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Map of Hawaii eviction risk by county

Landlord License Requirements in Hawaii 2026

Rental registration, business licensing, and the consequences of non-compliance under HRS § 237-9

Required Statewide Registration scope
HRS § 237-9 Governing statute
Yes Penalty for non-compliance
Yes Notable local programs
Hawaii requires statewide landlord registration. Every person engaging in business in Hawaii, including residential rental income, must register for a General Excise Tax (GET) license with the Department of Taxation. The GET applies at 4% (4.5% on Oahu) on gross rental receipts.

If you collect rent in Hawaii, registration is not optional. Hawaii is one of only six US jurisdictions that impose a statewide landlord registration requirement, and the trigger is broad: under HRS § 237-9, every person engaging in business in the state, residential rental income included, must obtain a General Excise Tax (GET) license from the Department of Taxation. The GET then applies to your gross rental receipts at 4%, or 4.5% on Oahu, before any expenses. There is no de minimis exemption for a single rental; the income itself is the taxable business activity.

The highest-stakes consequence here is tax, not the courthouse. Unlike several mainland states where a missing registration can block an eviction filing, failing to register in Hawaii is no defense to an eviction, but it exposes you to a penalty of up to $500 plus interest on every dollar of GET you never paid, which compounds quietly the longer a rental operates unlicensed.

Where and how to register in Hawaii

Hawaii's regime is statewide and tax-based, administered by the state Department of Taxation rather than by your city or county. The single required credential for residential landlords is the General Excise Tax (GET) license under HRS § 237-9, which you obtain once per business and then use to file periodic GET returns on your gross rental receipts. The rate is 4% statewide and 4.5% on Oahu, calculated on gross rent collected, not net profit, so even a property running at a loss still owes GET on the rent it takes in.

Two county-level layers can sit on top of the GET. Honolulu County also requires a Real Property Tax dedicated-use designation, and Maui requires Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) registration for short-term rentals. A long-term residential landlord on the neighbor islands generally needs only the GET license; an Oahu or Maui owner should confirm the county overlay that applies to their use.

The penalty and the eviction question

Operating a Hawaii rental without a GET license carries a real, cumulative cost. The statute provides for a penalty of up to $500 plus interest on the unpaid tax, and because GET accrues on gross receipts the entire time you collect rent, the interest exposure grows with every month an unregistered property stays in service. There is no "catch up and forget it" shortcut; back-filing typically means paying the GET that should have been remitted all along.

On the eviction front, Hawaii works differently from states that weaponize registration. Lacking a GET license is no defense to an eviction and does not, by itself, bar you from filing to recover possession. The risk is financial rather than procedural: a landlord can pursue a tenant in court while still sitting on significant, undisclosed tax liability. Treat the GET license as a tax-compliance obligation that runs in parallel with, not as a gatekeeper to, your right to evict.

A practical compliance checklist for Hawaii landlords

To keep a Hawaii rental clean under HRS § 237-9:

For context, average rent in Hawaii runs about $1,963 a month, at that figure the GET on a single long-term unit is a modest line item, which is exactly why skipping registration is rarely worth the downstream tax exposure.

Local Programs in Hawaii

Honolulu County also requires Real Property Tax dedicated-use designation; Maui requires Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) registration for short-term.

Penalty for Non-Compliance

What you risk: Failure to register for GET: penalty up to $500 plus interest on unpaid tax; no defense to eviction but creates significant tax exposure.

The most consequential penalty in landlord-tenant law is rarely a flat fine, it is the loss of access to the eviction docket. In states and cities where registration gates eviction filings, an unregistered landlord with a non-paying tenant can face months of lost rent before the registration is cured and the case can be filed.

What This Means for Hawaii Landlords

Hawaii is one of only six U.S. jurisdictions with statewide rental registration (the others: AZ, NJ, DC, NV, WA). Compliance is not optional, failure to register typically blocks your ability to enforce your lease through the courts. Verify your registration status before any rent increase, eviction filing, or new tenant placement.

The single most important diligence step is to call your municipality's housing or code-enforcement department directly and ask: (1) is rental registration required for my property, (2) is it current, and (3) what specifically would block me from filing for eviction on a non-paying tenant. The answers to those three questions are the entire game.

City-Level Eviction Risk in Hawaii

Local registration programs are most common in larger cities. View landlord risk and tenant-law profile by city:

Urban Honolulu East Honolulu Hilo Pearl City Waipahu Kaneohe

Sources & Methodology

Related Guides for Hawaii Landlords

← Hawaii Eviction Risk Overview Fair Housing Protected Classes Squatter Rights & Adverse Possession Security Deposit Limits Rent Increase Rules Eviction Records Lookup

This summary was prepared by the Eviction Risk Map research team based on Hawaii's governing statute, HRS § 237-9, and the General Excise Tax (GET) licensing regime administered by the Hawaii Department of Taxation, alongside the named county overlays. Honolulu County's Real Property Tax dedicated-use designation and Maui's Transient Accommodations Tax registration for short-term rentals. Last reviewed June 2026. This is general information, not legal advice; consult a licensed Hawaii attorney or tax professional before acting on your specific situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a landlord license to rent out property in Hawaii?

Yes. Hawaii is one of only six US jurisdictions with a statewide requirement. Under HRS § 237-9, anyone earning residential rental income must obtain a General Excise Tax (GET) license from the Department of Taxation. There is no exemption for a single rental, the rental activity itself is the taxable business that triggers registration.

What happens if I do not register for the GET license?

Failure to register exposes you to a penalty of up to $500 plus interest on the unpaid General Excise Tax. Because GET accrues on your gross rental receipts the entire time you collect rent, that interest compounds the longer a property operates unregistered, and back-filing generally means paying the tax you should have remitted all along.

Can I evict a tenant in Hawaii if I am not registered?

Yes. Unlike several mainland states where a missing registration can block an eviction filing, lacking a GET license is no defense to an eviction in Hawaii and does not bar you from filing to recover possession. The consequence of non-registration here is tax liability, not a loss of your right to evict.

Where do I register as a Hawaii landlord?

You register with the state Department of Taxation for a General Excise Tax (GET) license under HRS § 237-9. The GET applies at 4% statewide, or 4.5% on Oahu, on gross rent. Honolulu County landlords also need a Real Property Tax dedicated-use designation, and Maui requires Transient Accommodations Tax registration for short-term rentals.

Statutory citation: HRS § 237-9. Last updated August 28, 2026. For informational purposes only, not legal advice. Local rules change frequently; verify with your municipality and consult a licensed Hawaii attorney before relying on these summaries.