Checklist · reviewed July 18, 2026

Before Buying Land in Hawaiʻi

Check legal access, survey, slope, rock, drainage, utilities, wastewater, setbacks, hazards, permits, and realistic sitework costs.

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Before buying land

Access and boundaries

Legal access and practical construction access are confirmed.Survey, pins, easements, setbacks, and encroachments are understood.Private-road maintenance and delivery limits are documented.

Before buying land

Ground and water

Slope, rock, fill, drainage, erosion, and retaining needs are evaluated.Flood, lava, tsunami, wildfire, coastal, and other official hazard resources are checked.A realistic building pad, driveway, and staging area fit the parcel.

Before buying land

Utilities and wastewater

Electric, water, catchment, wastewater, internet, refuse, and emergency access plans are realistic.Utility extension distances, easements, trenching, poles, pumps, and equipment are priced.Wastewater feasibility and required setbacks are evaluated before assuming a house location.

Before buying land

Rules and buildability

County zoning, permitted uses, setbacks, height, lot coverage, and special approvals are checked.Subdivision, association, agricultural, conservation, shoreline, or deed restrictions are reviewed.A preliminary site plan fits the intended home, parking, wastewater, water, drainage, and access.

Before buying land

Complete land-to-home budget

Clearing, driveway, grading, drainage, utilities, design, permits, financing, insurance, and contingency are included.Construction logistics and freight are discussed with people who work in that area.The budget still works if the cheapest assumptions do not happen.

Related tools

Run both site and build estimates

Use the land-clearing and driveway calculator with the home-build budget calculator. The land price alone is not the project price.

Access and boundaries

Ground and water

Utilities and wastewater

Rules and buildability

Complete land-to-home budget

Run both site and build estimates

More practical homeowner resources