Hawaii County has become the first in the state to pass a sweeping law restricting how close cell towers can be built to homes and schools. Known as the Big Island, the county approved an ordinance unanimously on June 19th, setting new boundaries that residents and advocates say will protect families from unwanted exposure to wireless infrastructure.
A Long Fight Ends in Victory
The Environmental Health Trust (EHT) worked with Big Island residents and Safe Tech Hawaii for months to get the law over the finish line. Their efforts paid off with the passage of Bill 24, which mandates 600-foot setbacks from sensitive sites.
“The passage of Bill 24 is a notable victory because, to my knowledge, Hawaii County, with a population of over 200,000, is the largest community in the U.S. with 600-foot installation setbacks,” said EHT Legal Fellow Zoe Berg.
Many locals had resisted the push for more towers, arguing the island already had adequate wireless coverage. For them, the vote was about safety and peace of mind.
Building on Past Concerns
The county’s stance isn’t new. Back in 2020, Hawaii County adopted a resolution calling for a halt to 5G rollouts until independent testing could confirm the safety of radiofrequency emissions. Earlier this year, Hawaiian Telcom announced plans to make Hawaii the first fully fiber-enabled state by 2026, a move that would allow residents to rely on fiber-optic cables rather than wireless networks.
“The passage of Bill 24 in Hawai’i County acknowledges that buffers between powerful, wireless radiation-emitting technology and sensitive environments like homes and schools are important to protect public safety and public health,” Berg added.
“We thank Debra Greene and all of the residents of Hawaii County for their hard work in getting Bill 24 passed. We also thank the honorable members of the Hawaii County Council for supporting more responsible, thoughtful wireless telecommunications infrastructure siting throughout the county.”
Telecom Pushback
Major carriers, including Verizon and AT&T, voiced opposition, submitting letters to the council requesting waivers from the new setbacks. Those requests were denied. Still, the bill wasn’t entirely one-sided.
In a concession to industry, the permitting process for new towers was simplified. However, strict safeguards were added. Towers must now be engineered to withstand 100 mph winds, placed more than 600 feet away from homes and schools in most areas, and set at least 120% of their height from all property lines. The only exceptions are for emergency communications facilities.
By comparison, rules on Oahu allow towers just one-fifth of their height from nearby property lines, a risk critics say leaves homes vulnerable if structures topple.
A Growing National and Global Movement
With its vote, Hawaii County joins dozens of U.S. communities that have set local restrictions on cell tower placement, including jurisdictions in New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Idaho, California, and Massachusetts. Globally, countries across the EU and beyond have adopted policies aimed at reducing children’s exposure to wireless radiation.
For residents elsewhere looking to replicate this fight, the Environmental Health Trust offers an “Action Steps on Cell Towers near Homes” guide, with legal precedents, scientific evidence, and resources for organizing local campaigns.
