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Development and Building Permit Process

The Town of Hilton Head Island has responded to the public's request to re-design the development and building permit process. This endeavor is the first step towards fulfilling a Town Council 2011 goal to 'foster greater flexibility, simplicity and revitalization' in the permitting process.

Staff has worked to simplify the process, beginning from the point where a person first has a conceptual idea for a new commercial project all the way through plan review, project approval, construction and receipt of a Certificate of Occupancy. Staff has changed the procedure and philosophy to provide flexibility, predictability, efficiency, and effectiveness. This also includes making the process as user-friendly and customer-oriented as possible.

Beginning October 1st, any customer applying for a permit to build a new commercial development will undergo our revised process. Major changes to the procedure include:

• Dealing with a Single Point of Contact throughout the entire process - the Project Manager.
• Improving Predictability & Flexibility.
• Streamlining the process.

The success of these changes will involve continual monitoring and solicitation of feedback from the applicants and the public throughout the next year. The Town welcomes suggestions from the applicants, business and property owners as they proceed through this new process in order to make continual improvements.

Below is the Generation 1 flowchart for the new process. Stay tuned for a Generation 2 flowchart (web permitting) in the near future.