Building in the Family Islands: What's Different from Nassau

Building in the Family Islands is a different experience from building in Nassau. Understanding these differences saves time, money, and frustration. PERMITTING DIFFERENCES In most Family Islands, you must obtain approval from the Local Commissioner before applying for Planning Permission from the Ministry of Works. The Commissioner's role and process varies by island: - Abaco: Commissioner's Office in Marsh Harbour - Exuma: Commissioner's Office in George Town - Eleuthera: Commissioner's Offices at Governor's Harbour and Palmetto Point - Other islands: Check with the relevant Commissioner directly Expect permitting to take 20-30% longer than Nassau for the same project. CONTRACTOR AVAILABILITY Most licensed and experienced contractors are based in Nassau. For Family Island work: - Local contractors exist but may have limited capacity for larger projects - Nassau contractors will travel for significant projects — factor in accommodation, per diem, and travel costs - Word-of-mouth recommendations from local residents are essential MATERIALS LOGISTICS All materials not locally available must be barged from Nassau. This means: - Lead times of 2-6 weeks for most materials - Barge schedules are irregular — plan carefully - Materials costs are 20-35% higher than Nassau prices - Order in bulk wherever possible to reduce barge trips UTILITIES - Electricity: BPL (Bahamas Power & Light) operates in many Family Islands but reliability varies. Generators are common backup. - Water: Municipal water supply is limited on most islands. Cisterns fed by rainwater are standard for drinking water. - Sewerage: Public sewerage is rare. Septic systems are the norm — design and size appropriately for your lot. SPECIFIC ISLAND NOTES - Abaco: Strong local building tradition. Post-Dorian reconstruction has improved local contractor capacity. - Exuma: Limited local contractors. Growing development demand. Excellent for beachfront builds. - Eleuthera: Long island means logistics vary by location. Active expat building market. - Andros: Most undeveloped major island. Very limited services. High barge costs to remote areas. ALWAYS verify current local requirements with the island's Commissioner's office before beginning any project.