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Hawaii: homes, climate zones and who licenses the work

Hawaii has 568,000 housing units. 50.5% were built before 1980, and the median year built is 1980. 63% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

How old the homes are

Hawaii housing units, by year built

Layers drawn to scale

Hawaii housing units by year built 50.5% of Hawaii housing units were built before 1980 and 49.5% in 1980 or later. 2020 or later: 1.1%; 2010–2019: 8.1%; 2000–2009: 12.4%; 1990–1999: 13.0%; 1980–1989: 14.9%; 1970–1979: 22.7%; 1960–1969: 13.5%; 1950–1959: 8.0%; 1940–1949: 3.1%; 1939 or earlier: 3.2%. Before 1980 50.5% 1980 or later 49.5% 2020 or later 1.1% 2010–2019 8.1% 2000–2009 12.4% 1990–1999 13.0% 1980–1989 14.9% 1970–1979 22.7% 1960–1969 13.5% 1950–1959 8.0% 1940–1949 3.1% 1939 or earlier 3.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035 and B25003; heating fuel below from B25040.

Age changes what applies to a house. In general, anyone paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces in a home built before 1978 must be certified in lead-safe work practices under the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, which the EPA administers directly in Hawaii.

How homes are heated

How homes in Hawaii are heated

Main heating fuel, share of about 492,000 occupied homes

  • No fuel used 46.7%
  • Electricity 43.1%
  • Solar energy 4.7%
  • Utility gas 3.2%
  • Propane or other tank gas 1.9%
  • Wood 0.2%
  • Other fuel 0.1%
  • Fuel oil or kerosene 0.1%
  • Coal or coke <0.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, table B25040 (occupied housing units).

Climate and building zones

The 2021 International Energy Conservation Code assigns every county a climate zone from 1 to 8 and a moisture regime: A for moist, B for dry, C for marine. Zones 7 and 8 have no letter. Here is how Hawaii's residents divide among them, by the county they live in.

IECC 2021 zoneShare of residentsCounties
1A100%5

ENERGY STAR rates windows, doors and skylights for four climate zones of its own. All of Hawaii falls in the Southern zone.

By NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, counties here average 5 days a year with a low of 32°F or colder, weighted by where people live. The range runs from 0 days in the mildest county to 34 in the coldest.

Flood risk and flood insurance

3.9% of residential structures in Hawaii carry a National Flood Insurance Program policy: 11,829 policies, in FEMA's count as of August 3, 2026.

In FEMA's National Risk Index, 3 of 5 counties rate high or very high for riverine flooding.

Fire ants and termites

No county in Hawaii is inside the federal imported fire ant quarantine.

Who licenses the work in Hawaii

Before anyone starts work, check the license with the agency below. Where the state does not license a trade, cities and counties may; ask the one where the house is.

Checked 2026-09-29. Licensing rules change; the agency's own page is the authority.

Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035, B25040 and B25003 data.census.gov
  2. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Guide to Determining Climate Zone by County: Building America and IECC 2021 Updates basc.pnnl.gov
  3. U.S. Department of Energy Prototype Building Models (climate zones 1–8 and moisture regimes A, B, C) energycodes.gov
  4. ENERGY STAR Climate zones by county for windows, doors and skylights energystar.gov
  5. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual and seasonal ncei.noaa.gov
  6. Federal Emergency Management Agency OpenFEMA NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (as of 2026-08-03) fema.gov
  7. Federal Emergency Management Agency National Risk Index, county ratings fema.gov
  8. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Imported fire ant quarantine map aphis.usda.gov
  9. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations 7 CFR part 301, subpart P, Imported Fire Ant ecfr.gov
  10. Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, Pest Control Board cca.hawaii.gov cca.hawaii.gov
  11. Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, Contractors License Board cca.hawaii.gov cca.hawaii.gov
  12. Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, Contractors License Board cca.hawaii.gov cca.hawaii.gov
  13. epa.gov epa.gov epa.gov