A Bill enacted by the Legislature of The State of Hawaii states that no resident shall at any time own more than 30 dogs with intact sexual organs and over one year of age, per premise. The Bill, however, does not regulate the number of cats Hawaiians many have per residence.
However, this is not a prescription to acquire a number of dogs and cats that you can't care for them properly. Moreover, individual cities in Hawaii are given the authority to enact their own laws regarding the number of pets residents can own. In some Hawaii municipalities, residents are allowed to have no more than ten pets, which could be a combination of dogs and cats. In this article, we are going to look at the number of dogs and cats allowed per residence, as well as other pet laws in some Hawaii municipalities.
1. Honolulu, HI
In the City of Honolulu, the maximum number of dogs permitted per residence is 10. The City has no law regarding the maximum number of cats residents can own. However, you are required to keep your dogs and cats in such a manner that they do not become a public nuisance. Honolulu Police Department defines nuisance animals as any animal or group of animals that makes unreasonable noise continuously for 10 minutes or intermittently for 30 minutes, thus disturbing the peace of anyone at any time of the day.
A dog is deemed dangerous or vicious in Honolulu if it bites or stings a person or domestic animal in an unprovoked attack. Honolulu law does not consider a dog’s breed in determining whether or not it is dangerous. When a dog is deemed dangerous in Honolulu, it must be under the control of an adult when indoors or outdoors.
The dog must be kept within a locked, fenced, or walled area or be confined to an escape-proof kennel when outdoors on the owner’s premises and unattended. Generally, it is unlawful for pet owners to permit their dogs to run at large within the city limits of Honolulu.
If a Honolulu dog owner negligently fails to take reasonable measures to prevent his or her dangerous dog from attacking, without provocation, a person or animal and such attack results in a bodily injury to a person, the dog owner commits the offense of "negligent failure to control a dangerous dog," which is punishable by a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $2,000, according to Sec. 7-7.2.
Furthermore, it is illegal for cat owners in Honolulu to permit a cat over 6 months of age to be at large unless the cat is spayed or neutered by a veterinarian.
A similar Code of Ordinances is in place in Maui County, Hawaii.
2. Hawaii County, HI
Hawaii County does not have any law limiting the number of dogs and cats a resident can have. However, the County does require that all dogs over the age of three months be licensed and the license be renewed every two years. The license fee for spayed or neutered dogs is $2.10 and $6.10 for unspayed or unneutered dogs. However, a person must be 18 years of age or older in order to own a dog in Hawaii County, according to the County's website.
3. Kauai County, HI
Kauai County does not have a limit on the number of dogs and cats a resident can have. However, the County's pet law requires that all dogs, including assistance dogs, be licensed. In addition, it is required by law that all dogs and cats in Kauai be microchipped.
If you are planning to move to Hawaii with your pet dog or cat, you’ll need to apply for Direct Airport Release (DAR) to avoid the six-month quarantine. For more information, visit The Hawaii Vacation Guide and the State of Hawaii Animal Industry Division.
