A Bill to allow NonOwner occupied vacation rentals (formerly called TVRs and now being called “Short Term Rentals”) is on the County Council agenda. According to the Maui News:

[Maui County Council Planning] committee Chairman Don Couch said he wants to make a priority.  “We’ll be doing some heavy-duty crafting when we come back October 17,” Couch said….

…

As for streamlining permit applications, Spence said that currently only a handful of short-term rental operators have permits to do business because the process of obtaining government approval is so exhaustive.

The applicants need a conditional use permit, several public hearings, probably a lawyer and the approval of the appropriate planning commission, the County Council – and at least two years of their time, Spence said.

With the bill, Spence said an applicant could get a permit in a couple months.

If this bill passes, the planning director said, he anticipates “a flood of applications.” Under the new system, the permit applicants may get help filling out paperwork. They also would need only administrative approval by the Planning Department.

However, if 30 percent of neighbors oppose the application, then the island’s planning commission would review the application, hold public hearings, take testimony and vote.

So it’s all out in the open, immediate neighbors get letters notifying them of the permit application, and the applicant would need to put up a 4-square-foot sign announcing plans to establish a short-term rental…

…A major goal of the bill is to put vacation rental options in areas without major resorts, such as the north shore, Upcountry and Molokai…

Read more reporting on what was said at the Council Meeting at Maui News