Parking mandates could raise Honolulu housing costs, new study finds

Parking mandates could be driving up housing costs in Honolulu, according to a new Hawaiʻi Appleseed study.

The study found that the costs of building the required parking spaces for residential buildings are passed down to consumers, adding about $400 to the monthly rent for a studio apartment, even if the renter doesn’t own a car.

While the city of Honolulu has made changes to reduce parking requirements in Transit Oriented Development areas, Hawaiʻi Appleseed says that policy should be demand-based instead of a one-size-fits-all rule.