SB698 would amend Hawaii’s state building code to require stronger hurricane-resistant construction for new housing in designated wind-risk areas. Beginning January 1, 2026, newly constructed single-family residences and apartment buildings located within the 130 miles-per-hour wind level would have to be built to withstand at least a Category 3 hurricane and include a residential safe room with an attached bathroom. Buildings located within the 140 miles-per-hour wind level or above would have to be built to withstand at least a Category 5 hurricane and include the same type of safe room.
The bill also revises the state building code framework in Chapter 107, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to add these hurricane protection requirements as a statewide code provision. It defines key terms such as “apartment building,” “Category three hurricane,” “Category five hurricane,” and the relevant wind-level zones, and it directs that county building code updates may not conflict with the new state requirements. The measure is framed as a response to climate change, rising ocean temperatures, aging infrastructure, and limited shelter capacity across the islands.
Impact
SB698 would create a new statewide hurricane-protection standard for certain new residential construction and would preempt county code changes that conflict with the new requirements. It would amend sections 107-25 and 107-28 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes and add a new section to Chapter 107 establishing mandatory hurricane-resistance and safe-room standards for qualifying single-family homes and apartment buildings. The bill would affect builders, developers, homeowners, county building departments, and code enforcement officials, and it would apply to construction beginning January 1, 2026.
Sentiment
The bill text reflects strong support for more aggressive hurricane preparedness and resilience measures, with a clear emphasis on climate-driven risk and public safety. No committee transcripts or vote history were provided, so there is no recorded legislative debate or roll-call sentiment to assess beyond the bill’s stated findings and purpose. Based on the text alone, the measure is presented as a proactive disaster-resilience initiative rather than a controversial or incremental code update.
Contention
The main likely point of contention is the cost and feasibility of requiring Category 3 or Category 5 hurricane construction standards and safe rooms in all new homes and apartment buildings within the specified wind zones. Builders, developers, and potentially county governments may object to the added construction costs, design constraints, and the statewide limitation on local code flexibility. Supporters, by contrast, would likely emphasize life safety, shelter shortages, and the need to harden housing against increasingly severe storms.