State guide
Hawaii
Hawaii’s individual wastewater systems are reviewed by the State Department of Health Wastewater Branch, not county health departments. The homeowner-facing process starts by hiring a Hawaii licensed civil engineer, who performs the percolation-test-related work and submits plans, including the site evaluation, to the Wastewater Branch.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who regulates septic permits
- Hawaii onsite wastewater for individual wastewater systems is regulated by the State of Hawaii Department of Health Wastewater Branch, with counties involved through building-permit review and sewer-connection processes.
- Who can do the soil or perc test
- The public guidance says to hire a Hawaii licensed civil engineer; after performing the percolation test, surveying the property, and determining wastewater requirements, that licensed engineer submits the plans and site evaluation materials to the Wastewater Branch.
- Official septic permit page
- Official page →
- Licensed evaluators or designers
- Official page →
- State fee
- $100 for a new individual wastewater system, new treatment unit or new disposal system; $25 for an addition or modification to an approved or existing individual wastewater system or part thereof.
Official resources in Hawaii
Step-by-step homeowner page for new or replacement individual wastewater systems, including engineer, percolation, and submittal steps.
Official list of active civil engineers who have previously submitted IWS applications.
Rule page describing approvals, application contents, and filing fees for individual wastewater systems.
Explains how to request septic, cesspool, and IWS records by island and TMK.
Island-specific DOH page explaining Kauai wastewater branch functions for septic and cesspool plan review and county permit review.
Key facts for Hawaii
- Hawaii’s IWS homeowner page says the first step is to hire a Hawaii licensed civil engineer.
- After the percolation test and survey work, the licensed engineer submits plans to the Wastewater Branch for review and approval.
- The engineer contacts page says the state list is a resource and not an endorsement of any specific engineer or company.
- HAR 11-62 lists the filing fee for a new individual wastewater system, new treatment unit, or new disposal system as $100.
- HAR 11-62 lists the filing fee for an addition or modification to an approved or existing individual wastewater system as $25.
County septic and soil-evaluation offices in Hawaii
| County office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wastewater Branch – Hilo Office Hawaii | Hilo | (808) 933-0401 | State DOH wastewater office for the eastern side of Hawaiʻi Island. |
| Wastewater Branch – Kona Office Hawaii | Kailua-Kona | (808) 322-1963 | State DOH wastewater office for the western side of Hawaiʻi Island. |
| Kauai District Health Office – Wastewater Branch Kauai | Lihue | (808) 241-3328 | Reviews new IWS design plans, county permits for structures served by IWS, records requests, and wastewater complaints on Kauai. |
| Wastewater Branch – Maui Office Maui | Wailuku | (808) 984-8232 | State DOH wastewater office listed for Maui. |
| County of Hawaiʻi Department of Environmental Management – Wastewater FAQ Hawaii | Hilo | Not published* | County page explains sewer connection questions and says a permit to perform work from the Wastewater Division is required for public sewer work. |
| County of Kauai Department of Public Works – Building Division Kauai | Lihue | Not published* | County building division coordinates building permit review and circulates projects to state and county agencies before permit approval. |
| County of Kauai Department of Public Works – Wastewater Management Division Kauai | Lihue | Not published* | County page says it does not regulate cesspools or septic tanks and directs residents to the State Department of Health Kauai Branch. |
| County of Maui Development Services Administration – Building Permit Section Maui | Kahului | (808) 270-7250 | County permitting contact for building permits; MAPPS is the county portal for permit, plan, and license applications. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Get your TMK first; the DOH homeowner page says you will need it to check county and state permit status.
- Use the DOH engineer contacts page or DCCA license search before hiring design help.
- If your lot may connect to county sewer, check the county building or wastewater office before paying for a full IWS design.
Not seeing your county office or county?
Not every county office publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Hawaii's population center, for comparison only):
- Mendocino County Environmental Health - Land Use, California · about 2386 miles
- San Luis Obispo County Environmental Health, California · about 2439 miles
- Shasta County Environmental Health Division, California · about 2463 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Hawaii DOH Individual Wastewater Systems
Website →Phone: (808) 586-4400 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Hawaii page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.