UPDATE ON THE PROPOSED BAN ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN MAUI'S APARTMENT DISTRICTS

Update as of July 3, 2025

After hearing passionate testimony in favor and opposition of the ban on Short Term Rentals in Maui's apartment districts, the Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee began deliberations in a closed executive session on July 2, 2025.  It is widely reported they conferred with Maui County attorneys.  At the end of their session, the panel recessed until 9 a.m. July 23, 2025

The County Council began hearing in person and online testimony on June 9, 2025 and closed it on June 25, 2025.  Over several days hundreds came to testify.  Every person that testified was passionate in their position, some for and some against the bill, each…

Each year, Maui County does two things: assesses the value of the property AND sets new rates for the upcoming fiscal year, which runs from July 1st-June 30th.  The Maui County Council has proposed the rates below for 2025-2026 as well as a summary of how they've changed over the years.

Maui County Property Tax Rates 2025 vs Prior Years

Rates are per $1000 of assessed value.  In 2020, the County introduced a new Tiered assessment.  Prior to that, there was a flat rate per the classification. 

Classification	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
Owner Occupied	$1.65-$5.75	$1.80-$3.25	$1.90-2.75	$2.00-2.71	$2.41-2.71	$2.51-2.61	$2.90	$2.85	$2.86	$2.70

…

UPDATE ON THE PROPOSED BAN ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN MAUI'S APARTMENT DISTRICTS

Update as of June 18, 2025:

The County Council heard in person and online testimony on June 9, 2025. Hundreds came to testify and were given three minutes.  Every person that testified were passionate in their position, some for and some against the bill, each raising excellent points about an issue that is pressing here in Maui County: affordable housing and how can we create more of it? 

Written testimony about Bill 9 can be viewed online here

The next public hearing will be on June 18, 2025.  

On Monday June 9, 2025 Maui County will hold a public hearing regarding Bill 9 (2025), entitled “A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTERS 19.12, 19.32, AND 19.37

…

Each month, the Realtor's Association of Maui publishes updates on the Maui real estate market. 

The Maui Real Estate Report for the first month of 2025 notes:

U.S. existing-home sales advanced for the third straight month, climbing 2.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.24 million units, a 10-month high, according to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). Sales were up 9.3% year-over-year, driven largely by purchases of homes priced $500,000 and above. Month-over-month, sales rose in the South, Northeast, and the West but fell in the Midwest, with all four regions reporting year-over-year gains.

New Listings decreased 6.4 percent for Single Family homes but increased 8.6 percent for Condominium homes. Pending Sales decreased

…

Maui Property Taxes Fiscal Year July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025
Changes: Classifications & Rates

Each year, Maui County does two things: assesses the value of the property AND sets new rates for the upcoming fiscal year, which runs from July 1st-June 30th.  The Maui County Council has proposed the rates below for 2024-2025 as well as a summary of how they've changed over the years.

Maui County Property Tax Rates 2024 vs Prior Years

Rates are per $1000 of assessed value.  In 2020, the County introduced a new Tiered assessment.  Prior to that, there was a flat rate per the classification.

Classification	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
Owner Occupied	$1.80-3.25	$1.90-2.75

…

Maui's Hotel Zoned Condominiums

On May 3, 2024, the Mayor of Maui County announced that he intends to submit a bill to the Planning Commission and the Maui County Council to phase out short-term rentals in the Apartment Zones. 

Per the County of Maui's website: "the bill would phase out and repeal decades-old transient vacation rentals (TVRs) operating in the Apartment District, also known as the Minatoya list TVRs. These TVRs – numbering 7,000 units (2,200 of which are in West Maui) – would phase out West Maui units by July 1, 2025, and all other units countywide by Jan. 1, 2026, with the bill’s approval."

Given this announcement, many prospective buyers who are looking for a property that can be used part-time and rented when they are not in

…

MAUI VACATION RENTAL (TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS) & SHORT TERM RENTAL UPDATE: MAY 2024

Maui, like many places around the US that are popular vacation destinations, has grappled with affordable housing and workforce housing for decades. The wildfire that swept through Lahaina town on August 8, 2023 has highlighted the critical need for affordable housing in Maui County.

Since the fire, the Hawaii State Legislature passed SB2919 on May 2, 2024.  It was signed into law by Governor Josh Green on May 4, 2024. 

Per the governor's website,  "By addressing the issue of illegal short-term rentals, SB 2919 aims to alleviate Hawaiʻi’s housing crisis and increase housing levels throughout the state. This bill provides counties with home rule authority to see

…

Update May 15, 2024
The rates have been finalized by the county council with some changes:  Read Maui Property Tax Rates 2024-2025

Maui Property Taxes: What is proposed for this year?

Each year the county council reviews the proposed budget and sets property tax rates for the fiscal year (July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025)

This year, the Mayor of Maui County has proposed increases to the Owner Occupant Rate, Residential Rate (real property improved with a dwelling, as defined in the comprehensive zoning ordinance, that would not be classified as “owner-occupied”, “hotel and resort”, “time share”, “short-term rental”, “commercial”, “industrial” or “commercialized residential”), Short Term Rental Rate.

There are no proposed changes to the Long Term

…

Volunteering on Maui (and across Hawai'i) with Hawai'i Land Trust

ʻAʻohe hana nui ke alu ʻia. (No task is too big when done together by all.)

Hawaiʻi Land Trust depends on volunteer support from across the state to accomplish our mālama ʻāina goals and to uphold our kuleana to the lands we steward for our communities. Join us for one of our regularly scheduled volunteer days and get to know, and build relationship with, ʻāina!

REGISTER AND COMPLETE A WAIVER FOR AN UPCOMING WORKDAY ON OUR WEBSITE

VOLUNTEER ON MAUI
Waiheʻe Coastal Dunes & Wetlands Refuge, Maui 
Most Fridays, 2nd Saturdays for Loko Iʻa work and 3rd Saturdays for general mālama ʻāina
Next: Saturday, January 20th (general) and Saturday, February 10th (Loko Iʻa)
Register here.

…

Where can I Volunteer on Maui?  Volunteer Opportunities on Maui

Many have asked how they can give back since the terrible fires swept Maui County on August 8, 2023.  Lives in Upcountry Maui and Lahaina were changed forever, and the community has rallied to provide support.  Volunteer opportunities are extensive and here are a few resources you can use to find ways to give back to the island of Maui and its residents.

Maui Nui Strong

"Maui Nui Strong is provided by the County of Maui to help connect our residents, businesses, and visitors to useful information about Maui County, our diverse islands, and a variety of resources that help to promote thriving and vibrant communities. From here, you can launch into any number of explorations and

…