‘Tiny’ backyard house could qualify as accessory dwelling

Question: My grandma said I could ask a question and you’d help if you can, so I’m going to give it a try. I would like to build a tiny house in the backyard of my parents’ house. Where can I find information about what my house or lot is zoned for at the moment and how to rezone it to be able to build a tiny house and what restrictions there are for a tiny house?

Answer: Based on your description, it seems that you are dreaming of more than a simple playhouse-­type structure, which you could construct right away, without a building permit, as long as you conformed to size limitations and other rules, per the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu, Section 18-3.1(b)16(A). You can read that section at 808ne.ws/2kNJ4LM.

The fully functional tiny house you seem to envision — with electricity, plumbing and all the other niceties of home — might qualify as an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on your parents’ existing residential-zoned property.

If that’s the case, you wouldn’t need a zoning change. However, your family would need a building permit to construct an ADU, which is defined by the Hono­lulu Land Use Ordinance as “a second dwelling unit, including separate kitchen, bedroom and bathroom facilities, attached or detached from the primary dwelling on the zoning lot,” according to the city Department of Planning and Permitting.

Since 2015 the municipal government has tried to make it easier for residential property owners to add dwelling space, either attached to or separate from their main house. Certain permitting fees for ADU projects are being waived through June 30, 2018. You can learn more about Oahu’s rules for ADUs at 808ne.ws/2LnuZiv, 808ne.ws/2kkRX3b and honoluludpp.org.

You can find basic information about your family’s property, including the zoning status and the size of the lot, at realpropertyhonolulu.com. Click on “property records search” and then follow the prompts.

Coincidentally, Kokua Line ran across Waipahu High School’s booth at the Home Building and Remodeling Show over the weekend at Blaisdell Exhibition Hall, where students offered information about their school’s entry in a recent tiny-house design challenge.

The Waipahu teenagers were clearly energized by the design, engineering and construction challenges they faced and solved, and they said they learned a lot. Given their experience, you might also seek guidance at school about planning and executing your project, if your school has a similar program geared toward learning about engineering, technology and the industrial arts.

Q: Do only preschool groups and such visit fire stations? We are a group of seniors who are interested but don’t know whether it was allowed. Is it limited to schools?

A: Yes, it’s allowed. There’s no such “student” or “school” requirement imposed on community groups interested in visiting a fire station, seeing the firefighting equipment and talking to department experts. Call 723-7184 on Oahu to schedule your senior group’s visit.

Auwe

Auwe to people who claim empty parking spaces on the streets and in the shopping malls by sending someone to physically stand in the spot — preventing the driver who is there and ready to park from taking it. Not cool. It seems to be happening more and more. — Missing aloha

Mahalo

A big mahalo for treating my invalid sister (age 99), myself (89) and my husband (84) on a New Year’s we will never forget. Mahalo to all who helped us, from parking to being seated at our table; the staff at the restaurant Pagoda; and the visitor at the restaurant who covered our bill and wanted to be anonymous. — Many thanks, a reader

Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.