WORKFORCE HOUSING INCENTIVES IN HILTON HEAD ISLAND
In response to our community’s need for workforce housing, the Town of Hilton Head Island has implemented public policy incentives to encourage construction of quality, attractive workforce housing in the Town.
STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH HOUSING
Housing for Hilton Head Island’s workforce is important for maintaining the Island’s high quality of life. Employers consider housing availability and affordability on Hilton Head Island as essential for attracting and keeping qualified workers. Housing forecasts indicate a need to increase housing production to meet future housing demands in the Town. The Town’s Workforce Housing (WFH) Program is designed to promote opportunities for development of workforce housing.
WORKFORCE HOUSING
To participate in the Town’s Workforce Housing (WFH) Program, interested developers or builders must execute an agreement with the Town
and commit to providing housing to families or individuals who will use it as their primary residence and meet income and employment requirements. Workforce housing incentives permit conversion of commercial buildings into living units and allow for higher density of dwelling units in certain residential zones.
DENSITY BONUSES
Density bonuses will allow you to have a maximum of 12 units per acre on property tracts that are three acres or greater and zoned RM-4 (Low Density Residential District). To receive this incentive, the developer must designate a percentage of the units for renters and homebuyers that meet federal guidelines for area median income (AMI) for Beaufort County. Additionally, if there is a mix of workforce and market-rate units, they must be similarly designed and constructed.
CONVERSION OF COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
The Town will allow conversion of existing commercial buildings to residential or mixed-use developments as long as they meet WFH
program requirements and are currently located in areas zoned for mixed-use or workforce housing. Density will be determined by the size of the existing building, and the number and size of the units desired. Renters or homebuyers must meet AMI, residency and employment requirements.
For complete details on the program and application materials, please visit
hiltonheadislandsc.gov/workforcehousing/ or contact Jayme Lopko, Senior Planner,
at (843) 341-4695 or via email at jaymel@hiltonheadislandsc.gov.
