16 permits · verified 2026-09-11
What permits do you need to open a retail store in Maui County?
In short
A retail store in Maui County, HI has 4 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 12 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. County of Maui, Department of Planning charges $4,206 one-time, per application for the county special use permit / special permit (state land use agricultural and rural districts). 5 of the 16 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-09-11 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.
Permits particular to a retail store in Maui County
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| County Special Use Permit / Special Permit (State Land Use Agricultural and Rural Districts)only if it applies to you | County of Maui, Department of Planning | $4,206 one-time, per application | one-time, per application | 2026-09-11 |
| Sign Permitonly if it applies to you | County of Maui, Department of Planning | $107 one-time, per sign | one-time, per sign | 2026-09-11 |
| Fire Prevention Permit — Assembly Occupancyonly if it applies to you | County of Maui, Department of Fire and Public Safety, Fire Prevention Bureau | $100 annual | annual | 2026-09-11 |
| Conditional Permitonly if it applies to you | County of Maui, Department of Planning | $3,970 one-time, per application | limited period of time, per the permit's own terms | 2026-09-11 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
Local permits that apply to every type of business in Maui County
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Plan Review Feeonly if it applies to you | County of Maui, Department of Fire and Public Safety, Fire Prevention Bureau | Varies — formula on the Maui County page | one-time, per project | 2026-09-11 |
| General Business License — Maui County positiononly if it applies to you | County of Maui, Department of Finance, Division of Motor Vehicles and Licensing | No fee | not applicable | 2026-09-11 |
| Certificate of Occupancy | County of Maui, Department of Public Works, Development Services Administration | $50 one-time, per certificate | one-time, no expiration once issued | 2026-09-11 |
| Commercial Building Permit | County of Maui, Department of Public Works, Development Services Administration | Varies — formula on the Maui County page | one-time, per project — the permit itself expires 5 years after issuance if work is not completed | 2026-09-11 |
| Building Plan Review Fee | County of Maui, Department of Public Works, Development Services Administration | Varies — formula on the Maui County page | one-time, per project | 2026-09-11 |
| Special Management Area (SMA) Permitonly if it applies to you | County of Maui, Department of Planning | Varies — formula on the Maui County page | one-time, per project | 2026-09-11 |
| Use Determination (Zoning Verification)only if it applies to you | County of Maui, Department of Planning | Varies — formula on the Maui County page | one-time, per request | 2026-09-11 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
HI registrations that apply to every type of business
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Business License — Hawaii positiononly if it applies to you | Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division | No fee | not applicable | 2026-09-04 |
| Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to you | Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division | $51 one-time filing, including the $1 state archives fee | perpetual, but an annual report is due every year | 2026-09-04 |
| Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to you | Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division | $51 one-time filing, including the $1 state archives fee | perpetual, but an annual report is due every year | 2026-09-04 |
| Annual Reportonly if it applies to you | Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division | $15 a year on paper; a $10 late fee applies per year delinquent | annual — due at the end of the calendar quarter containing the entity's own original registration date | 2026-09-04 |
| General Excise Tax License | Hawaii Department of Taxation | $20 one-time registration | no expiration — remains active until closed, surrendered or revoked for abandonment | 2026-09-04 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
How much does it actually cost to permit a retail store in Maui County?
There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 16 records listed for a retail store in Maui County, HI, 4 apply to every business of this type and 12 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.
Of the 4 that always apply, 2 carry a flat fee, coming to $70.00. That is a floor, not a total. 5 of the 16 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 2 have no fee published at all.
The other 5 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Maui County permits page and the HI state page.
Which offices issue these permits in Maui County?
Permits for a retail store in Maui County, HI come from 6 separate offices: County of Maui, Department of Fire and Public Safety, Fire Prevention Bureau, County of Maui, Department of Planning, County of Maui, Department of Finance, Division of Motor Vehicles and Licensing, County of Maui, Department of Public Works, Development Services Administration, Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division, Hawaii Department of Taxation. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.
- County of Maui, Department of Fire and Public Safety, Fire Prevention BureauIssues 2 permits on this page: Fire Plan Review Fee, Fire Prevention Permit — Assembly Occupancy313 Manea Place, Wailuku, HI 96793 · (808) 876-4690www.mauicounty.gov/1465/Fire-Prevention-Bureau
- County of Maui, Department of PlanningIssues 5 permits on this page, including County Special Use Permit / Special Permit (State Land Use Agricultural and Rural Districts), Sign Permit, Special Management Area (SMA) Permit2200 Main Street, One Main Plaza, Suite 315, Wailuku, HI 96793 · (808) 270-7735www.mauicounty.gov/2980/Planning-Department
- County of Maui, Department of Finance, Division of Motor Vehicles and LicensingIssues 1 permit on this page: General Business License — Maui County position110 Alaihi St., Suite 101, Kahului, HI 96732 · (808) 270-7363www.mauicounty.gov/1328/Motor-Vehicle-Licensing
- County of Maui, Department of Public Works, Development Services AdministrationIssues 3 permits on this page: Certificate of Occupancy, Commercial Building Permit, Building Plan Review Fee110 Alaihi Street, Suite 214, Kahului, HI 96732 · (808) 270-7379www.mauicounty.gov/1208/Building-Permit
- Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Business Registration DivisionIssues 4 permits on this page: General Business License — Hawaii position, Articles of Organization (LLC), Articles of Incorporation, Annual Report335 Merchant Street, Room 201, Honolulu, HI 96813 · (808) 586-2727cca.hawaii.gov/breg
- Hawaii Department of TaxationIssues 1 permit on this page: General Excise Tax License830 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813 · (808) 587-4242tax.hawaii.gov/geninfo/licensing
What does a retail store need in Maui County that other businesses do not?
Shared with other businesses in Maui County
- County Special Use Permit / Special Permit (State Land Use Agricultural and Rural Districts) — County of Maui, Department of Planning, $4,206 one-time, per application, one-time, per application. Also required for fitness studios, salons and barbers, auto repair shops, veterinary clinics, contractors and trades and childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the contractors and trades page.
- Sign Permit — County of Maui, Department of Planning, $107 one-time, per sign, one-time, per sign. Also required for restaurants, coffee shops, salons and barbers, fitness studios, auto repair shops and veterinary clinics; what it involves is set out on the veterinary clinics page.
- Fire Prevention Permit — Assembly Occupancy — County of Maui, Department of Fire and Public Safety, Fire Prevention Bureau, $100 annual, annual. Also required for restaurants and fitness studios; what it involves is set out on the fitness studios page.
- Conditional Permit — County of Maui, Department of Planning, $3,970 one-time, per application, limited period of time, per the permit's own terms. Also required for fitness studios, contractors and trades, auto repair shops, veterinary clinics, salons and barbers and childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the contractors and trades page.
The other 7 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Maui County, HI; what each one involves is set out on the Maui County permits page. The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across HI and are covered on the HI state page.
How does a retail store compare with other businesses in Maui County?
The closest match is a fitness studio, which shares 4 of these permits. A fitness studio needs Fitness Studio/Gym County License (not found), which a retail store does not.
| Business | Its own permits | Shared with a retail store | Only a retail store needs | Only it needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness studios | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Salons and barbers | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Veterinary clinics | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Auto repair shops | 6 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Childcare centres | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Contractors and trades | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Restaurants | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Coffee shops | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Food trucks | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
Sources
Sources for the permits shared with other businesses are listed with their explanations on the contractors and trades page, veterinary clinics page and fitness studios page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Maui County permits page and the HI state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.
Related
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.