Honolulu Bird-Safe Design Laws and Wildlife Rules

Environmental Protection Hawaii 4 Minutes Read · published February 09, 2026 Flag of Hawaii

In Honolulu, Hawaii, developers, building owners and residents should know how bird-safe design and wildlife protections interact with local permitting and state and federal wildlife laws. This guide explains where rules are binding, which agencies enforce protections, how enforcement works, and practical steps to reduce bird collisions and comply when working on buildings or landscapes in Honolulu.

Overview of Rules and Scope

The City and County of Honolulu does not publish a single, citywide bird-safe ordinance on its permitting pages; bird protection in Honolulu typically relies on a mix of building permit reviews, state wildlife law, and federal protections for migratory species. Projects that affect native habitat or large-glass façades should consider both design best practices and legal obligations before construction or alteration. For state-level protections and species lists, consult the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife.DLNR Wildlife[1]

Applicable Laws and Guidance

  • State wildlife law and rules administered by DLNR, including protected species lists and take prohibitions which may apply to habitat disturbance.
  • Federal protections such as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which prohibit take of covered migratory species and can apply to building-related mortality.USFWS MBTA[2]
  • City of Honolulu land use and building permit review processes administered by the Department of Planning and Permitting, which apply standard permit conditions and may incorporate mitigation or design review for sensitive projects.Honolulu DPP[3]
If your project could affect native habitat or large numbers of birds, contact DLNR and DPP early.

Design Practices and When They Matter

Best practices to reduce bird collisions—such as patterned or fritted glass, reduced lighting at night, and landscaping that discourages large congregation near glass—are increasingly used in Honolulu projects as part of environmental review or voluntary sustainability goals. While such design measures are often voluntary, they can be required as permit conditions for projects with environmental review triggers or when a project impacts protected species or habitat.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement depends on which authority has jurisdiction. For native or protected wildlife, state agencies and federal agencies enforce statutory protections; for building code or permit violations, the City enforces through DPP. Specific monetary fines, escalation amounts, and detailed sanction schedules for bird collisions are not consolidated on a single city page and may be governed by the instrument enforcing the violation.

  • Monetary fines: not specified on the cited pages; fines for wildlife take or habitat damage are set by state or federal statute or by permit conditions for a project.DLNR Wildlife[1]
  • Escalation: first, repeat, and continuing offence procedures are not specified in a single Honolulu city guidance page; escalation follows the enforcing authority’s rules (state or federal) or the City’s permit enforcement process.USFWS MBTA[2]
  • Non-monetary sanctions: orders to cease work, restoration orders, permit suspensions or revocations, seizure of equipment, or referral to court are possible depending on the enforcing agency.
  • Enforcers and complaint pathways: state DLNR and federal USFWS enforce wildlife statutes; the City of Honolulu DPP enforces permit and building code compliance. Contact DLNR and DPP via their official pages for complaints and inspections.DLNR Wildlife[1]
  • Appeals and review: time limits and appeal routes depend on the enforcement instrument—administrative appeal of a DPP permit decision follows city rules; appeals of state or federal enforcement follow that agency’s procedures and statutory time limits, which are not specified on the cited page.
  • Defences and discretion: permits, variances, bona fide accidental harm, or consultation with DLNR/USFWS may affect enforcement; many defenses or discretionary exemptions are governed by statute or permit terms and are not listed on a single city guidance page.
If you receive a notice of violation, follow the contact and appeal instructions on the issuing agency’s notice immediately.

Applications & Forms

No single "bird-safe" permit form is published by the City of Honolulu; compliance is generally addressed through standard building and construction permits or through state and federal permits if protected species or habitat are affected. For building permits and plan review, use the Department of Planning and Permitting permit applications and instructions.Honolulu DPP[3]

Common Violations

  • Failure to obtain required permits before habitat alteration or construction.
  • Unpermitted removal or disturbance of protected species or critical habitat.
  • Excessive nighttime lighting contributing to bird mortality near glass façades.

Action Steps

  • Before design or demolition, consult DPP for permit triggers and DLNR for potential species or habitat concerns.DLNR Wildlife[1]
  • Adopt bird-safe glazing, reduce upward and outward nighttime lighting, and site plantings to avoid concentrating birds near large glass areas.
  • When in doubt, request an agency consultation or environmental review early to identify conditions or mitigation required by permits.

FAQ

Does Honolulu have a binding bird-safe building ordinance?
No single citywide binding bird-safe ordinance is published on the City permit pages; protection is applied through permits and state and federal wildlife laws where applicable.
Who enforces bird protection in Honolulu?
DLNR enforces state wildlife protections, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service enforces federal migratory bird protections, and the City DPP enforces permit and building code compliance.
What should I do if I find injured or dead protected birds at a construction site?
Report immediately to DLNR and follow any incident reporting instructions on the agency page; preserve evidence and notify your permit officer.

How-To

  1. Assess: check DLNR species lists and DPP permit triggers before design or disturbance.DLNR Wildlife[1]
  2. Design: select patterned or fritted glass and reduce light spill at night near high-risk façades.
  3. Permit: submit required building or environmental permits to Honolulu DPP and include mitigation measures in drawings.Honolulu DPP[3]
  4. Coordinate: contact DLNR or USFWS if protected species or large-scale habitat impacts are likely.USFWS MBTA[2]
  5. Monitor: implement post-construction monitoring and adjust lighting or landscaping if collisions occur.

Key Takeaways

  • Honolulu relies on permit review plus state and federal wildlife law rather than a single city bird-safe statute.
  • Early consultation with DPP and DLNR reduces enforcement risk and project delays.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife - Wildlife
  2. [2] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Migratory Bird Treaty Act
  3. [3] City and County of Honolulu - Department of Planning and Permitting

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