Report Title:

Owner-builder Permits; Disclosure

 

Description:

Requires sellers to disclose whether a building or structure was built or improved under an owner-builder permit.  Clarifies that owner builders must use licensed subcontractors.  Establishes penalties for owner-builders who fail to comply with the owner-builder permit requirements.  (HB3107 HD1)

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

3107

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

RELATING TO OWNER-BUILDER PERMITS.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  Chapter 508D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§508D-     Real Estate Disclosure; construction, alteration, improvement, demolition, or repair of building or structure by owner-builder.  Any construction, alteration, improvement, demolition, or repair to a building or structure done by an owner-builder under section 444-2(7) is a material fact that shall be conspicuously included in the disclosure statement."

     SECTION 2.  Section 444-9.1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§444-9.1  Issuance of building permits; owner-builder registration.  (a)  Each county or other local subdivision of the State which requires the issuance of a permit as a condition precedent to the construction, alteration, improvement, demolition, or repair of any building or structure shall also require that each applicant for such a permit file as a condition to the issuance of a permit a statement that the applicant and all specialty contractors are licensed under this chapter, giving the license numbers and stating that the licenses are in full force and effect, or, if the applicant is exempt from this chapter, the basis for the claimed exemption; provided that if the applicant claims an exemption under section 444-2(7), the applicant shall also be required to certify that the building or structure is for the applicant's personal use and not for use or occupancy by the general public.  Each county or local subdivision of the State shall maintain an owner-builder registration list which shall contain the following information:  (1) the name of any owner or lessee who claims an exemption from this chapter as provided in section 444-2(7); (2) the address of the property where exempt building or improvement activity is to occur; (3) a description of the type of building or improvement activity to occur; (4) the approximate dates of construction activity; and (5) whether any electrical or plumbing work is to be performed and if so, the name and license number of the person or entity who will do the work.  The absence of such registration is prima facie evidence that the exemption in section 444-2(7) does not apply.

     (b)  The county shall verify the license against a list of licensed contractors provided by the state contractors licensing board, which [list] shall be updated at least quarterly.  The county shall also verify that the applicant is in fact the contractor so licensed or the contractor's duly authorized agent.

     (c)  To qualify for the exemption under section 444-2(7), the county shall provide the applicant with a disclosure statement in substantially the following form:

"Disclosure Statement

     State law requires the construction, alteration, improvement, demolition, or repair of any building or structure to be done by licensed contractors.  You have applied for a permit under an exemption to that law.  The exemption provided in section 444-2(7), Hawaii Revised Statutes, allows you, as the owner or lessee of your property, to act as your own general contractor even though you do not have a license.  You must supervise the construction, alteration, improvement, demolition, or repair yourself.  You must also hire licensed subcontractors.  The building must be for your own use and occupancy.  It may not be built for sale or lease.  If you sell or lease a building you have built yourself within one year after the construction, alteration, improvement, demolition, or repair is complete, the law will presume that you built it for sale or lease, which is a violation of the exemption, and you may be prosecuted for this.  It is your responsibility to make sure that subcontractors hired by you have licenses required by state law and by county licensing ordinances.  Electrical or plumbing work must be performed by contractors licensed under chapters 448E and 444, Hawaii Revised Statutes.  Any person working on your building or structure who is not licensed must be your employee, which means that you must deduct F.I.C.A. and withholding taxes and provide workers' compensation for that employee, all as prescribed by law.  Your construction, alteration, improvement, demolition, or repair must comply with all applicable laws, ordinances, building codes, and zoning regulations.  If you violate section 444-2(7), or fail to comply with the requirements set forth in this disclosure statement, you may be fined $5,000 or forty per cent of the [appraised] value specified by the county or other local subdivision on the permit application of the construction, alteration, improvement, demolition, or repair of the building [as determined by the county tax appraiser,] or structure, whichever is greater, for the first offense; and $10,000 or fifty per cent of the [appraised] value specified by the county or other local subdivision on the permit application of the construction, alteration, improvement, demolition, or repair of the building [as determined by the county tax appraiser,] or structure, whichever is greater, for any subsequent offense."

     The county shall not issue a building permit to the owner-applicant until the applicant signs a statement that the applicant has read and understands the disclosure form.

     (d)  A county building inspector or other building official shall report to the regulated industries complaints office the name and address of any person, who, in the opinion of the building inspector or official, has violated this chapter by accepting or contracting to accomplish work which would classify the person as a contractor under this chapter.

     (e)  Any person who obtains a permit under section 444-2(7) shall comply with all of the requirements specified in the disclosure statement in subsection (c)."

     SECTION 3.  Section 444-23, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (e) to read as follows:

     "(e)  Any person who violates section 444-2(7)[,] or 444-9.1(e) shall be fined:

     (1)  $5,000 or forty per cent of the [appraised] value specified by the county or other local subdivision on the permit application of the [building as determined by the county tax appraiser,] construction, alteration, improvement, demolition, or repair of the building or structure, whichever is greater, for the first offense; and

     (2)  $10,000 or fifty per cent of the [appraised] value specified by the county or other local subdivision on the permit application of the [building as determined by the county tax appraiser,] construction, alteration, improvement, demolition, or repair of the building or structure, whichever is greater, for any subsequent offenses."

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on November 1, 2008.