How to Look Up a Property's Permit History on Oʻahu

Buying a house, checking whether an addition was permitted, or chasing an old elevation certificate? On Oʻahu, permit records are kept by the City's Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP). Here's where to look, in the order DPP itself recommends.

Quick version: search HNL Build first (logged out), then email a Request to View Records to DPP's Data Access and Imaging Branch for anything you can't see online.

1. Search HNL Build (logged out)

• HNL Build is DPP's permitting system. DPP links to it as the HNL Build User Portal. Note: HNL Build was offline for a scheduled upgrade Oct 23–26, 2026 (back Mon Oct 26, 7:45 AM HST per DPP). If the portal is down, try again after that window, or use the old search below.
• DPP's FAQ says to find historical permits for your property, enter your TMK or address in the search at the top of the HNL Build home page. You can also search by a name tied to the permit, per DPP's step-by-step guide.
• Log out first. If you're signed in, the search only shows records tied to your own account.
• The search lists permits, applications, violations and other records for that location, but unless you're the applicant (or have been given access), you can't view or download the documents themselves. Those go through DAIB (step 3).
• Owners who aren't the applicant: DPP says the applicant can grant you "Record Access" so the permit shows up under Shared Permits in your account. Missing access or documents? Email [email protected].
• Plans: DPP says only about two years of files from earlier permits were uploaded to HNL Build because of file size limits; for older plans, contact DAIB.

2. The old DPP permit search (read-only, data through July 28, 2025)

• DPP's previous system (called POSSE) is still online in read-only mode at the Honolulu Internet Permit System building permit search. Its banner says it holds data up to July 28, 2025, 5:00 PM HST, and that DPP is migrating this history into HNL Build.
• Search by application number, building permit number, address (enter only the street name, not "Street" or "Avenue"), or 8-digit TMK with no dashes (e.g. 11003002).
• Permits issued before January 1972 are not online there; that site says to ask DPP's Data Access and Imaging Branch.
• DPP's FAQ says POSSE will eventually be shut down once the migration is verified, so this link may stop working.

3. Request the actual files from DAIB

• DPP's Data Access and Imaging Branch (DAIB) holds building permits, approved plans, historical documents and maps.
• Fill out the Request to View Records form and email it to [email protected]. Include the address or TMK, any permit or file numbers, and what you need. Phone: (808) 768-8277. Address on the form: 650 S. King Street, ground floor.
• The form says "Fees apply. Fees determined at time of request." TODO: DPP doesn't publish a per-page DAIB fee on these pages; not stating an amount.
• Walk-ins are limited right now. As of Oct 25, 2026, DAIB's page says walk-ins are accepted for payments only; research and data requests must be emailed and are handled in the order received, because of very heavy demand.

4. Bulk data: the City's open-data permit file

• For researchers, the City's open data portal has "Building Permits – January 1, 2005 through June 30, 2025", a static snapshot (last updated Aug 11, 2025) with fields such as TMK, job address, issue date, proposed use, status, and flags for ʻohana/ADU, solar and pools. It does not include permits issued after mid-2025.

Looking for an elevation certificate?

The City's resilience office says that for post-FIRM homes built after March 25, 2003, the City probably has a FEMA elevation certificate on file (request it from DAIB). For homes built Sept 3, 1980 – March 25, 2003, the City likely does not; ask a previous owner, or hire a surveyor (see our directory). Details.

Outer islands use different county systems; this page covers the City & County of Honolulu (Oʻahu) only.