Online Registration Now Open for Self-Certification Professional Program

News Release from DPP, June 24, 2025

HONOLULU – The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) is pleased to announce that online registration is now open for its new Self-Certification Professional (SCP) Program.

The SCP Program enables qualified architects and engineers licensed in the State of Hawaii to submit building plans for eligible projects without standard departmental review, provided the plans fully comply with all applicable codes. This initiative—governed by Ordinance No. 23-29 and Chapter 30 of the DPP Administrative Rules—supports the City’s ongoing strategy to accelerate permitting, particularly for affordable housing and other priority developments.

To participate in the Self-Certification Program, design professionals must first obtain a Certificate of Registration from DPP. This certificate is issued by the Director to individuals who demonstrate the necessary skill, experience, and professional integrity to certify building plans in compliance with department standards. However, participation is currently limited by ordinance to specific types of development projects, as outlined below:

Applications are limited to the following eligible projects:

1. Affordable Rental Housing per Chapter 32 Revised Ordinances of Honolulu (Bill 7 project);
2. Commercial building improvement projects by a tenant or lessee, limited to only interior alterations;
3. Residential projects on lands managed or owned by DHHL; and
4. Energy Efficiency projects.

To see if your project qualifies for Self-Certification, click on the links below:

• Ord No. 23-29
• Ord No. 24-30

If your project falls under one of these categories and your plans are accepted for processing under the Self-Certification Program, all Self-Certified plans will be deemed approved, and a building permit will be issued once the Department confirms that all required agency approvals have been obtained and the project complies with applicable laws.

However, if any agency submits comments indicating that:

1. Existing infrastructure is insufficient to support the proposed development,
2. Additional information or analysis is required to determine compliance with one or more applicable laws, or
3. The project does not comply with one or more laws,

The application will be removed from the Self-Certification Program and submitted to further review under standard Departmental building permit application procedures.

Although SCP training and examination are not yet available, design professionals are encouraged to register now to get a head start on the process. Upon registering, applicants will receive a confirmation email and will be notified as soon as the training and exam become available. Once applicants watch the training videos and pass the quiz, their application will then be sent to the Director for approval.

To qualify as a Self-Certified Professional, applicants must:

• Hold a valid Hawaii license in architecture or engineering, in one of the following disciplines: structural, mechanical, electrical, civil, or fire protection.
• Have a minimum of three years of experience practicing under a Hawaii license in their respective field.
• Have no history of unprofessional conduct.
• Maintain professional liability insurance with minimum coverage of $1 million per claim and $2 million aggregate coverage annually.
• Possess a valid certification from a nationally or locally recognized organization or program.

To register, please visit https://www.honolulu.gov/dpp/scp-register/