How big is too big? City council backs bill to stop construction - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

Homes that have eight bedrooms or more are considered "large residential structures." Those homes are at the center of a Honolulu City Council bill looking to crack down on excessively large homes.

Bill 110 would bar new building permits for two years on homes larger than 3,500 sq. ft., a motion Mayor Caldwell supports. 

In December, Caldwell said monster homes highlight Oahu's desperate need for housing, but negatively impacts already established neighborhoods.

"We cannot allow these over-sized structures to change the character of our communities,” Caldwell said last year.  

The proposed moratorium got unanimous support from the Honolulu City Council Wednesday.

Council members heard testimony from both sides, but in the end, agreed restrictions are necessary.

"If those building these monstrosities in our residential districts were more respectful of their neighbors, we wouldn't be here today," Councilman Ikaika Anderson said. "And I term these monstrosities as such ... because that's exactly what they are. They are homes that do not belong in residential districts."

Some say the proposal is too restrictive for property owners looking to build or expand homes to accommodate multi-generational families.

The measure will be discussed again in an upcoming hearing.

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