Maui County's Planning Commission just narrowed the path for apartment-zoned short-term rentals to survive the county's phaseout. Here's what happened and what it means if you host in an apartment-zoned building.
What's changing
The Planning Commission voted 6-2 to deny phaseout exemptions for 43 properties that applied for one
Only 5 properties were approved for hotel zoning, which would let them keep operating as short-term rentals
The phaseout still eliminates roughly 6,100 apartment-zoned short-term rentals on a rolling schedule between December 2028 and 2030
What to do now
If your unit is apartment-zoned and wasn't one of the 5 approved for hotel zoning, don't wait on a second appeal window — none is guaranteed. Start mapping your exit timeline now: figure out which phaseout date bracket your building falls into, model what long-term rental or sale income looks like as a fallback, and talk to a local real estate attorney about whether any other rezoning path is realistic for your specific property before the deadline gets closer and options narrow further.
Don't get caught off guard by the next rule change.
The Host's Edge tracks short-term rental regulation changes every week, in plain English — free.