When can I remove this green, yellow or red placard on my house?

More than three weeks have passed since Hurricane Matthew, and Hilton Head Island property owners are wondering when they can remove the green, yellow or red inspection placards on their buildings.

It depends on the color, say town officials.

Property owners with green placards, which identify structures with minor or superficial damage, are asked to keep them in place until Nov. 15.

“The green placards assist town staff in being able to more efficient during routine enforcement patrols,” according to a town release.

The patrols are looking for unlicensed contractors and repairs being made without required permits, the release said.

Property owners with yellow placards, which indicate that a structure is damaged and only partial entry can be made, can remove their placards if they have been issued repair permits. The permit should be posted on the property in place of the placard, the release said.

Owners with red placards, which identify structures as unsafe because of serious damage, also need repair permits. They also must receive permission from building officials before removing the placards, town officials said.

This story was originally published November 2, 2016 at 5:04 PM with the headline "When can I remove this green, yellow or red placard on my house?."