Security Deposit Limits
What is the security deposit limit in Hawaii?
At the beginning of a rental agreement, a landlord may collect a security deposit not exceeding one month's rent, in addition to the first month's rent.
Hawaii
Hawaii Landlord-Tenant Laws
Security deposit limits, eviction notices, rent control, and more for Hawaii.
How we research these summaries
Every rule on this page is drawn from state statutes and municipal codes and summarized with AI assistance. Each one cites the statute it's based on and links to a published text of that law so you can read it firsthand. Where a page says a city or county has no local rule on a topic, that means none was found for the topics covered here — not that none exists. Local governments also regulate rental housing in ways these pages don't track, including registration, licensing, inspections and habitability standards. These summaries may be incomplete or out of date, laws change often, and every property and tenancy has specifics a summary can't capture — so treat this as a starting point for your own research, not as legal advice, and check with the local jurisdiction and a qualified attorney before acting on your particular situation.
What to Know in Hawaii
Sources last checked September 2026
Hawaii is running a two-year mediation pilot for nonpayment evictions: under Act 278, effective February 2026 through February 2028, a landlord's pay-or-terminate notice must give a tenant at least 10 calendar days, up from 5 business days, with a copy sent to a state-funded mediation center. If the tenant requests mediation within that window, the landlord must wait 20 calendar days before filing for possession. Outside eviction, Hawaii sets no cap on rent increases, only a 45-day notice requirement. Deposits are capped at one month's rent, plus one month for a pet.
- Upon applicant request, the landlord must provide a receipt for the application screening fee and a breakdown of the costs covered by the fee.
- After a transfer of the landlord's interest, the successor landlord must give each tenant written notice of the amount credited as the tenant's security deposit within 20 days...
- 10-day notice required before eviction for nonpayment of rent
- When a rental term ends and the tenant remains without the landlord's consent, the tenant may be liable for up to twice the prior monthly rent, prorated daily, for each day of...
- 28-day move-out notice required for month-to-month tenancies
- 120-day move-out notice required for month-to-month tenancies
- 10-day move-out notice required for month-to-month tenancies
- 45-day advance written notice required for rent increases
- 15-day advance written notice required for rent increases
- Security deposits capped at 1.0× monthly rent
- A security deposit may be treated as last month's rent only if the landlord and tenant mutually agree in writing and the tenant gives at least 45 days' notice of vacating.
11 rules summarized
· Each linked to the law it cites
Security Deposit Limits
Security Deposit Limits
What is the security deposit limit in Hawaii?
A security deposit may be treated as last month's rent only if the landlord and tenant mutually agree in writing and the tenant gives at least 45 days' notice of vacating.
Eviction Notice Requirements
Eviction Notice Requirements
What are the eviction notice requirements in Hawaii?
For nonpayment of rent, HRS § 521-68 requires the landlord to give the tenant written notice that the rental agreement will terminate unless rent is paid. Under Act 278 (a two-year pilot running February 5, 2026 through February 4, 2028) that notice period is at least 10 calendar days after the tenant receives it (previously 5 business days), and the landlord must send a copy of the notice to a state-funded mediation center. If the tenant requests mediation within the 10-day window, the landlord must wait 20 calendar days from the tenant’s receipt of the notice before filing for possession.
Eviction Notice Requirements
What are the eviction notice requirements in Hawaii?
When a rental term ends and the tenant remains without the landlord's consent, the tenant may be liable for up to twice the prior monthly rent, prorated daily, for each day of unauthorized holdover. The landlord may bring summary possession proceedings during the first 60 days.
Rent Increase Notice Periods
Rent Increase Notice Periods
How much notice is required for rent increases in Hawaii?
A landlord must provide at least 45 consecutive days' written notice before increasing rent for a month-to-month tenancy.
Rent Increase Notice Periods
How much notice is required for rent increases in Hawaii?
A landlord must provide at least 15 consecutive days' written notice before increasing rent for a tenancy shorter than month-to-month.
Move-Out & Lease Termination Notice
Move-Out & Lease Termination Notice
What is the move-out notice requirement in Hawaii?
For month-to-month tenancies, HRS § 521-71 requires a landlord to give at least 45 days’ written notice to terminate the tenancy, while a tenant must give at least 28 days’ written notice. For fixed-term leases, the lease end date serves as termination unless the agreement provides otherwise.
Move-Out & Lease Termination Notice
What is the move-out notice requirement in Hawaii?
Before terminating a month-to-month tenancy for voluntary demolition, conversion to a condominium property regime, or conversion to transient vacation-rental use, the landlord must give at least 120 days' written notice.
Move-Out & Lease Termination Notice
What is the move-out notice requirement in Hawaii?
Either party may terminate a tenancy shorter than month-to-month by giving at least 10 days' notice.
Required Landlord Disclosures
Required Landlord Disclosures
What are the required landlord disclosures rules in Hawaii?
Upon applicant request, the landlord must provide a receipt for the application screening fee and a breakdown of the costs covered by the fee.
Required Landlord Disclosures
What are the required landlord disclosures rules in Hawaii?
After a transfer of the landlord's interest, the successor landlord must give each tenant written notice of the amount credited as the tenant's security deposit within 20 days after the transfer.
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