Title 15, Section 112 of the Municipal Code of the Town of Hilton Head Island provides the establishment of a Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals. The Board hears and decides appeals of orders, decisions or determinations made by the Building Official relative to the application and interpretation of adopted building and fire codes. The board consists of nine members and two alternates:

One (1) South Carolina registered architect; one (1) South Carolina licensed general contractor; one (1) South Carolina registered engineer; one (1) South Carolina licensed mechanical contractor (heating and air conditioning); one (1) South Carolina licensed plumbing contractor; one (1) South Carolina registered electrical engineer; one (1) South Carolina licensed electrical contractor; two (2) members at-large from the building industry.

Town Council appoints members to the board. The board members serve four-year terms. No member may serve more than two (2) successive terms, except for extraordinary circumstances where Town Council believes it to be in the best interest of the community to have a continuation, for a specified period, of a particular member of the board. The Chief Building Official serves as the Secretary of the Board.

A simple majority of the board shall constitutes a quorum. Variance approvals require the affirmative votes of the majority present. To reverse an order, requirement, decision or determination of the Building Official, the concurring vote of five (5) members of the Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals is necessary. If the required number of votes is not obtained, the order, requirement, decision or determination of the Building Official stands.

The Board is scheduled to meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 5:30 PM in Council Chambers at Town Hall. Requests must be made in writing and received no later than two weeks prior to the regularly scheduled meeting. There is a filing fee of $75.00. An application form is available at our offices or online.

Building & Fire Code Department