Multiple sources report that the Maui County Council voted 7-2 to approve Bill 88, creating a potential pathway for thousands of apartment-zoned vacation rentals to avoid the phase-out established under Bill 9. The legislation creates two new hotel zoning districts (H-3 and H-4) that qualifying properties can apply for, though the approval does not automatically protect any units. Coverage emphasizes that significant uncertainty remains for individual property owners and the guests who book them.
- The Maui County Council approved Bill 88 by a 7-2 vote, backed by Mayor Richard Bissen.
- Bill 9 had set out to phase out roughly 7,000 apartment-zoned short-term rental units county-wide; Bill 88 creates an opt-in path for approximately 4,500 of those units.
- Two new hotel zoning designations — H-3 and H-4 — were established; each property must individually apply, complete studies, attend hearings, and survive public review. No rezoning is automatic.
- Phase-out deadlines remain unchanged: January 1, 2029 for West Maui and January 1, 2031 for Kihei, Wailea, and other areas.
- The county’s candidate list covers 104 Minatoya-list properties with roughly 4,500 units; eligibility requires proof that vacation-rental use existed before September 24, 2020.
- All three of the county’s planning commissions — on Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi — had recommended the council reject Bill 88, arguing it undermined the community-supported goals of Bill 9. (Civil Beat)
- One property owner testified to the council that the cost of pursuing rezoning through Bill 88 could range from $200,000 to $500,000 per property. (Beatofhawaii)
- Council members Keani Rawlins-Fernandez of Molokaʻi and one other colleague cast the two dissenting votes. (Civil Beat)
- The bill had been pending for months amid uncertainty about whether it would pass before fall elections bring new council members. (Civil Beat)
Sources
- Civil Beat: Maui Vacation Rentals Get Reprieve With New Zoning Bill Approval
- Beatofhawaii: The Maui Vacation Rental You Book Just Got A Reprieve. It May Still Be Going Away.
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