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Council OKs storm building code revisions

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Hilton Head Island's Town Council approved major revisions to its building code Tuesday that simplify the process for homeowners to make repairs and rebuild after a hurricane.

The changes in the emergency permitting process will allow those with minor damage to their property -- broken windows or wall damage, for instance -- to rebuild without submitting plans or getting construction permits.

Owners of homes damaged up to 50 percent will be allowed to rebuild by obtaining a building permit but without having to submit formal plans.

The changes are part of a comprehensive strategy to accelerate the rebuilding process after a storm and allow residents to get their lives back to normal as quickly as possible. The modifications, approved unanimously Tuesday, will allow homeowners to rebuild their property exactly as it was before a disaster, bypassing the usual reconstruction requirements.

"Basically this is just a simplification of the process," said Tom Fieldstead, the town's interim head of the Building and Fire Codes Department.

When the town goes through the island doing damage assessment after a storm, officials will place one of three placards on structures.

A green placard means the building is safe, and the owner can rebuild without a permit.

A yellow placard means the building's use is restricted. Damage less than 50 percent can be repaired by obtaining a permit but without having to submit plans.

Red placards will indicate unsafe buildings where, if the damage is over 50 percent, the owners will have to submit site plans and apply for a building permit.

"There's a lot of 'ifs' in here, but it establishes a process," Fieldstead said.

The town also is reducing the burden for how much homeowners need to provide before rebuilding. Instead of requiring a full survey to prove what existed before a storm, things like photographs will be allowed, Fieldstead said.

The town is planning a major public education process to let homeowners know how they can take advantage of these new emergency permitting rules before the start of hurricane season in June, Fieldstead said.

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