HHA HBA COVID-19 Dropbox with Resource Documents
NAHB (Building Industry Specific Updates and Resources)
Hilton Head Bluffton Chamber of Commerce
Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce
South Carolina Department of Commerce (Business Resources)
SBA (Small Business Administration) (for small business loan opportunities)
Downloadable Building Industry Job Site Notice for On-Site Inspections in English and Spanish
All –
First and foremost – I hope that everyone is safe and healthy during this time. I wanted to reach out and update you on what is happening in the Town of Bluffton concerning development projects.
At this time we do not expect any interruption of building and planning services. We will continue to accept new applications, provide staff review and comments, and approve accordingly. Building inspectors, watershed management staff, and planners will continue to inspect projects with modifications to how we interact with contractors on site. The Town’s priority is to ensure the public health, safety, and general welfare for Town staff and the community. In order to do this, when an inspector arrives at the site, workers must vacate the buildings. They may stay on site; however, they must abide by the social distancing order, maintaining a minimum distance of 6 feet. The inspectors will provide the inspection report and discuss any comments over the telephone or email. Permits, plans and supplemental information will be placed in the pick up and drop off bins located outside of the doors at Town Hall, 20 Bridge Street.
And while the Governor has issued a State of Emergency due to Coronavirus, it is still the Town of Bluffton’s expectation that all construction sites remain compliant. Please ensure that all sites are secured, and BMPs (Best Management Practices) are maintained per local, state and federal regulations. Regular stormwater inspections will continue; however, inspectors must follow all of the State and Local orders, including social distancing. Please maintain an appropriate distance from staff and utilize email/phone contact over in-person discussions as much as possible. Please contact the Town of Bluffton Watershed Management Division at 843-706-7805 or 843-706-4581 should you have any questions or concerns
Building services, including contractors are permitted to continue to work; however, they must follow all of the State and Local orders, including social distancing and burning.
I appreciate your patience with the procedural changes. We will communicate all updates to the procedures on social media, emails and press releases.
If you have any questions please contact me on my mobile number at 843-540-6946 or email hcolin@townofbluffton.com .
Stay safe and healthy,
Heather L. Colin, AICP
Director of Growth Management
City of Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling has announced a shelter-in-place declaration for the City of Beaufort which excludes all essential businesses but includes all non-essential businesses listed in previous declarations by Governor Henry McMaster. Declarations by Governor Henry McMaster can be found at governor.sc.gov here. For information on the City of Beaufort shelter-in-place declaration, click here.
Effective immediately, the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) is extending the license renewal deadline for licenses, registrations, and permits scheduled to renew during the months of April, May, June, July, and August. The new renewal deadline is extended to September 30, 2020.
To read the full release, click here.
From:
Joe Passiment, Chairman, Beaufort County Council
Billy Keyserling, Mayor, City of Beaufort
Lisa Sulka, Mayor, Town of Bluffton
Harry Williams, Mayor, City of Hardeeville
John McCann, Mayor, Town of Hilton Head Island
Joe DeVito, Mayor, Town of Port Royal
Colin Moore, Mayor, Town of Yemassee
The United States has the third largest number of COVID-19 infected residents in the world. South Carolina lost two more residents yesterday to this disease and more than 100 new cases were reported Monday in our state.
Every community in our nation is yet to feel the full effects of this virus, its causalities and unfortunately, its fatalities. We are in the second phase of this pandemic which means more people will be infected before this rate decreases. These figures will only grow as more people realize they have symptoms and have had contact with an infected person.
This news comes on the heels of recent reports of major gatherings along the County’s beaches, rivers and other waterways.
Governor Henry McMaster issued an executive order for local and state law enforcement to break up any groups which are comprised of three people or more. Law enforcement officers have the authority to disperse a group and charge those people with misdemeanors. This order does not apply to businesses or employers.
On behalf of each local governmental organization, we are asking for all local residents to create a culture of infection control and lead by example. This is a social and behavioral health issue. Every person needs to make short-term concessions to prevent the Coronavirus pandemic from exponentially spreading and causing more harm to our community and overwhelming our local healthcare systems.
This is a real health crisis with potentially tragic consequences, and we need every person to do their part by:
As leaders of your county, towns and cities, we are working around the clock to protect and provide for our region. We must all do our best to protect our hospital and emergency services, so our system is able to manage patients during this time.
Thank you for leading by example and creating a culture of infection control. We need everyone to be a part of the solution for each’s personal health, public health, safety and welfare of our communities.
3.20.20 Update: The City of Hardeeville Building Department has begun taking certain precautions in the wake of the COVID-19 virus. At the present time , we will continue to provide services. Permitting, plan reviews, inspections, and pre-construction meetings will continue with the following limitations:
All submittals, i.e. permit applications, construction documents, etc. shall be submitted electronically to Ashley Moody at amoody@hardeevillesc.gov. Large scale commercial projects can be mailed to the city using the carrier of the applicant’s choice.
Communication with Building Department Staff, i.e. code questions, preconstruction meetings, submittal questions, inspection requests, etc. shall be handled via tele-conference, tele-phone, or e-mail.
All applicants and/or clients will be notified of issuance, approvals, non-compliance, etc. electronically and/or by phone. Applicants should call ahead to determine pick-up arrangements.
Review periods for permit applications and construction documents may be delayed at this time.
Please have as few people at the site as possible while our inspectors are completing their inspections. Superintendents only for residential projects. Commercial projects should have as few people in the area(s) of inspection as is necessary. You are not required to be at the jobsite for your inspection. Inspectors will be practicing universal precautions and social distancing. Inspection(s) may be denied if these precautions are not practiced.
Inspections will be performed on new construction only. This is for the occupant’s safety as well as the inspector. Inspections may be limited due to availability of staff. Please do not call in “place holders”. Inspections deemed as such will be assessed re-inspection fees and cancelled inspections may be denied next day inspections.
Hilton Head Area Home Builders Association
386 Spanish Wells Road
Hilton Head Island, SC
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 22360
Hilton Head Island, SC 29925
