State lawmakers address ‘monster houses’

Several bills were introduced at this year’s state Legislature to address concerns about large-scale houses.

House Bill 2483 has passed two readings of the House. The measure, introduced by Rep. Takashi Ohno (D, Nuuanu-Liliha-Alewa Heights), would require Honolulu to restrict the number of bedrooms and allowable residents who live in what’s defined as a “detached dwelling.” The bill also calls for requiring that houses provide on-site parking equal to the number of bedrooms they have.

The city Department of Planning and Permitting submitted testimony against the bill, stating that it encroaches on the city’s regulatory authority.

Two bills on the agenda of the Senate Public Safety Committee’s meeting at 2:05 p.m. today would impose penalties on people who lie to county building inspectors or others looking into violations. Senate Bill 2092 would make it a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 for lying either orally or in writing to a city or county inspector. Senate Bill 2722 would make it a Class C felony, carrying a maximum fine of $10,000, to lie to inspectors, describing it as “obstructing county real property zoning enforcement operations.”

Both were introduced by Sen. Stanley Chang (D, Diamond Head-Kahala-Hawaii Kai).

Senate Bill 2279, also introduced by Chang, would require an owner-builder to provide proof of withholding of applicable taxes and that workers’ compensation insurance be provided to those workers contracted to do the work. Critics of larger homes say that construction by owner-builders allows abusers to avoid tax and workers’ compensation requirements.