The short answer
Hawaii has no statewide adoption of the National Electrical Code: cities and counties adopt their own edition. The edition the app cites for Hawaii is NEC 2020, labelled current, varies locally.
- Current edition
- NEC 2020 (current, varies locally)
- Adoption
- No statewide adoption: cities and counties adopt their own
- Licensing board
- Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) - Board of Electricians and Plumbers
- Primary source
- ags.hawaii.gov
Code adoption cycles change. Always confirm the edition and amendments in force with your Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) before permitting work.
How does Hawaii adopt the NEC?
The State Building Code Council adopts a state electrical code (NEC 2020, adopted 2022-03-15), but each county (Honolulu, Hawaii, Maui, Kauai) adopts and enforces its own electrical code by ordinance, and the county ordinances still name older editions: NEC 2017 in Honolulu, Hawaii County and Kauai, NEC 2008 in Maui.
What are Hawaii's amendments to the NEC?
The app's record for Hawaii lists no individual amendments; the adoption summary above says how the state applies the code.
Who issues electrical permits in Hawaii?
Each county (Honolulu, Hawaii, Maui, Kauai) issues its own permits and inspects independently under its adopted edition.
Who licenses electricians in Hawaii?
Statewide licensing of journey worker, supervising, specialty, industrial and maintenance electricians through DCCA's Board of Electricians and Plumbers (HRS § 448E-5); electrical contractors hold a C-13 license from DCCA's Contractors License Board; county building departments handle permitting and code enforcement. Licensing board: Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) - Board of Electricians and Plumbers.
Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) - Board of Electricians and Plumbers
Is Hawaii moving to a newer NEC edition?
State code updates are paused under the Governor's affordable-housing emergency proclamations, which have been renewed roughly every 60 days (the Twenty-First, of 2026-09-08, runs through 2026-11-07 unless extended), and the council adopted no codes in 2024. Counties can still adopt their own electrical codes: confirm the edition with the county permit office before you design.
Is Hawaii on NEC 2026?
Not statewide: Hawaii has no statewide adoption, so the edition depends on the city or county. The edition the app cites, NEC 2020, is two editions older than NEC 2026; check with the local building department.