Bill > HB1468

This bill aims to protect residents' rights to cultivate vegetable gardens in planned community associations and condominiums in Hawaii, addressing food security concerns raised by the 2023 Maui wildfires. The legislation allows individuals to grow vegetable gardens in their owned, rented, or leased units, with several important restrictions: gardening cannot occur in common areas or adjacent to buildings, and unit owners can require consent and impose limitations on water use and plant types. The bill recognizes gardening as a fundamental right and seeks to improve Hawaii's food resilience by preventing homeowners' associations from prohibiting personal vegetable gardens. Specifically, the bill amends existing statutes for planned community associations and condominiums to ensure residents can grow vegetables, while still maintaining provisions that protect property owners' interests, such as the ability to withdraw consent and restrict potentially invasive or destructive plants. Additionally, the bill does not prevent county governments from enacting regulations related to water use during droughts, fertilizer usage, or invasive species control, providing flexibility for local management of gardening practices.

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https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1468&year=2025