Welcome to the Planning Department

The Planning Department advises the Mayor, Planning Commission, and the County Council on planning and land use matters for the County of Kauai. The Department is also responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances, as well as the County's planning program, which includes long-range and regulatory policy documents like the General Plan and Comprehensive Zoning Ordinances.


Learn more about the the County's planning framework here!

Announcements


Monday, April 5, 2021
Planning Department reopens to front counter walk-in services starting April 5; Updated SOPs announced

Effective April 5, 2021:

Starting Monday, April 5, the Planning Department will reopen its front counter for walk-in services with no appointments necessary from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

In addition to walk-in service, front counter service appointments will still be available and strongly encouraged. To schedule an in-person appointment please visit the Planning Department’s appointment system at https://planningdepartment.setmore.com

The Planning Department is located in the Līhu‘e Civic Center Kapule Building, which will no longer require customers to answer health- and travel-related questions prior to entry starting April 5. 

Customers will still be required to undergo a temperature check before entering the building and social distancing guidelines will be enforced. Masks will still be required for entry and service. 

Additional updates to the Planning Department’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are as follows. 

  • Applicants and members of the public are encouraged to contact the Planning Department at planningdepartment@kauai.gov or at 241-4050 to submit all zoning inquiries, including but not limited to zoning permit submittals, zoning determination requests, and zoning violation complaints. 
  • All payments to the Planning Department, including but not limited to zoning applications, enforcement actions, and permit fees shall be: 
    1. Mailed to Planning Department, Kapule Building, 4444 Rice Street, Suite A473, Līhu‘e, Hawai‘i, 96766; or 
    2. Submitted through the Drop Box outside of the Kapule Building (the mail slot located outside of Real Property Tax Assessment Office); or 
    3. Submitted during a front counter visit. 
  • Any payments that are submitted to the Planning Department shall be in an envelope clearly marked “Planning Department” and it shall have the respective zoning application number and/or Tax Map Key. 

The Planning Department is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday; except for State and Federal Holidays.


Monday, October 19, 2020
Front Counter Now Open by Appointment Only

Effective: Monday, October 19, 2020

The Planning Department's front counter is now open to the public by appointment only.  The Planning Department's COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures continue to remain in effect.  All remote appointments must be made at least 24 hours in advance by visiting the Planning Department’s appointment system at:  https://planningdepartment.setmore.com.

 


Monday, September 28, 2020
Updated 10/5/20: Planning Dept. Front Counter Renovations

Effective: 9/28/20:

From Monday, September 28, 2020 to Monday, October 19, 2020, the Planning Department’s front counter at the Kapule Building in the Līhu‘e Civic Center will be closed while the area undergoes construction.  During this period, services will be held remotely and by appointment only.  Therefore, the “Planning Dept. COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) – dated May 27, 2020” have been temporarily amended as follows: 

  1. All applicants and members of the public must contact the Department at planningdepartment@kauai.gov or at 241-4050 to submit any zoning inquiries, including but not limited to zoning permit submittals, zoning determination requests, and zoning violation complaints.
  1. A representative from the Department will return any phone or email message Monday through Thursday within 24 hours of receipt.
  1. All payments to the Planning Department, including but not limited to zoning applications, enforcement actions, and permit fees shall be:
  1. Mailed to “Planning Department, Kapule Building, 4444 Rice Street, Suite A473, Līhu‘e, Hawai‘i, 96766; or,
  2. Submitted through the mail slot located outside of Real Property Tax Assessment Office, on the right-hand side of the Kapule Building.

Any payments that are submitted to the Planning Department shall be in an envelope clearly marked “Planning Department”, and it shall have the respective zoning application number and/or Tax Map Key.

  1. From Monday, September 28, 2020 to Monday, October 19, 2020,  the Planning Department’s front counter at the Kapule Building in the Līhu‘e Civic Center will be CLOSED.  During this period, services will be held remotely and by appointment only.  All remote appointments must be made at least 24 hours in advance by visiting the Planning Department’s appointment system at:  https://planningdepartment.setmore.com.

Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Planning Dept. COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)- May 27, 2020

Effective 5/27/20:

1.    In order to practice social distancing protocols, the Planning Department encourages applicants and members of the public to contact the Department at planningdepartment@kauai.gov or at 241-4050 to submit all zoning inquiries, including but not limited to zoning permit submittals, zoning determination requests, and zoning violation complaints.

2.    A representative from the Department will return any phone or email message Monday through Thursday within 24 hours of receipt.

3.    All payments to the Planning Department, including but not limited to zoning applications, enforcement actions, and permit fees shall be:

a.    Mailed to “Planning Department,, Kapule Building, 4444 Rice Street, Suite A473, Līhu‘e, Hawai‘i, 96766; or,

b.    Submitted through the mail slot located outside of Real Property Tax Assessment Office, on the right-hand side of the Kapule Building; or,

c.     Submitted during a scheduled front counter appointment.

4.    Any payments that are submitted to the Planning Department shall be in an envelope clearly marked “Planning Department”, and it shall have the respective zoning application number and/or Tax Map Key.

5.    Effective June 1, 2020, the Planning Department’s front counter at the Kapule Building in the Līhu‘e Civic Center will be open Monday through Thursday from 7:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. Services will be by appointment only. Appointments must be made at least 24 hours in advance. To schedule an in-person appointment please visit the Planning Department’s appointment system at  https://planningdepartment.setmore.com.


Thursday, May 7, 2020
Updated: Planning Dept. COVID-19- Office of Information Practices (OIP) Request

Pursuant to the Governor's Seventh Supplementary Proclamation, the Uniform Information Practices Act and the Sunshine Law remain temporarily suspended in part, including all deadlines. To the extent the Planning Department has access to the records and redaction or substantial review of the records are not necessary, the Department will do its best to fulfill requests for information that are submitted to:  plankauai@kauai.gov.  


Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Planning Dept. COVID-19- Office of Information Practices (OIP) Request

Pursuant to the Governor’s Proclamation dated March 4, 2020, Governor’s Supplementary Proclamation dated March 16, 2020, and Mayor’s Emergency Proclamation dated March 4, 2020, which invoke powers under Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 127A and suspend laws including but not limited to HRS Chapter 46, 91, 92, 92F, 205A, and 343, the Planning Department will NOT be processing OIP requests until further notice.   

 

Contact Information

photo of Kaaina Hull
Kaʻāina S. Hull
Director

photo of Jodi Higuchi Sayegusa
Jodi A. Higuchi Sayegusa
Deputy Director

Kauai County Planning Department
4444 Rice Street., Ste A473
Lihue, Hawaii 96766

Phone: (808) 241-4050

Email: planningdepartment@kauai.gov 

Front Counter Hours:
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
(Monday through Friday,
except for Holidays)

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