Want to know more about Visitor Destination Area on Kauai? Here is a quick overview answering all of your questions on Kauai’s Visitor Destination Areas (VDA). 

Many people looking to purchase a Kauai home think that it will be a great idea to use their residence as a vacation rental. Kauai has visitors all year long. What many do not know is that Kauai has strict zoning rules and only homes in the visitor destination area can be vacation rented.

Learn everything you need to know about the Kauai visitor destination area on Kauai in this post.

After reading this post you will have a better idea of what areas on Kauai can be legally vacation rented. 

The 411 on Visitor Destination Zones on Kauai 

What is the Visitor Destination Area (VDA)

• An area that allows properties on Kauai to be short-term rented (Less than 6 months lease).

Where are the Visitor Destination Areas on Kauai? 

This can be tricky to find out as there are no real accurate maps that I have found. It’s best to learn and memorize the areas because there aren’t many VDA’s on Kauai!  I have areas listed below:

• On the North shore – Turning right into the Princeville subdivision all of those homes excluding Queen Emma’s bluff is in the VDA. Queen Emma’s Bluff is that right turn immediately after turning into Princeville. The road’s name is Queen Emma’s drive.
• On the East shore – All of the condos on the ocean in Kapaa are in the VDA. There is also spot zoning near the coconut marketplace of homes that are located in the VDA.
• On the South shore- From the roundabout heading east all of those homes and condos along Poipu Road and to the ocean are in the VDA.

As for the west side, there are no visitor destination areas that I know of.

There are lots of places with spot zoning for condos which makes understanding where our Visitor Destination Areas are a bit confusing. Basically know that our condos on the ocean can be vacation rented. Along with Princeville and east of the roundabout in Poipu.

Most Realtors know that being able to vacation rental a property is a big selling point. So they will almost always have it listed in the remarks in the listing. Like this listing above.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Vacation Rentals on Kauai

How are Homes on Kauai being vacation rented that are not in the VDA?

• Those properties have their Transient Vacation Rental Permit (TVR). If you are staying at a vacation rental single-family home on Kauai it should have its TRV number posted in front of the home.

A Transient Vacation Rental Permit is a permit given as an exception to not being in the VDA. Therefore if someone has a TVR permit that property is a legal vacation rental.

• Approximately over 10 years ago the county of Kauai gave the people of Kauai to turn their home into a vacation rental if it was located in a Residential zone and if they were paying their Transient Accommodation Tax. Those that applied at the time they are now Grandfathered in.
• The county is no longer allowing anyone to apply for a TVR, that ship has sailed.

Will the county be making more VDA areas on Kauai?

I don’t foresee that ever happening. The reason why is below.

Why does Kauai have a VDA zone?

• The reason why Kauai has a visitor destination zone is to protect the local housing supply and to control visitor visits to certain areas of the island. Right now there is a shortage of affordable housing and long-term housing in general. The county wants those who own investment properties to use them for long-term housing which is a 6 month or longer lease.

Can I search online for vacation rentals?

• The best way I have found is just to search through listings and see if the comments say it can be vacation rented or ask your Kauai Realtor.