The county on Monday ordered a halt to renovations of a downtown Hilo building the owners plan to convert into an indoor marketplace.

County building officials posted a stop- work order for the project in the former Western Auto Building at 141 Haili St. after renovations allegedly started without building, electrical or plumbing permits.

The owners of the 40,000-square-foot building have plans to install a stage and stalls for vendors as well as a banquet hall and community theater.

Kawehi Stevens, manager of the project known as the Hilo Indoor Marketplace, was unavailable for comment.