HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

635

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO MICRO HOUSING.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION I.  The legislature finds that the State of Hawaii is in dire need of new and innovative residential construction projects to address the shortage of affordable housing and to keep homelessness at bay.  The limited availability of land coupled with Hawaii's high cost of living are two of the primary reasons that Hawaii has one of the lowest rates of home ownership in the country.  Micro housing units provide practical alternative housing options for single individuals and affordable options for low- and moderate-income earners, and have been successfully implemented in high density cities such as Seattle and New York.   

     The legislature finds that micro housing units are a cost-effective way to address the housing shortage in Hawaii because they make efficient use of scarce and expensive land.  Furthermore, legalizing micro housing will help the State to achieve its objectives for socio-cultural advancement with regard to housing, as set forth in the Hawaii State Planning Act.

     The intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Define micro housing;

     (2)  Incorporate micro housing into the objectives of the Hawaii State Planning Act; and

     (3)  Explicitly make micro housing units legal, notwithstanding any county zoning laws, permitting provisions, or building code provisions to the contrary.

     SECTION 2.  Section 201G-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:

     "Micro housing unit", "micro house", or "micro unit" means a dwelling unit with a:

     (1)  Total floor area of not less than two hundred twenty square feet and not more than five hundred square feet for not more than two occupants; and

(2)  Separate closet, kitchen sink, cooking appliance, refrigeration facilities, and separate bathroom containing a toilet and a bathtub or shower. 

 

 

     SECTION 3.  Section 226-19, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "§226-19  Objectives and policies for socio-cultural advancement--housing.      (b)  To achieve the housing objectives, it shall be the policy of this State to:

     (1)  Effectively accommodate the housing needs of Hawaii's people.

     (2)  Stimulate and promote feasible approaches that increase housing choices for low-income, moderate-income, and gap-group households.

     (3)  Increase homeownership and rental opportunities and choices in terms of quality, location, cost, densities, style, and size of housing.

     (4)  Promote appropriate improvement, rehabilitation, and maintenance of existing housing units and residential areas.

     (5)  Promote design and location of housing developments taking into account the physical setting, accessibility to public facilities and services, and other concerns of existing communities and surrounding areas.

     (6)  Facilitate the use of available vacant, developable, and underutilized urban lands for housing.

     (7)  Foster a variety of lifestyles traditional to Hawaii through the design and maintenance of neighborhoods that reflect the culture and values of the community.

     (8)  Promote research and development of methods to reduce the cost of housing construction in Hawaii.

     (9)  Promote construction of micro housing, as defined in §201G-1, by owner-builders and developers."

     SECTION 4.  Chapter 107, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§ 107-__  State building code; micro housing.  The construction and use of micro housing as defined in section 201G-1 shall be legal, notwithstanding any county zoning laws, permitting provisions, or building code provisions to the contrary.  Legal micro housing may include small house trailers and micro housing units made from freight shipping containers, provided they fit within the parameters of a micro housing unit as defined in section 201G-1.

     SECTION 5.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2015.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Housing; Micro Housing; Micro Units

 

Description:

Defines micro housing and makes the construction and use of micro housing units legal.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.