The County of Maui is implementing a temporary administrative process for qualifying Special Management Area (SMA) Major Use Permit applications to help facilitate timely wildfire recovery and reconstruction for certain properties makai, or seaward, of Front Street in Lahaina, the County Office of Recovery announced today.

Under the Office of Recovery’s 10th Recovery Coordination Directive (RCD No. 10), qualifying reconstruction project applications may be processed administratively by the Planning Director rather than proceeding through the standard public hearing process before the Maui Planning Commission. The directive is in effect as of Oct. 7, 2026.

The process applies to qualifying reconstruction associated with structures damaged or destroyed by the 2023 Maui Wildfires. It does not eliminate applicable SMA requirements, shoreline setbacks, environmental regulations, historic preservation requirements or coastal resource protections.

“Every step we can take to help our Lahaina families and businesses move forward with rebuilding is an important step in our recovery,” Mayor Richard Bissen said. “This directive creates a more streamlined path for qualifying reconstruction projects while maintaining the protections that are important to Lahaina’s shoreline, cultural and historic resources, and community. We remain committed to helping our people rebuild in a way that supports both recovery today and the long-term future of Lahaina.”

The directive establishes an alternative process for certain wildfire reconstruction projects that meet specific criteria. To qualify the reconstructed structure must be located entirely outside the applicable shoreline setback, or reconstruction must occur on a parcel that does not abut the shoreline. Reconstructed single-family dwellings must have a floor area of less than 3,500 square feet, while other structures and uses must be substantially like-for-like in footprint, scale, intensity and use. Projects that do not meet the criteria for administrative processing remain subject to the standard SMA permitting process.

“The goal is to provide a clear pathway for qualifying property owners to move forward with rebuilding while maintaining the safeguards that apply to Lahaina’s shoreline,” County Department of Planning Director Jacky Takakura said.

Being located makai of Front Street does not automatically qualify a property for administrative processing under RCD No. 10. Administrative decisions under RCD No. 10 may be appealed to the Maui Planning Commission.

Applicable shoreline, environmental, historic preservation and cultural resource protections remain in place under this directive. The Planning Director may require additional studies, conditions or agency review based on coastal hazards, cultural resources, drainage, infrastructure capacity, environmental conditions or other site-specific circumstances. The Planning Director may also refer an application to the Maui Planning Commission when site-specific conditions, public concerns or potential impacts warrant additional consideration.

This directive will remain in effect until rescinded, superseded or otherwise modified by the County of Maui.

To learn more about this new process, visit mauirecovers.org/shorelinepermitting.  

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