from property
lines requirements in Section 14-15.1;
(g) Grubbing which does not alter the general drainage pattern with respect to abutting
properties and does not exceed a total area of 15,000 square feet;
(h) Exploratory excavations not to exceed 50 cubic yards under the direction of an
engineer for the purpose of subsurface investigation; provided, that these excavations will be
filled in if required by the chief engineer and provided that the chief
engineer has been advised in writing prior to the start of such excavations.
(Sec. 23-1.5, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Article 14. Permits, Bonds and Inspection for Grading, Soil Erosion and Sediment Control
Sections:
14-14.1 Permit.
14-14.1A Application for permit.
14-14.2 Application for a grading permit.
14-14.2A Application for a grubbing permit.
14-14.2B Application for a stockpiling permit.
14-14.3 Grading permit limitations.
14-14.4 Permit fees.
14-14.4A Grading without a permit.
14-14.5 Expiration of permit.
14-14.6 Denial of permit.
14-14.7 Suspension or revocation of permit.
14-14.8 Bond.
14-14.9 Inspection.
Sec. 14-14.1 Permit.
Except as excluded in Section 14-13.5 of this chapter:
(a) No person shall commence or perform any grading without a grading permit;
(b) No person shall commence or perform any grubbing without a grubbing permit except
where grubbing concerns land for which a grading permit has been issued; and
(c) No person shall commence or perform any stockpiling without a stockpiling permit.
(Sec. 23-2.1, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-14.1A Application for permit.
(a) Prior to commencing or performing any grading, grubbing or stockpiling, a person shall
file an application for a permit with the chief engineer on form(s) prescribed
by the chief engineer.
(b) The chief engineer may adopt rules pursuant to HRS Chapter 91 for expediting processing
of a permit application.
(Added by Ord. 96-34)
Sec. 14-14.2 Application for a grading permit.
(a) An applicant for a grading permit shall file a written application which shall:
(1) Describe, by tax map key number or street address, the land on which
the proposed work is to be done;
(2) State the estimated dates for the starting and completion of the proposed work;
(3) Show the names and addresses of the owner or owners of the property;
(4) Show the names of the permittee, the person who shall be responsible for
the work to be performed and that person's contractors and/or employees, and any
person responsible for requesting the inspection required herein. A person signing the application
for the permittee shall present evidence that the person is authorized to act
for the permittee;
(5) Include a vicinity sketch map or plan adequately indicating the site location; property
lines, easements and setbacks of the property on which the work is to
be performed; location of any buildings, structures and improvements on the property where
the work is to be performed and location of any building or structure
on adjacent property which is within 15 feet of the property to be
graded when the grading may affect the building or structure; elevations, dimensions, location,
extent and the slopes of all proposed grading shown by contours and/or other
means; the area in square feet of the land to be graded; the
quantities of excavation and fill involved; and the locations of any streams, waterways
and wetlands;
(6) State the current development plan land use map designation and zoning designation of
any property that will be subject to the permit;
(7) Include a copy of any environmental impact statement or environmental assessment required by
the United States or by any state or city agency;
(8) State the purpose of the grading work in terms of a use or
structure permitted on the zoning lot under Chapter 21;
(9) If the use or structure for which the grading work is being done
requires a conditional use permit, plan review use resolution, planned development approval, site
plan review permit, special district permit, special management area use permit or special
management area minor permit, the applicant shall include a copy of the applicable
permits, approvals and resolutions; and
(10) If the use or structure for which the grading work is being done
requires an amendment to any permit, resolution or approval referred to in subdivision
(9), the applicant shall include a copy of the amendment.
(b) In the event the area of the zoning lot or portion thereof subject
to the permit is 15,000 square feet or more for single-family or two-family
dwelling uses or 7,500 square feet or more for other uses, or in
the event the total area to be developed is more than 15,000 square
feet for single-family or two-family dwelling uses or 7,500 square feet for other
uses and grading is being done in increments of less than that square
footage, the applicant shall:
(1) Include a contour map, prepared by a surveyor or an engineer, which shall
show the location and type of existing trees with a trunk diameter larger
than 12 inches, prominent visible rock outcroppings, utility lines, structures, dimensions and azimuths
of property lines, easements and setbacks, and the name and location of streets,
roadways and rights-of-way; and
(2) Include a grading plan and specifications prepared by an engineer, which plan shall
show the contours of the land before grading and the finished conditions to
be achieved by the proposed grading, to be shown by contours, cross sections,
spot elevations or other means. The grading plan shall provide information regarding the
location and source of imported fill material and the location where excess excavation
material is to be disposed of when the application is made. The borrow
and/or disposal site(s) must also fulfill the requirements of Articles 13 to 16.
Where the area is proposed to be graded in increments, the grading plan
shall also include the plan for the future development of the area and
the proposed grading work for the future increments. The chief engineer may also
require submittal of a plan showing the location of proposed structures, buildings, streets,
utilities, easements, permanent engineering measures to control soil erosion and storm runoff, and
other improvements where the grading work is to be performed. One of the
purposes of the grading plan is to show that only the minimum grading
necessary to develop the area in conformity with zoning will be performed, and
hence the natural contours and topography will be retained wherever feasible, and exposed
or finished cuts or fills will be rounded off in a natural manner
and sharp angles will be avoided. The grading plan shall provide that exposed
finished soil surfaces shall be covered with vegetation or matting immediately to control
soil erosion.
(c) (1) In the event the total area including any areas developed incrementally that is
to be graded is 15,000 square feet or more for single-family or two-family
dwelling uses or 7,500 square feet or more for other uses, or in
the event a proposed cut or fill is greater than 15 feet in
height for single-family or two-family dwelling uses or 7.5 feet in height for
other uses, in addition to the foregoing, a drainage and erosion control plan
shall be included in the application. The objective of the drainage and erosion
control plan is to employ best management practices to the maximum extent practicable
at the construction site. BMPs shall be specified on all erosion control plans.
The drainage and erosion control plan shall:
(A) Be prepared by an engineer in accordance with the soil erosion standards and
guidelines approved by the chief engineer, a copy of which shall be on
file in the division of engineering, department of public works, City and County
of Honolulu, which is incorporated herein by reference and made a part of
this article;
(B) Show the general scheme for controlling soil erosion and disposal of storm water
runoff including, but not limited to, structural best management practices (BMPs) such as
terraces, berms, ditches, culverts, subsurface drains, dams, sediment traps, dikes, detention/retention ponds, and
nonstructural BMPs such as seeding and planting, mulching, sprigging, sodding, or temporary covering;
and
(C) Show the acreage of the areas served by each drain and drainage structure.
(2) The permittee shall submit temporary erosion control plans and procedures for the chief
engineer's approval prior to grading, which shall include a statement of the schedules
and sequence of construction operations. The limits of the area to be graded
shall be delineated by flagging before the commencement of the grading work. Where
construction equipment will make frequent crossings of a natural drainage course, plans shall
provide for temporary culverts or bridge structures to be installed. Where any operations
are delayed for any reason, a revised schedule shall be submitted to the
chief engineer together with such modifications of the temporary drainage and erosion control
plan as the chief engineer may require. Plans shall provide that the area
of bare soil exposed at any one time by construction operations shall be
held to a minimum. No drainage structure shall discharge onto a fill slope
in such a manner as to cause erosion or gullying. Temporary erosion controls
shall not be removed before permanent erosion controls are in place and established;
(3) The permittee and the permittee's contractor shall be responsible for construction, installation and
maintenance of structural and nonstructural BMPs at construction sites in accordance with the
approved drainage and erosion control plan. The adequacy of any BMPs employed or
any corrective action that needs to be taken at the construction site is
the responsibility of the permittee, the permittee's engineer, and the permittee's contractor, and
the cost of any corrective action or work shall be borne by the
permittee;
(4) In addition to temporary erosion control plan(s) for construction activities, the chief engineer
may require the permittee to prepare and submit permanent erosion control BMPs for
the control of storm runoff pollutants and erosion after construction has been completed.
(d)(1) In the event that a proposed cut or fill is greater than 15
feet in height for single-family or two-family dwelling uses or 7.5 feet in
height for other uses; the proposed grading is on land with slopes exceeding
15 percent; any fill is to be placed over a gully, or a
swamp, pond, lake, waterway or wetland; the fill material will be a highly
plastic clay; or the fill is to be used to support foundations for
residential or other buildings, an engineer's soils report shall be submitted. The soils
report shall include data regarding the nature, distribution and engineering characteristics of existing
soils, the surface and subsurface conditions at the site or the presence of
groundwater when detected, and shall recommend the limits for the proposed grading, the
fill material to be used and the manner of placing it, including the
height and slopes of cut and fill sections.
(2) If the proposed grading includes modification to an existing slope with a
cut greater than 15 feet in height and a grade steeper than 40
percent, an evaluation of slope hazards is required and the findings of the
evaluation shall be included in a report. The slope hazard evaluation shall, at
a minimum, include an evaluation of hazards posed by potential rock, soil or
other slope movement to the proposed development, and an evaluation of the hazard
posed to adjacent existing properties or buildings by the proposed grading. The engineering
slope hazard report and construction plans shall include mitigative measures to minimize the
hazards posed by potential rock, soil and other slope movement as well as
the threat the development poses to properties adjacent to the proposed grading.
(Sec. 23-2.2, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 91-08, 96-34, 04-27)
Sec. 14-14.2A Application for a grubbing permit.
(a) An applicant for a grubbing permit shall file a written application, which shall:
(1) Describe, by tax map key number or street address, the land on which
the proposed work is to be done;
(2) State the estimated dates for starting and completion of the proposed work;
(3) Show the name and addresses of the owner or owners of the property;
(4) Show the names of the permittee, and the person who shall be responsible
for the work to be performed and of that person's contractors and/or employees
and of any person responsible for requesting the inspections required herein. A person
signing the application for the permittee shall present evidence that the person is
authorized to act for the permittee; and
(5) Contain a statement of the purpose for which the grubbing is required; a
plot plan showing the location and property boundaries, easements and setbacks; a soil
erosion and sediment control plan; and other pertinent information as may be required
by the chief engineer.
(b) Grubbing of land for the purpose of making topographic surveys shall not be
permitted. This does not prohibit the cutting of trails for survey lines and
access for soil exploration equipment.
(Added by Ord. 96-34)
Sec. 14-14.2B Application for a stockpiling permit.
(a) An applicant for a stockpiling permit shall file a written application, which shall:
(1) Describe, by tax map key number or street address, the land on which
the proposed work is to be done;
(2) State the estimated dates for the starting and completion of the proposed work;
(3) Show the names and addresses of the owner or owners of the property;
(4) Show the names of the permittee, and the person who shall be responsible
for the work to be performed and of that person's contractors and/or employees
and of any person responsible for requesting the inspection required herein. A person
signing the application for the permittee shall present evidence that the person is
authorized to act for the permittee; and
(5) Furnish a plot plan showing the property lines, easements and setbacks, topography, and
the location of the proposed stockpile, quantities, height of stockpile, life of stockpile
and source of the material to be stockpiled and furnish any other information
as may be required by the chief engineer to control the emission of
air-borne dust, drainage runoff or erosion problems. The plot plan for stockpiling shall
be approved by the chief engineer.
(b) Where stockpiling is for the purpose of surcharging to stabilize or consolidate an
area, the chief engineer shall require the permittee to submit an engineer's soils
report which shall include data on the effect such surcharging will have on
adjacent buildings or structures.
(Added by Ord. 96-34)
Sec. 14-14.3 Grading permit limitations.
(a) In the event the plan for the development of the area to be
graded or the stated purpose of the grading work requires a conditional use
permit, special district permit, planned development approval, a site plan review permit, a
plan review use approval or a rezoning under Chapter 21, or requires a
special management area use or special management area minor permit under Chapter 25,
approval of any such permit or rezoning for the development, or any necessary
amendment to any such approval, permit, or rezoning, shall be obtained prior to
approval of the grading permit application, and the grading permit application shall conform
to the conditions of the approval, the approved permit or the rezoning.
(b) In the event the plan for the development of the area to be
graded is to be subdivided, tentative approval of the subdivision pursuant to the
subdivision rules and regulations shall be obtained prior to the approval of the
grading permit application.
(c) In the event the area to be graded requires an NPDES permit, approval
of the NPDES permit may be obtained after the approval of the grading
application; however, the grading application, including any drainage and erosion control plans, shall
conform to the conditions of the approved NPDES permit. In case of conflicting
requirements, the most restrictive shall apply.
(d) In the event the grading work involves contaminated soil, then all grading work
shall be done in conformance with applicable state and federal requirements.
(e) The chief engineer may attach such conditions as may be reasonably necessary to
ensure that any grading work is for a use or structure permitted in
the zoning district and to prevent creation of a nuisance or hazard to
public or private property, health or welfare. Such conditions may include, but shall
not be limited to:
(1) Improvement of any existing grading to bring it up to the standards under
Articles 13 through 16 of this chapter;
(2) Requirements for fencing of excavation or fills which otherwise would be hazardous;
(3) The requirement of retaining walls adequate to prevent loss of support to, erosion
of and interference with natural drainage patterns on adjacent properties;
(4) Cleaning up the area;
(5) Limitations on the days and hours of operation; and
(6) Increasing the effectiveness of the erosion control plan as required.
(f) The issuance of a grading permit shall constitute an authorization to do only
that work which is described on the permit and in the plans and
specifications approved by the chief engineer.
(g) Permits issued under the requirements of Articles 13 through 16 of this chapter
shall not relieve the permittee of responsibility for securing required permits or approvals
for work to be done which is regulated by any other federal, state
and city codes or regulations, department or division of the governing agency.
(Sec. 23-2.3, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 91-08, 92-122, 96-34)
Sec. 14-14.4 Permit fees.
(a) Prior to issuance of a grading permit, a permit fee for grading on
the same site based on the volume of excavation or fill measured in
place, whichever is greater, shall be collected according to the following schedule:
Volume of Material Permit Fee
1,000 cubic yards or less $45.00 for each 100 cubic yards or fraction thereof
1,001 - 10,000 cubic yards $450.00 for the first 1,000 cubic yards plus $45.00 for
each additional 1,000 cubic yards or fraction thereof
10,001 cubic yards or more $855.00 for the first 10,000 cubic yards plus $27.00
per 1,000 cubic yards or fraction thereof
The fee for a permit authorizing work additional to that under a valid
permit shall be the difference between the fee paid for the original permit
and the fee computed for the entire project.
(b) Prior to issuance of a grubbing permit, a permit fee of $90.00 for
grubbing areas up to 15,000 square feet plus $9.00 for each additional 1,000
square feet or fraction thereof shall be collected.
(c) Prior to issuance of a stockpiling permit, a permit fee of $45.00 for
stockpiling in excess of the first 100 cubic yards plus $9.00 for each
additional 1,000 cubic yards or fraction thereof shall be collected.
(d) When grading, grubbing or stockpiling is performed by or on behalf of the
city, state or federal government, the chief engineer shall waive the collection of
any permit fee required in subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section.
(e) When a business is certified as a qualified business pursuant to Section 35-1.3,
the chief engineer shall waive the collection of any permit fee required in
subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section for the qualified business for
a period of three years.
(f) All permit fees shall be deposited into the highway fund.
(Sec. 23-2.4, R.O. 1978 (1987 Supp. to 1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 96-34, 98-54,
03-12)
Sec. 14-14.4A Grading without a permit.
(a) Where work for which a grading permit is required by Articles 13 through
16 of this chapter has been commenced or has been accomplished without a
permit, a permit shall be obtained, and double the fees specified in Section
14-14.4 shall be assessed, provided that such work complies with or may be
made to comply with the provisions of Articles 13 through 16 of this
chapter.
(1) If the grading work accomplished or commenced cannot be made to comply with
the provisions of Articles 13 through 16 of this chapter, the owner and
developer of the property or person or persons responsible for the initiation or
accomplishment of such grading work shall restore the land to its original condition
and shall obtain a certificate of completion therefor from the chief engineer.
(2) Any filling performed without a permit will not be deemed a structural fill.
(3) Notwithstanding the above, the owner and developer of the property or person or
persons responsible for such grading shall be deemed to have violated the provisions
of Articles 13 through 16 of this chapter by grading without a permit.
(b) The owner and developer of the property or the person or persons responsible
for the initiation of grading shall be responsible for correcting any damages done
by the grading on-site or off-site.
(1) Off-site correction(s) and restoration shall include but not be limited to damages to
improvements within the public right-of-way, any portions of the city-owned separate storm sewer
systems, or private drain systems and the removal of any sediment and debris
from the public right-of-way and any drainage facility.
(2) On-site correction(s) and restoration shall include covering of exposed soil surfaces with planting,
correction of improper excavation or fills, and drainage.
(c) Where the grading work accomplished or commenced cannot be made to comply with
the provisions of Articles 13 through 16 of this chapter, the person or
persons responsible shall post a performance bond in an amount sufficient, as determined
by the chief engineer, to ensure payment of all costs of restoring the
land to its original condition, and any damages which have occurred to any
improvement(s) in the public right-of-way in the event that the person or persons
responsible do not satisfactorily perform said restoration. Such performance bond shall be maintained
in force for a period of one year after the restoration work has
been completed, and no certificate of completion for said work shall be issued
by the chief engineer until one year has elapsed after the physical work
of restoration has been completed.
(Added by Ord. 96-34)
Sec. 14-14.5 Expiration of permit.
(a) Every grading or grubbing permit shall expire and become null and void by
limitation unless the work permitted therein is started within 90 days after the
date of issuance; if the work is suspended or abandoned at any time
after the work is commenced for a period of 60 days; or one
year after the date of issuance of the permit. Before such work can
be recommenced, a new permit shall first be obtained to do so and
the fee therefor shall be the fee as specified in Section 14-14.4. Permit
fees for an expired permit even if no work has commenced shall not
be refunded.
(b) Every stockpiling permit shall expire and become null and void one year after
the date of issuance and all stockpiled material temporarily stored on the premises
shall be removed from the premises or used on the premises as fill
material under a grading permit for fill prior to the expiration date. Upon
written application the chief engineer may grant extension or renewal for an expired
stockpiling permit. In granting such extension or renewal the chief engineer may attach
such conditions as deemed appropriate to prevent the creation and maintenance of a
nuisance or hazard to individuals and property. Permit fee for extension or renewal
shall be the fee as specified above.
(Sec. 23-2.5, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-14.6 Denial of permit.
If the chief engineer finds that the work as proposed by the applicant
is likely to endanger any property or public way or structure or endanger
the public health or welfare through environmental damage, the chief engineer shall deny
the grading, grubbing or stockpiling permit. Factors to be considered in determining probability
of hazardous conditions shall include, but not be limited to, possible saturation of
the ground by rains, earth movements, dangerous geological conditions or flood hazards, undesirable
surface water run-off, subsurface conditions such as the stratification and faulting of rock,
nature and type of soil or rock. Failure of the chief engineer to
observe or recognize hazardous conditions or the chief engineer's failure to deny the
grading, grubbing or stockpiling permit shall not relieve the permittee or the permittee's
agent from being responsible, nor cause the city, its officers or agents, to
be held responsible for the conditions or damages resulting therefrom. (Sec. 23-2.6, R.O.
1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-14.7 Suspension or revocation of permit.
(a) All permittees shall be required to comply with provisions of the NPDES permit
if applicable including measures to control pollutants in storm water discharges during construction,
and with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules or regulations of the State of
Hawaii or of the City and County of Honolulu. The chief engineer shall,
in writing, suspend or revoke a permit issued under the provisions of Articles
13 through 16 of this chapter whenever the permit has been issued on
the basis of incorrect information supplied by the permittee; whenever the grading, grubbing
or stockpiling is not being performed in accordance with the terms and provisions
of the permit; whenever it is determined that the permittee has not complied
with any provision of the NPDES permit if applicable and any other applicable
law, ordinance, rule or regulation of the State of Hawaii or the City
and County of Honolulu; or whenever the grading, grubbing or stockpiling discloses conditions
that are objectionable or unsafe. Where a permit is revoked for any reason,
there shall be no refund of any permit fees.
(b) When a permit has been suspended the permittee may submit detailed plans and
proposals for compliance with the provisions of Articles 13 through 16 of this
chapter, and the NPDES permit if applicable and any other applicable laws, ordinances,
rules or regulations of the State of Hawaii or the City and County
of Honolulu, and for correcting the objectionable or unsafe conditions. Upon approval of
such plans and proposals by the chief engineer, the chief engineer may authorize
the permittee, in writing, to proceed with the work.
(c) When a permit has been suspended and the permittee fails to take corrective
action specified above within 30 days following the suspension, the chief engineer may
correct the objectionable or unsafe conditions and the permittee shall be liable for
the cost thereof, or, where a bond required by Section 14-14.8 has been
filed with the city, from the surety executing such bond, or shall be
deducted from the cash which has been deposited with the city in lieu
of filing a bond.
(Sec. 23-2.7, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 92-122)
Sec. 14-14.8 Bond.
(a) Bond Required. A grading permit or stockpiling permit shall not be issued for
any cut, fill or stockpiling involving quantities more than 500 cubic yards or
for excavations or fills over 15 feet in vertical height, or for work
being done in increments of 500 cubic yards or less, which is part
of a larger development unless the permittee shall first file a bond for
the benefit of the City and County of Honolulu; provided, that if the
proposed grading or stockpiling is to be performed under an approved subdivision final
map and a subdivision agreement, or bond or other security has been approved
and accepted by the city under the subdivision rules and regulations of the
City and County of Honolulu, or a contractor's performance bond accepted by the
city, then the chief engineer shall not require a bond for grading or
stockpiling. A copy of the approved and accepted subdivision bond or other security
shall be presented as evidence by the applicant for a grading or stockpiling
permit. At the option of the applicant, the applicant may either file a
bond guaranteed by a surety company duly authorized to transact business within the
State of Hawaii, or the applicant may deposit cash or letter of credit
in lieu of a bond. No interest shall be paid by the city
on such cash deposit. The provisions herein relating to a surety bond shall
be equally applicable to a cash deposit pledged as a bond.
(b) Amount of Bond. The amount of the bond shall be based upon the
number of cubic yards of material in either excavation, fill or stockpiling, whichever
is the greatest volume. The amount of the bond shall be computed as
set forth in the following schedule:
Volume of Material Permit Bond
10,000 cubic yards or less $8.00 per cubic yard;
over 10,000 to 100,000 cubic $80,000.00 plus $3.00 per cubic
yards yard for each additional cubic yard in excess of 10,000;
over 100,000 cubic yards $350,000.00 plus $1.00 per cubic
yard in excess of 100,000.
At the option of the applicant, the applicant may file a bond in
an amount equal to the cost of all work and services required to
complete all of the work under the grading or stockpiling permit as approved
by the chief engineer. Cost estimates prepared by the permittee shall be subject
to approval of the chief engineer to determine the exact amount of the
bond.
(c) Conditions. The bond shall be conditioned to be payable to the chief engineer,
and upon failure of the permittee to complete all of the required work
within the specified time, the chief engineer shall collect the moneys from the
bond and complete the necessary work to control soil erosion and sedimentation or
all unfinished work required by the permit. The parties executing the bond shall
be firmly bound to pay for this entire cost.
(d) Additional Conditions. Each bond shall provide that the surety shall be held and
firmly bound unto the City and County of Honolulu for so long as
the following conditions have not been met:
(1) The permittee shall comply with all of the terms and conditions of the
permit to the satisfaction of the chief engineer;
(2) The permittee shall complete all of the work authorized under the permit within
the time limit specified in the permit;
(3) The surety company shall not terminate or cancel said bond until notified in
writing by the chief engineer of any termination or cancellation.
(e) Period and Termination of Bond. The term of each bond shall begin upon
the date of issuance of the permit and shall remain in effect for
a period of one year after the date of completion of the work
to the satisfaction of the chief engineer. Such completion shall be evidenced by
a certificate signed by the chief engineer. In the event of failure to
complete the work or failure to comply with all of the conditions and
terms of the permit, the chief engineer may order the work to be
completed as required by the permit and to the satisfaction of the chief
engineer. The surety executing such bond or the cash depositor, shall continue to
be firmly bound under a continuing obligation for the payment of all necessary
costs and expenses that may be incurred or expended by the City and
County of Honolulu, in causing any and all of such required work to
be done, and said surety and the permittee assents to the completion of
the work even though it is performed after the time allowed in the
permit. Upon completion of such work by the city, the bond shall be
terminated. In the case of a cash deposit, such a deposit or any
unused portion thereof not required to complete the work authorized by the permit
shall be refunded to the permittee.
(Sec. 23-2.8, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 96-34)
Sec. 14-14.9 Inspection.
(a) Each permit issued under the provisions of Articles 13 through 16 of this
chapter shall be deemed to include the right to the chief engineer or
the chief engineer's authorized representatives to enter upon and to inspect the grading,
grubbing, or stockpiling operations and if applicable the erosion control plan and provisions
and measures to control pollutants in storm water discharges during construction.
(b) The permittee shall notify the chief engineer at least two days before the
permittee or the permittee's agent begins any grading, grubbing or stockpiling. Where applicable
and feasible the measures to control erosion and other pollutants shall be in
place before any earth moving phase of the grading is initiated. A copy
of the permit, the erosion control plans and the NPDES permit where applicable,
plans and specifications for grading, grubbing or stockpiling shall be maintained at the
site during the progress of any work.
(c) If the chief engineer or the chief engineer's representative finds that the work
is not being done in conformance with Articles 13 through 16 of this
chapter; or the plans; or the erosion control plans; or in accordance with
accepted practices, the chief engineer shall immediately notify the person in charge of
the grading work of the nonconformity and of the corrective measures to be
taken. Grading operations shall cease until corrective measures satisfactory to the chief engineer
have been taken. In addition, whenever the work is not being done in
conformance with a NPDES permit, the state department of health will be notified.
(Sec. 23-2.9, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 92-122)
Article 15. Grading, Grubbing and Stockpiling
Sections:
14-15.1 Conditions of permit.
14-15.2 Special requirements.
Sec. 14-15.1 Conditions of permit.
The requirements of subsections (a), (b) and (c) may be modified by the
director of planning and permitting based on the engineer's soils report and engineering
slope hazard report.
(a) Height. Where a cut or fill is greater than 15 feet in height,
terraces or benches shall be constructed at vertical intervals of 15 feet except
that where only one bench is required, it shall be at the midpoint.
The minimum width of such terraces or benches shall be at least eight
feet and provided with drainage provisions to control erosion on the slope face
and bench surface.
(b) Cut Slopes. Under the following soil conditions, no cut may be steeper in
slope than the ratio of its horizontal to its vertical distance as shown
below:
(1) One-half horizontal to one vertical in unweathered rock or mudrock;
(2) One horizontal to one vertical in decomposed rock;
(3) One and one-half horizontal to one vertical in soils of low plasticity, cuts
of any height in highly plastic soils shall be as recommended in the
applicable report.
(c) Fill Slopes. Fills shall not be steeper than a ratio of two horizontal
to one vertical except that fill using highly plastic clays shall have slopes
as recommended in the applicable report.
(d) Distance from property line. The horizontal distance from the top of a cut
slope or the bottom of a fill slope to the adjoining property line
shall not be less than as follows:
Distance from Property
Height of Cut or Fill Line (in feet)
Zero feet to 4 feet 2
More than 4 feet to 8 feet 4
More than 8 feet to 15 feet 6
More than 15 feet 8
These requirements may be modified by the director of planning and permitting when
cuts or fills are supported by retaining walls or when the permittee submits
an engineer's soils report or engineering slope hazard report stating that the soil
conditions will permit a lesser horizontal distance without causing damage or danger to
the adjoining property.
(e) Area Opened. The maximum-sized parcel of land that may be opened for grading
or grubbing is 15 acres. Noncontiguous increments may be worked concurrently provided no
single parcel exceeds 15 acres, provided the work is in conformance with the
NPDES permit. The area of land that may be opened may be reduced
by the director of planning and permitting to control pollution and minimize storm
damage. However, if soils, hydrologic, climatic and construction conditions warrant, and adequate erosion
prevention measures have been taken, the director of planning and permitting may authorize
additional area to be opened. Additional area may not be opened for grading
or grubbing until measures to prevent dust or erosion problems in the area
already graded or grubbed have been undertaken to the satisfaction of the director.
(f) Fills. The requirements of subdivisions (1), (2) and (3) may be modified by
the director of planning and permitting if the permittee submits an engineer's soils
report recommending criteria for the proposed fill for its intended use.
(1) Fill material shall be selected to meet the requirements and conditions of the
particular fill for which it is to be used. The fill material shall
not contain vegetation or organic matter. Where rocks, concrete, or similar materials of
greater than eight inches in diameter are incorporated into the fill, they shall
be placed in accordance with the recommendation of a soils engineer.
(2) Preparation of Ground Surface. Before placing or stockpiling, the natural ground surface shall
be prepared by removing the vegetation and, if required by the director of
planning and permitting, shall be notched by a series of benches and/or subsurface
drains installed. No fill shall be placed over any water spring, marsh, refuse
dump, nor upon a soft, soggy or springy foundation; provided, that this requirement
may be waived by the director of planning and permitting if the permittee
submits an engineer's soils report recommending criteria for the fill.
(3) Placement and Compaction. Fill materials shall be spread and compacted in a series
of eight-inch to 10-inch layers when compacted, unless otherwise recommended by the soils
engineer. Except for slopes, the fill shall be compacted to 90 percent of
maximum density as determined by the most recent ASTM soil compaction test D1557
unless the engineer's soils report justifies a lesser degree of compaction, or unless
otherwise recommended by the soils engineer.
(g) Vegetation. Whenever feasible, natural vegetation should be retained by becoming part of the
erosion control plan during construction or part of the permanent landscaping plan if
applicable. If it is necessary that vegetation be removed, trees, timber, plants, shrubbery
and other woody vegetation, after being uprooted, displaced or dislodged from the ground
by excavation, clearing or grubbing, shall not be stored or deposited along the
banks of any stream, river or natural watercourse. After being uprooted, displaced or
dislodged, such vegetation shall be disposed of by means approved in writing by
the director of planning and permitting or removed from the site within a
reasonable time, but not to exceed three months.
(h) Drainage Provisions. Adequate provisions shall be made to prevent surface waters from damaging
the cut face of an excavation or the sloped surfaces of a fill.
Positive drainage shall be provided to prevent the accumulation or retention of surface
water in pits, gullies, holes or similar depressions. All drainage facilities shall be
designed to carry surface waters to a street, storm drain inlet or natural
watercourse and shall include an erosion and sedimentation control plan to prevent sediment-laden
runoff from leaving the site, either during or following construction. The director of
planning and permitting may require such detention or retention drainage structures and pipes
to be constructed or installed, which in the directors opinion, are necessary to
prevent erosion damage, prevent sediment-laden runoff from leaving the site, and to satisfactorily
carry off surface waters. The flow of any existing and known natural underground
drainage shall not be impeded or changed so as to cause damage to
adjoining property.
(i) Debris Prohibited. No person shall perform any grading operation so as to cause
falling rocks, soil or debris in any form to fall, slide or flow
onto adjoining properties, streets or natural watercourses.
(j) Work Days. No grading work shall be done on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays
at any time without prior notice to the director of planning and permitting,
provided such grading work is also in conformance with Hawaii Administrative Rules, Chapter
11-43, "Community Noise Control for Oahu."
(k) Dust Control. All work areas within and without the actual grading area shall
be maintained free from dust which will cause a nuisance or hazard to
others and in conformance with the air pollution control standards contained in Hawaii
Administrative Rules, Chapter 11-60, "Air Pollution Control."
(l) Water Quality Standards. All grading operations authorized under Articles 13 through 16 of
this chapter shall be performed in conformance with the applicable provisions of the
water pollution control and water quality standards contained in Hawaii Administrative Rules, Chapter
11-55, "Water Pollution Control" and Chapter 11-54, "Water Quality Standards" and if applicable,
the NPDES permit for the project. Any dewatering discharge into state waters will
require an NPDES permit from the department of health under Chapter 11-55, "Water
Pollution Control." Any dewatering discharge into the city-owned storm sewer system will require
a construction dewatering permit from the director of planning and permitting and an
NPDES permit for the discharge of any pollutant into state waters through the
city-owned storm sewer system from the department of health, State of Hawaii.
(m) Notification of Completion. The permittee or the permittee's agent shall notify the director
of planning and permitting or the directors representative when the grading operation is
ready for final inspection. Final approval shall not be given until completion of
all work including installation of all drainage structures and their protective devices, completion
of all planting showing a healthy growth in conformance with the approved plans
and specifications, and the required reports have been submitted.
(n) Report After Grading.
(1) When grading involves cuts or fills for which an engineer's soils report was
required, the permittee shall submit a
final report, prepared by an engineer, upon the completion of such work. This
report shall contain:
(A) A description of materials used in the fill and its moisture content at
the time of compaction, the
procedure used in depositing and compacting the fill, the preparation of original ground
surface before
making the fill, but not limited to benching and subsurface drainage, and a
plan or tabulation showing the
general location and elevation of compaction tests made in the fill together with
a tabulation of relative
compaction densities obtained at each location, the location of subdrains and other pertinent
features of
the fill necessary for its stability.
(B) A certification that the work was done in conformity to this chapter, the
approved plans and
specifications and the engineer's soils report.
(2) Where a slope hazard evaluation and mitigation plan was required to be submitted
with a grading permit
application, the permittee shall submit a final assessment report, prepared by an engineer,
upon the completion of
site work, prior to building construction. The assessment report shall contain a verification
that the prevention
measures and any stabilization measures called for in the engineering slope hazard report
or construction plans
were done in conformity with this chapter, and the approved plans and specifications.
(o) As-Graded Plan. Upon completion of grading areas over one acre or areas graded
under subdivision rules, an as-graded plan prepared by an engineer or land surveyor
shall be submitted if required by the director of planning and permitting.
(Sec. 23-3.1, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord 92-122, 04-27)
Sec. 14-15.2 Special requirements.
(a) Any person performing or causing to be performed any excavation or fill shall,
at such person's own expense, provide the necessary means to prevent the movement
of earth of the adjoining properties, to protect the improvements thereon, and to
maintain the existing natural grade of adjoining properties.
(b) Any person performing or causing to be performed, any excavation or fill shall
be responsible for the maintenance or restoration of street pavements, sidewalks and curbs,
and improvements of public utilities which may be affected. The maintenance or restoration
of street pavements, sidewalks and curbs shall be performed in accordance with the
requirements of the City and County of Honolulu and the maintenance and restoration
of improvements of public utilities shall be in conformity with the standards of
the public utility companies affected. At cuts fronting any street, a suitable and
adequate barrier shall be installed to provide protection to the public.
(c) Any person depositing or causing to be deposited, any silt or other debris
in ditches, watercourses, drainage facilities and public roadways, shall remove such silt or
other debris. In case such person shall fail, neglect or refuse to comply
with the provisions of this section within 48 hours after written notice, served
upon such person, either by mail or by personal service, the chief engineer
may proceed to remove the silt and other debris or to take any
other action the chief engineer deems appropriate. The costs incurred for any action
taken by the chief engineer shall be payable by such person.
(d) At any stage of the grading, grubbing or stockpiling work, if the chief
engineer finds that further work as authorized by an existing permit is likely
to create soil erosion problems or to endanger any life, limb or property,
the chief engineer may require safety precautions, which may include but shall not
be limited to the construction of flatter exposed slopes, the construction of additional
silting or sediment basins, drainage facilities or benches; the removal of rocks, boulders,
debris and other dangerous objects which, if dislodged, are likely to cause injury
or damage; the construction of fences or other suitable protective barriers; or may
refer to the local soil and water conservation district for advice from the
soil conservation service or other appropriate agencies on the planting or sodding of
slopes and bare areas. All planted or sodded areas shall be maintained. An
irrigation system or watering facilities may be required by the chief engineer.
(e) At any stage of the grading, grubbing or stockpiling operations, if the chief
engineer finds that further work as authorized by an existing permit is likely
to create dust problems which may jeopardize health, property or the public welfare,
the chief engineer may require additional dust control precautions and, if these additional
precautions are not effective in controlling dust, may stop all operations. These additional
dust control measures may include such items as sprinkling water, applying mulch treated
with bituminous material, or applying hydro mulch.
(f) Hillside lots shall be graded in such a manner that any parcels which
may be created therefrom, including all separate building sites which may be contained
within said parcels, can be satisfactorily graded and developed as individual building sites.
(Sec. 23-3.2, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Article 16. Violations, Penalties and Liabilities for Grading, Grubbing and
Stockpiling
Sections:
14-16.1 General.
14-16.2 Notice of violation--Stop work.
14-16.3 Criminal prosecution.
14-16.4 Administrative enforcement.
14-16.5 Liability.
14-16.6 Rule-making powers.
14-16.7 Decisions of the chief engineer.
Sec. 14-16.1 General.
It is unlawful for any person to do any act forbidden, or to
fail to perform any act required, by the provisions of Articles 13 through
16 of this chapter. Whenever a corporation violates any of the provisions of
Articles 13 through 16 of this chapter, the violation shall be deemed to
be also that of the individual directors, officers or agents of the corporation
who in their capacity as directors, officers or agents of such corporation have
authorized, ordered or done any of the acts constituting in whole or in
part such violation. (Sec. 23-4.1, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 90-71)
Sec. 14-16.2 Notice of violation--Stop work.
(a) Whenever any person, firm or corporation violates any provision of Articles 13 throught
16 of this chapter, the chief engineer shall serve the person, firm or
corporation with a notice of violation which shall require the person, firm or
corporation responsible to correct the violation.
(b) The notice of violation shall include but not be limited to the following
information:
(1) The date of issuance of the notice;
(2) The name and address of the person or entity notified and the location
of the violation;
(3) The section number of the ordinance, code or rule which has been violated;
(4) The nature of the violation; and
(5) An order to stop work if deemed necessary by the chief engineer; and
(6) The deadline for correction of the violation.
(c) If the chief engineer deems it necessary for work to stop, the work
shall cease upon receipt of the notice and shall not resume until corrective
measures satisfactory to the chief engineer have been taken. If the notice includes
a stop work order, the chief engineer shall notify and transmit a copy
to the chief of police concurrently with the issuance of the notice. The
chief of police shall have the power to enforce the stop work order
pursuant to Section 6-1604, Revised Charter of Honolulu, 1973, as amended.
(Added by Ord. 90-71; Am. Ord. 91-07)
Sec. 14-16.3 Criminal prosecution.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of Articles 13
through 16 of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor for
each and every day or portion thereof during which any violation of any
provisions of this chapter is committed and, upon conviction of any such violation,
such person shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000.00
or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both fine
and imprisonment. (Added by Ord. 90-71)
Sec. 14-16.4 Administrative enforcement.
(a) In lieu of or in addition to enforcement pursuant to Section 14-16.3, if
the chief engineer determines that any person, firm or corporation is not complying
with a notice of violation, the chief engineer may issue an order to
the person or entity responsible for the violation, pursuant to this section.
(b) Contents of Order.
(1) The order may require the party responsible for the violation to do any
or all of the following:
(A) Correct the violation within the time specified in the order;
(B) Upon compliance with the provisions of HRS Chapter 91, pay a civil fine
not to exceed $1,000.00 in the manner, at the place and time specified
in the order; and
(C) Upon compliance with the provisions of HRS Chapter 91, pay a civil fine
not to exceed $1,000.00 per day for each day in which the violation
occurs, in the manner and at the time and place specified in the
order.
(2) The order shall advise the party responsible for the violation that the order
shall become final 30 calendar days after the date of its delivery.
(c) Judicial Enforcement of Order. The chief engineer may institute a civil action in
any court of competent jurisdiction for the enforcement of any order issued pursuant
to this section. Where the civil action has been instituted to enforce the
civil fine imposed by said order, the chief engineer need only show that
the notice of violation and order were served, that a civil fine was
imposed, the amount of the civil fine imposed and that the fine imposed
has not been paid.
(Added by Ord. 90-71)
Sec. 14-16.5 Liability.
The provisions of Articles 13 through 16 of this chapter shall not be
construed to relieve or alleviate the liability of any person for damages resulting
from performing, or causing to be performed, any grading, grubbing or stockpiling operation.
The city, its officers and employees shall be free from any liability, cost
or damage which may accrue from any grading, grubbing or stockpiling or any
work connected therewith, authorized by Articles 13 through 16 of this chapter. (Sec.
23-4.2, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 90-71)
Sec. 14-16.6 Rule-making powers.
The chief engineer shall be empowered to promulgate rules and regulations pursuant to
HRS Chapter 91, for the implementation of the provisions of Articles 13 through
16 of this chapter. (Sec. 23-4.3, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 90-71)
Sec. 14-16.7 Decisions of the chief engineer.
Decisions of the chief engineer made in accordance with the provisions of Articles
13 through 16 of this chapter, and/or decisions involving variations from the standards
referred to herein shall be made a matter of record in the permit
file. (Sec. 23-4.4, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 90-71)
Article 17. Excavation and Repairs of Streets and Sidewalks
Sections:
14-17.1 Permit required--Application--Insurance--Bond--Permit fee.
14-17.2 Notice of commencement, prosecution of work and inspection.
14-17.3 Trench excavation, backfill and pavement restoration.
14-17.4 Repairs by city.
14-17.5 Charges to be levied for work done by the city for the board
of water supply--Disposition.
14-17.6 Indemnification of city.
14-17.7 Violation--Penalty.
Sec. 14-17.1 Permit required--Application--Insurance--Bond--Permit fee.
(a) No person, including city officials and employees, shall, in any manner or for
any purpose, break up, dig up, disturb, undermine or dig under, any public
highway, street, thoroughfare, alley or sidewalk or any other public place, or cause
the same to be done without having first obtained a permit therefor from
the chief engineer; provided, that work to accomplish emergency repairs to utilities may
be started without a permit. When such emergency work is performed, the chief
engineer or the chief engineer's authorized representative shall be notified of the location
and type of the emergency not later than the first work day following
the emergency. A written permit covering the emergency work shall be obtained from
the chief engineer not later than 10 working days following the emergency. The
city road division shall not be required to obtain a permit for routine
street maintenance, repair or resurfacing provided that such work does not require excavating
below the sub-base course. City departments shall not be required to obtain a
permit for excavating single holes at any one location in sidewalk area for
installation of pipe supported signs, markers, meters or planting of trees.
(b) Any person desiring the permit required under this section shall make application therefor
to the chief engineer on a form prescribed by the chief engineer. As
a condition precedent to the issuance of any such permit, the chief engineer
shall require:
(1) The securing of insurance naming the city as an additional assured, to protect
it against any and all claims or action for injury and death to
person or property damages due to any act or omission of the holder
of the permit arising out of any work done under said permit, said
insurance to be in the amount of $100,000.00 for property damages per occurrence
and in an amount not less than $500,000.00 for bodily injury or death.
A public utility company performing work for installation of service connections, for the
location of troubles in pipes or conduits, or for making repairs thereto may
furnish a certificate of insurance listing the limits of liability which shall equal
or exceed the amounts specified above for each and every service connection, trouble
location or repair work accomplished by the company's own forces during the term
of the policy and certifying that the insurance company will not cancel or
materially alter the coverage without giving the city 15 days advance notice; and
(2) When the work of restoration is not performed by the city, a bond
shall be required in favor of the city, extending for a period not
to exceed one year after approval of any restored pavement, sidewalk or other
public improvement, to ensure the proper restoration thereof. The amount of the bond
shall be not less than $1,000.00 or the estimated cost of the excavation
and restoration work whichever is higher. Utility companies shall be responsible for work
and repairs in existing public streets performed by its employees, contractors or subcontractors.
In lieu of furnishing a separate bond for each permit a utility company
may furnish written guarantee to the city that the company will be responsible
for the restoration work for a period not to exceed one year after
satisfactory completion of the restoration work.
(c) Before issuing a permit, the chief engineer shall:
(1) Require the presentation of a plan, drawn to scale, showing the location of
each proposed excavation and the dimensions thereof including the surface area of said
opening in paving, sidewalk and other structures, the nature, size, length and purpose
of the structure to be installed therein, and such other details and information
as the chief engineer may require to be shown upon such plan. In
lieu of the plan, a single line sketch, drawn to scale, may be
submitted to show the location of each excavation for a service connection, for
location of trouble or for repair to utilities;
(2) Obtain clearance from city departments having underground installations and from the various utility
companies prior to issuance of the permit;
(3) Collect a permit fee based on the schedule below. The permit fee shall
not be refundable even if the applicant, after issuance of the permit, decides
not to proceed with the construction.
(A)
Work Permit Fee
Service connection $13.50
Repairs to utilities $13.50
Trench for installation of pipelines, underground
cables, etc. for the first 20 lineal feet, plus $4.50 for
each additional 10 lineal feet or any
fraction thereof $45.00
(B) When the work is performed by or on behalf of the city except
the board of water supply, the state or the federal government, the chief
engineer shall waive the collection of any permit fee.
All permit fees shall be deposited in the highway fund.
(d) Each permit shall be deemed to include the provision that all surplus excavated
material, if desired by the chief engineer, shall be carted or hauled to
and deposited upon such place as may be directed by the chief engineer
at the expense of the permittee. The maximum distance such material is to
be hauled shall not exceed the distance between the job site and the
nearest city and county corporation yard.
(e) Every trenching permit shall expire and become null and void one year after
the date of issuance of the permit. Upon expiration of a permit, no
work shall be commenced unless a new permit is first obtained. Permit fee
for a new permit shall be the fee as specified above.
(f) The permittee shall also obtain a permit from the city department of transportation
services before any work on any portion of public street may begin.
(g) Failure to obtain any permit or the violation of any provision of this
section shall be deemed a misdemeanor.
(Sec. 20-1.1, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 92-122, 03-12)
Sec. 14-17.2 Notice of commencement, prosecution of work and inspection.
(a) Notice of Commencement of Work. At least three working days before the work
is started, the permittee or the permittee's representative shall give notice of the
time of commencement of the work to the chief engineer or the chief
engineer's representative.
(b) Prosecution of Work. After the work has begun it shall be diligently and
continuously prosecuted until completed. All work shall be completed within the time specified
in the permit unless an extension of time for good cause shown is
granted by the chief engineer.
(c) Inspection. All work authorized under Articles 17 through 22 of this chapter shall
be subject to inspection by the chief engineer or the chief engineer's authorized
representative.
(Sec. 20-1.2, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-17.3 Trench excavation, backfill and pavement restoration.
(a) Trench excavation and backfill shall be accomplished in accordance with the applicable provisions
contained in the Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction dated September 1986 and
Standard Details for Public Works Construction, dated September 1984, as amended, of the
department of public works, City and County of Honolulu.
(b) The permittee shall provide, in connection with the work covered by the permit,
all necessary traffic control devices which shall conform to the requirements of the
"Rules and Regulations Governing the Use of Traffic Control Devices at Work Sites
or Adjacent to Public Streets and Public Highways" of the highway safety coordinator,
State of Hawaii. The permittee shall be responsible for all damages of every
kind or nature suffered because of the work done by the permittee.
(c) In dewatering trenches, the discharge shall not be drained directly onto the street
or gutter. In urban areas and areas where a storm sewer system has
been installed, the discharge shall be drained to the nearest storm sewer by
the use of pipes or other suitable means acceptable to the chief engineer.
If necessary the discharge shall be processed, filtered, ponded or otherwise treated to
comply with the applicable provisions of Hawaii Administrative Rules, Chapter 11-54, "Water Quality
Standards" and Chapter 11-55, "Water Pollution Control" and any other applicable federal, state,
and city and county ordinances and regulations concerning water pollution prior to its
release into waterways or city storm sewer systems. No work shall commence unless
a construction dewatering permit is first obtained from the chief engineer. The permittee
is also required to obtain a NPDES permit for the discharge of any
pollutant into state waters through the city-owned storm sewer system from the department
of health, State of Hawaii. The city shall receive a copy of the
NPDES permit and all analysis of the discharge required under the NPDES permit
whenever the city-owned storm sewer system is used for the dewatering operation. Whenever
the discharge is released directly into waterways not owned by the city, only
a NPDES permit is required.
(d) Concrete envelope or jacket for pipes or duct lines shall be not more
than six inches wider than the width of the concrete envelope or jacket
shown on the plan or drawings submitted by the applicant for a trenching
permit. Whenever this tolerance is exceeded the sides of the concrete envelope or
jacket shall be formed to maintain the dimensions shown on the plan or
drawings.
(e) The permit holder shall, upon completion of the backfilling and compaction of any
excavation and after inspection and approval by the chief engineer, immediately commence the
necessary work to restore the foundation and surface, including any public structure appurtenant
thereto, to its original or equally good condition. The chief engineer may require
compaction tests be performed to assure that the backfill has been compacted to
the required density. Backfill not conforming to the specified degree of compaction shall
be recompacted or removed and replaced with suitable material. Restoration shall be accomplished
in accordance with the applicable provisions contained in the Standard Specifications for Public
Works Construction dated September 1986 and Standard Details for Public Workers Construction dated
September 1984, as amended, of the department of public works, City and County
of Honolulu. Pavement restoration over the trench excavation shall be similar to that
existing prior to the excavation, i.e., concrete base course shall be replaced with
concrete of the same thickness.
(f) When trenching in concrete sidewalks or concrete pavement the concrete to be removed
shall first be cut with a saw to a depth of not less
than one-fourth the depth of the slab. The concrete shall be cut so
as to leave a six-inch wide undisturbed surface between the cut and the
side of the trench. When any portion of a sidewalk block measuring four
feet or less in dimension is cut, trenched or damaged during construction, the
entire block shall be removed and replaced. A sidewalk block greater than four
feet in dimension which is cut, trenched or damaged shall be removed and
replaced in such a manner that the replaced and remaining strip or block
shall be not less than four feet wide. The replaced sidewalk block shall
be scored, finished, and colored to match the finish and color of the
adjacent blocks.
(g) All agencies having construction performed under a trenching permit shall submit as-built drawings
to the chief engineer showing the actual construction performed.
(Sec. 20-1.3, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 92-122)
Sec. 14-17.4 Repairs by city.
In the case of any excavation which has not been backfilled or restored
in accordance with the provisions of this article, or in the case where
the excavation poses hazards or nuisances, the chief engineer shall make or cause
to be made, the necessary repairs and the expenses thereof shall be charged
to and collected from the permit holder or any surety where a bond
has been required, or the person responsible for the excavation in the event
no permit has been obtained. Such repairs shall include, but not be limited
to, the restoration of the foundation and surface, reexcavation and backfilling of excavations,
repairs to any public structure and replacement of any public structure not properly
restored. (Sec. 20-1.4, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 92-122)
Sec. 14-17.5 Charges to be levied for work done by the city for the
board of water supply--Disposition.
(a) For any work done by the city for the board of water supply
under the permit required by this article, charges for restoring the foundation and
surface to its original or equally good condition shall be made by the
city against the board of water supply.
(b) Charges for the patching of any trench shall be at the following rates.
These rates shall be escalated on a fiscal year basis by the representative
consumer price index factor for the year preceding.
Asphalt concrete $ 4.05 per square foot
Concrete $19.54 per square foot
Asphaltic concrete on concrete $22.05 per square foot
(c) All moneys collected from charges herein levied shall be deposited into the highway
fund and made available for purposes of that fund.
(Sec. 20-1.5, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 92-122)
Sec. 14-17.6 Indemnification of city.
(a) The holder of a permit shall indemnify and save harmless the city, the
officers and agents thereof from all claims, demands, suits, actions or proceedings of
every name, character and description which may be brought against the city for
or on account of any injuries or damages to any person or property
received or sustained by any person as a consequence of any act or
acts of the holder of permit on work done under the permit.
(b) The city while making repairs shall use every precaution required of the holder
of permit as to barricades, lights and watchpersons for the safety of the
public, but such action shall not relieve the holder of the permit from
responsibility for accidents, should any occur.
(Sec. 20-1.6, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-17.7 Violation--Penalty.
Any person who violates any provision of this article shall, upon conviction, be
punished by a fine not exceeding $1,000.00 or by imprisonment not exceeding three
months, or by both for each separate offense. Each day of violation shall
constitute a separate offense. In addition, any person upon conviction shall be liable
for the total cost of any restoration of the foundation and surface, reexcavation
and backfilling of excavations, repairs to any public structure and replacement of any
public structure not properly restored. (Sec. 20-1.7, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord.
92-122)
Article 18. Regulations Governing the Construction of Sidewalk, Curb or Driveway
Within the Right-of-Way of Public Streets
Sections:
14-18.1 Short title and purpose.
14-18.2 Definitions.
14-18.3 Sidewalks, curbs and driveways to conform to grade, standards and specifications.
14-18.4 Permit required.
14-18.5 Notice of reconstruction or repair of sidewalks, curbs or driveways.
14-18.6 Notice to owner.
14-18.7 Failure to reconstruct or repair sidewalks, curbs or driveways.
14-18.8 Standards and specifications for sidewalks.
14-18.9 Standard details and specifications for curbs.
14-18.10 Standards and specifications for driveways.
14-18.11 Standards and specifications for wheelchair ramps.
14-18.12 Ramp in gutter prohibited.
14-18.13 Conversion of abandoned driveway to sidewalk.
14-18.14 Inspection and approval.
14-18.15 Violation--Penalty.
Sec. 14-18.1 Short title and purpose.
(a) Short Title. This article shall be known as the "sidewalk code," may be
cited as such, and is referred to herein as "this code."
(b) Purpose. The purpose of this article is to regulate, control and provide uniformity
in the construction, reconstruction, installation, improvement and repairing of sidewalk, curb and driveway.
(Sec. 20-2.1, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-18.2 Definitions.
For the purpose of this article:
"Abandoned driveway" means a driveway no longer used for egress and ingress purposes
by motor vehicles.
"Asphalt concrete walkway" means a temporary walkway along a street constructed of asphalt
concrete and intended for use by pedestrians.
"Building superintendent" means the director and building superintendent of the building department or
such person's duly authorized representative.
"Chief engineer" means the director and chief engineer of the department of public
works or such person's duly authorized representative.
"Curb" means the raised border of concrete, asphaltic concrete or stone along the
edge of the pavement of a street.
"Driveway" means a facility constructed between the pavement of a roadway and any
abutting property, which is used by motor vehicles for egress or ingress to
the property.
"Owner" means any person, firm, corporation, partnership or other legal entity holding title
to any property adjoining any street in the city and county or any
lessee thereof holding under a recorded lease.
"Sidewalk" means that portion of a street between a curb line or the
pavement of a roadway, and the adjacent property line intended for use by
pedestrians, including any street setback area acquired by the city for road widening
purposes.
"Street" means a public highway, as defined in HRS Section 264-1, unless otherwise
specified.
"Wheelchair ramp" means a facility constructed between the curb and concrete sidewalk to
provide access from the street to the sidewalk for wheelchairs. (Sec. 20-2.2, R.O.
1978 (1987 Supp. to 1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-18.3 Sidewalks, curbs and driveways to conform to grade, standards and specifications.
All sidewalks, curbs and driveways shall be constructed according to standards and specifications
as herein provided and shall conform to established grades. (Sec. 20-2.3, R.O. 1978
(1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-18.4 Permit required.
A permit and the payment of fees are required under Chapter 18 of
this code to perform work under this article. (Sec. 20-2.4, R.O. 1978 (1983
Ed.))
Sec. 14-18.5 Notice of reconstruction or repair of sidewalks, curbs or driveways.
Whenever the building superintendent finds that any sidewalk, curb or driveway is in
need of reconstruction or repair in the interest of public safety or welfare,
and such need is caused by action or actions attributable to the owner
of land abutting such sidewalk, curb or driveway, the building superintendent is authorized
to give notice thereof to such owner and to require such owner to
reconstruct or repair the sidewalk, curb or driveway. (Sec. 20-2.5, R.O. 1978 (1983
Ed.))
Sec. 14-18.6 Notice to owner.
(a) The notices specified in Section 14-18.5 shall be given by the building superintendent
either by publication
thereof in a daily newspaper of general circulation in the city once in
each of three consecutive weeks, or by mailing a copy of such notice
by certified mail to the owner.
(b) Publication and Notice By Mail. When the building superintendent has doubt that the
owner received the notice by mail, such notice shall also be given by
publication.
(c) Contents of Notice. The notice shall set forth the nature of the reconstruction
or repair to be made, the location thereof, and a specific direction to
such owner to reconstruct or repair such sidewalk, curb or driveway.
(Sec. 20-2.6, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-18.7 Failure to reconstruct or repair sidewalks, curbs or driveways.
(a) Time Limit. If after the expiration of 60 days after the date of
publication or after the receipt of the notice thereof an owner fails to
reconstruct or repair the sidewalk, curb or driveway, the building superintendent shall issue
a work order to the chief engineer to reconstruct or repair the sidewalk,
curb or driveway as provided in subsection (b) of this section.
If both written notice and publication is given to an owner, the expiration
of the 60 days shall be based on whichever form of notice was
last given.
(b) Reconstruction or Repair of Sidewalks, Curbs or Driveways By City. The chief engineer
is authorized and empowered to pay for the reconstruction or repair of sidewalks,
curbs or driveways out of city funds or to have the work done
by city employees.
(c) Charge to Owner. When the city has reconstructed or repaired the sidewalk, curb
or driveway or has paid for such work, the cost thereof including overhead
costs, plus accrued interest at the rate of seven percent per annum shall
be charged to the owner of such property and the owner shall be
billed therefor by mail. The bill shall apprise the owner that failure to
pay the bill will result in a lien. Interest at the rate of
seven percent per annum shall accrue from the 31st calendar day after the
bill has been mailed to the owner for payment in the event the
same has not been paid prior thereto.
(d) Statement of Chief Engineer. Where the full amount due the city is not
paid by such owner within 30 calendar days after the bill has been
mailed for payment, the chief engineer shall cause to be recorded with the
city director of finance a statement showing the cost and expense incurred for
the work, the date the work was done and the location of the
property on which said work was done and file the same with the
director of finance who shall refer the collection thereof to the corporation counsel.
(e) Mechanic's and Materialman's Lien Procedure. Any work done by the city hereunder is
deemed to be done pursuant to quasi-contract or constructive contract between the city
and the owner. Based on the foregoing contractual relationship, if the owner fails
to pay the amount duly noted on the statement filed by the chief
engineer, the corporation counsel may proceed to file a mechanic's and materialman's lien
pursuant to the provisions of Part II of HRS Chapter 507, or any
other appropriate lien procedures.
(Sec. 20-2.7, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-18.8 Standards and specifications for sidewalks.
(a) Generally. All sidewalks shall be constructed in accordance with the Standard Details, department
of public works, City and County of Honolulu, dated August, 1976, as amended,
and with the applicable sections of the Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction,
department of public works, City and County of Honolulu, dated May, 1975, as
amended.
(b) Exceptions.
(1) Winding Sidewalks. Any and all sidewalks shall be constructed adjacent to the property
lines; provided, however, the chief engineer may authorize winding sidewalks and provided further,
that such sidewalks shall not cause additional hazards to the public as the
chief engineer may determine.
(2) Other Surface Encroachments. The chief engineer may also authorize the placement of walls,
fences, benches and other surface encroachments in the sidewalk area provided that application
for such encroachments are made in writing to the chief engineer and provided
further, that such encroachments do not unduly interfere with the public use of
such space for utilities and pedestrian traffic. Such encroachments shall be removed at
the owner's expense upon notification by the building superintendent when recommended by the
chief engineer that the space is needed for public use.
(3) Notice. The building superintendent upon such recommendation by the chief engineer shall issue
a notice in writing to the owner directing the owner to remove the
encroachments or improvements.
The work shall be done within such reasonable time limit as shall be
stated in such notice which in no case shall be less than 20
days nor more than 60 days. Said notice may be given by personal
service or by mailing a copy of such notice by certified mail to
the owner.
(4) Failure to Remove Encroachments. Upon failure of the owner to comply with such
notice within the time mentioned therein, the building superintendent shall cause such encroachments
to be removed. The costs thereby incurred by the city shall be billed
to such owner and shall, if not paid to the city by such
owner within 30 days after such billing date, become a lien upon the
property abutting such encroachments.
(5) Whenever the chief engineer finds that in the interest of public safety or
welfare an asphalt concrete walkway is necessary for pedestrians, the chief engineer is
authorized to construct such a walkway.
(c) Filing Fee. A fee of $100.00 shall be required for each application submitted
under subsection (b)(2) dealing with other surface encroachments. All application fees collected shall
not be refundable and shall be deposited into the highway fund.
(Sec. 20-2.8, R.O. 1978 (1987 Supp. to 1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 03-12)
Sec. 14-18.9 Standard details and specifications for curbs.
All curbs shall be constructed in accordance with the Standard Details, department of
public works, City and County of Honolulu, dated August, 1976, as amended, and
with the applicable sections of the Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction, department
of public works, City and County of Honolulu, dated May, 1975, as amended.
(Sec. 20-2.9, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-18.10 Standards and specifications for driveways.
(a) Standards--Where Found. All driveways shall be constructed in accordance with the applicable standard
driveway apron and layout details of the Standard Details, department of public works,
City and County of Honolulu, dated August, 1976, as amended, and with the
applicable sections of the Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction, department of public
works, City and County of Honolulu, dated May, 1975, as amended.
(b) Nonstandard Driveway. The chief engineer may authorize the construction of driveways which do
not conform to the foregoing standards where topographic or traffic conditions warrant a
variance from the standards.
(c) Nonconforming Driveway. Whenever a driveway is constructed in a location where the existing
driveways are finished in conformance to standards adopted prior to approval of this
section, the chief engineer may authorize the constructed driveway to be finished and
scored to match the finish and scoring of the adjacent driveways.
(d) Designation. The chief engineer is further authorized to designate the location of a
driveway in an area zoned for business, industrial or hotel-apartment use.
(e) Exemption. When an existing driveway having width or location which does not conform
to the width or location prescribed in the standard driveway layout is constructed,
such driveway may be constructed to its existing width and location and shall
be exempted from the width and location provisions in the standard driveway layout,
provided that such driveway shall be constructed to conform to the standard driveway
apron details.
(f) Filing Fee. A fee of $100.00 shall be required for each variance application
or request covered under subsections (b) and (c) above. All application fees collected
shall not be refundable and shall be deposited into the highway fund.
(Sec. 20-2.10, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 03-12)
Sec. 14-18.11 Standards and specifications for wheelchair ramps.
Wheelchair ramps shall be constructed only at locations approved by the chief engineer
and in accordance with the applicable standards in the Standard Details, department of
public works, City and County of Honolulu, dated August, 1976, as amended, and
with the applicable sections of the Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction, department
of public works, City and County of Honolulu, dated May, 1975, as amended.
(Sec. 20-2.11, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-18.12 Ramp in gutter prohibited.
The construction of a ramp in the gutter to permit vehicles to drive
over the curb is prohibited. (Sec. 20-2.12, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-18.13 Conversion of abandoned driveway to sidewalk.
(a) Conversion. The building superintendent may require the owner to convert an abandoned driveway
to a sidewalk.
(b) Work to Be Done By City. If the owner fails to close such
abandoned driveway and to convert it to a sidewalk, the building superintendent shall
cause the city to perform the necessary work.
(c) Notice. Prior to commencement of any work, the building superintendent shall notify the
owner that if such owner fails to obtain a permit to convert the
abandoned driveway to a sidewalk within 20 days from the date of such
notice or having obtained a permit, fails to convert such driveway to a
sidewalk before the expiration of such permit, the city shall perform the necessary
work and shall charge the costs thereof including the amount of the permit
fee required by Section 14-18.4, to the owner.
(d) Lien. All costs shall be billed to such owner and shall, if not
paid to the city by such owner within 30 days after such billing
date, become a lien upon the subject property.
(Sec. 20-2.13, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-18.14 Inspection and approval.
(a) Notice to City. The permittee shall notify the building superintendent, at least 24
hours before the permittee, the permittee's agent, contractor or subcontractor begins any work.
All work authorized under the permit, including formwork and placement of reinforcement, shall
be subject to inspection by the building superintendent.
(b) Illegal Sidewalk Construction. Any sidewalk, curb or driveway constructed without a permit or
without prior notification as provided under subsection (a) of this section shall be
deemed a violation of the provisions of this article. If the building superintendent
finds that a sidewalk, curb or driveway does not conform to the requirements
prescribed in this article, the building superintendent may require that the sidewalk, curb
or driveway be removed and reconstructed and if the owner fails to remove
and reconstruct as required, the city shall cause the sidewalk, curb or driveway
to be reconstructed and all costs thereby incurred by the city shall be
billed to such owner and shall, if not paid to the city by
such owner within 30 days after such billing date, become a lien upon
the subject property.
(Sec. 20-2.14, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
Sec. 14-18.15 Violation--Penalty.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall be guilty
of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine
not exceeding $100.00. The continuance of any such violation after conviction shall be
deemed a new offense for each day of such continuance. (Sec. 20-2.15, R.O.
1978 (1983 Ed.))
Article 19. Public Utility Reserved Areas
Sections:
14-19.1 Area abutting street reserved for utilities.
14-19.2 Reserved area at intersections--Construction of driveways over same prohibited.
Sec. 14-19.1 Area abutting street reserved for utilities.
Whenever street and curb lines are established within the city, the area of
two and one-half feet immediately back of the face of the curb on
both sides of the street shall be reserved for public utility pole lines
and unconduited utility cables; provided, however, that nothing shall prohibit the public utilities,
the department of public works, the department of wastewater management, or the board
of water supply from constructing gas lines, conduits or water and sewer lines
across said strip, or the construction of catch basins and sewer manholes within
such reserve, or the construction by the owner of the property abutting thereon
of a driveway or driveways across said reserved strip; provided further, that installation
of necessary cables and lines on the public utility poles and underground conduits
for transmission of television signals may be allowed within the reserved area upon
the terms and conditions set forth in a written approval from the city
and the joint pole committee representing the public utility companies. (Sec. 20-3.1, R.O.
1978 (1983 Ed.); Am. Ord. 93-32)
Sec. 14-19.2 Reserved area at intersections--Construction of driveways over same prohibited.
An area two and one-half feet wide as described in Section 14-19.1, commencing
at a location on the curb line tangent 15 feet before reaching the
point of curb of said curb line and running thence along said curb
line tangent to the point of curve of same and thence along the
curb curve around to the curb line of the adjacent side of the
intersecting street and ending 15 feet beyond the point of tangency, of the
curb curve with said curb line, shall be reserved for the use of
public utility poles and unconduited cables at intersecting streets. No driveway shall be
constructed within this area notwithstanding the provisions of Section 14-19.1, except as provided
in Section 14-18.10; provided, that installation of necessary cables and lines on the
public utility poles and underground conduits for transmission of television signals may be
allowed within the reserved area upon the terms and conditions set forth in
a written approval from the city and the joint pole committee representing the
public utility companies. (Sec. 20-3.2, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.))
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