Landlord-tenant law

Hawaii Landlord-Tenant Laws

Security deposit limits, eviction notice periods, lease termination requirements, and late fee rules for Hawaii.

Not legal advice. Current as of May 2026. Verify with a local attorney before any compliance decision.

$
Security Deposit Max
1 month's rent (plus a separate 1 month's pet deposit if applicable)
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44
↩
Deposit Return Deadline
14 days
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44(c)
!
Non-Payment Eviction Notice
5-day notice to pay or quit
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-68(a)
✕
Month-to-Month Termination
28 days (tenancy < 1 year); 45 days (tenancy ≥ 1 year)
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-71
¢
Late Fee Cap
8% of overdue rent amount
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-21(f)
⏱
Grace Period
No statutory grace period
Hawaii specific notes

Hawaii's 14-day deposit return deadline is strict. Willful noncompliance can trigger triple damages. Honolulu County does not have a separate rent-control ordinance, but Hawaii's statewide mediation requirement before eviction filing can extend timelines.

FAQ

Common Hawaii landlord questions

What is the maximum security deposit in Hawaii?+
1 month's rent (plus a separate 1 month's pet deposit if applicable). Governed by Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44. Deposit must be returned within 14 days after the lease ends.
What notice is required to evict a tenant in Hawaii for non-payment of rent?+
5-day notice to pay or quit. Per Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-68(a). This is the notice period before a landlord can file an eviction lawsuit.
How much notice to end a month-to-month tenancy in Hawaii?+
28 days (tenancy < 1 year); 45 days (tenancy ≥ 1 year). Per Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-71. This applies to no-cause terminations of month-to-month leases.
Are late fees regulated in Hawaii?+
8% of overdue rent amount. Per Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-21(f). Grace period: No statutory grace period. Even where no statutory cap exists, late fees must be reasonable and clearly disclosed in the lease.
References

Authoritative sources for Hawaii

Compare

See how Hawaii stacks up

Deposit Limits — All 50
Side-by-side max deposit and return deadlines.
Eviction Notice — All 50
Notice periods for non-payment and termination.
Late Fee Laws — All 50
Caps and grace periods.
Other states

Browse another state

AlaskaAlabamaArkansasArizonaCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaIowaIdahoIllinoisIndianaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMassachusettsMarylandMaineMichiganMinnesotaMissouriMississippiMontanaNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNebraskaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNevadaNew YorkOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVirginiaVermontWashingtonWisconsinWest VirginiaWyoming