TMK guide · Land rules
Lava flow hazard zones 1 to 9
Hawaiʻi Island is mapped into nine zones by the chance of lava covering the land.
The US Geological Survey divides Hawaiʻi Island into nine lava flow hazard zones. Zone 1 is the summits and rift zones of Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, where lava is most likely. The numbers rise as the chance falls; zone 9 is Kohala, which has not erupted in a very long time.
The zones are based on where lava has flowed in the past and on the shape of the land. The map is old and broad, so zone lines are not exact at the scale of one lot.
Zones 1 and 2 can make insurance and lending harder to find. The zone does not by itself stop a building permit.
What the law says, and who keeps it
What the ParcelSheet card shows
The lava zone number for the lot from the USGS map, on Hawaiʻi Island lots only.
Who to ask
The County of Hawaiʻi Planning Department for building rules. An insurance agent and lender for coverage, which is where the zone matters most day to day.
See it on a real lot
Checked 2026-10-17. This page explains a term in plain words. It is not legal advice; the County or State office named above decides.
More land rules
- Special Management Area (SMA)
- State Land Use Districts
- FEMA flood zones and what X shaded means
- FIRM panels and LOMAs
- Tsunami evacuation and extreme tsunami zones
- Sea level rise exposure area
- CPR lots (condominium property regime)
- ʻOhana units and accessory dwelling units
- Shoreline setback
- Cesspool conversion (Act 125)
- Important Agricultural Lands (IAL)
- Conveyance tax
- Property tax classes by County
- TMK (Tax Map Key)