What is the biggest bottleneck in Sullivan's Island ADU permitting?

The biggest bottleneck in Sullivan's Island ADU permitting is typically zoning review, since the island's limited lot sizes and strict local development rules mean many proposed ADUs need a variance or special exception rather than sailing through as a standard permit. That review step, which can involve a public hearing, generally takes longer than the building permit review itself. A homeowner who designs a project to fit within existing zoning limits from the start can avoid that slower path. Brian Beatty can point a Sullivan's Island homeowner to a designer familiar with the island's specific zoning constraints.