Maui County has created a streamlined administrative process for certain Special Management Area permit applications tied to 2023 wildfire reconstruction near Lahaina’s waterfront. Qualifying projects can now bypass the standard Planning Commission public hearing and be approved directly by the Planning Director.
- Recovery Coordination Directive No. 10, effective Oct. 7, 2026, allows the Planning Director to approve qualifying SMA permits administratively instead of through public hearings.
- To qualify, reconstructed structures must fall outside shoreline setbacks; single-family homes must be under 3,500 sq ft, and other structures must be substantially like-for-like in size and use.
- All existing shoreline setbacks, environmental, historic preservation, and coastal resource protections remain fully in effect under the new process.
- Not all properties makai of Front Street automatically qualify — the Planning Director can still refer complex cases to the Maui Planning Commission.
- Administrative decisions made under this directive can be appealed to the Maui Planning Commission.
Source: Mauirecovers
Share this article
