City and County of Honolulu - Real Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Property

HI Property Tax Incentive commercial industrial residential

Administered by: City and County of Honolulu, Real Property Tax Assessment Division

Quick Summary

Your renewable energy system—including solar panels, solar water heaters, wind turbines, or other qualifying technologies—is exempt from real property taxes on Honolulu property. If you generate energy primarily for your own use, the entire system value is exempt; if you sell power to the utility under a contract, 80% of the land value used for energy production or storage is also exempt. Submit a claim to activate the exemption, which continues as long as your power purchase agreement remains in effect.

AI-generated summary • Updated 7/12/2026

Program Details

Program ID
3684
Effective Date
10/1/2009
Last Updated
10/25/2024

Eligibility

Eligible Sectors
commercial industrial residential
Eligible Technologies
solar water heat solar thermal electric solar photovoltaics wind (all) biomass municipal solid waste combined heat & power landfill gas tidal wave solar pool heating wind (small) anaerobic digestion

Program Summary

In September 2009, the Honolulu City Council unanimously passed Bill 58 to create a real property tax exemption for alternative energy improvements. This bill became effective October 1, 2009. Honolulu later amended it. The renewable energy property installed on a building, property, or land is exempt from real property taxes. Additionally, the portions of land actually used for the active production or storage of renewable energy is exempt from 80% of its value for tax purposes if the energy is primarily for use, distribution, or sale to public utilities or for public consumption under a power purchase agreement or power purchase contract with the utility. The claim for exemption, once allowed, will continue for the period of the power purchase agreements or contract with the utility.

Contact & Resources

Contact Email
[email protected]

Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.

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