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READYDOCSCOMPLIANCESTATESGEORGIACHATHAM COUNTY
FILE 13051 · COUNTY OF CHATHAMSEAT · SAVANNAHPOPULATION · 295KVERIFIED · 05 / 2026
Public Compliance Directory · County Hub

Chatham.

Chatham County in Georgia. This is where the state file translates into the local offices that actually issue the permit, schedule the inspection, and sign the filing. Start with the state baseline, then drill into the right city.

Cities on file
1
Trades indexed
12
County seat
Savannah
Last verified
05 / 2026
FAST FACTS

Chatham County at a glance

Quick-reference card
County seatSavannah
Population (est.)295K
FIPS13051
Building departmentChatham County Building Safety and Regulatory Services
Permit portalChatham County Citizen Self Service (CSS) Portal
Fire marshalChatham County Fire Marshal's Office
Browse cities→Back to state←
County of
Chatham
· ACTIVE FILE ·
ARTICLE I · COUNTY BASELINE
CODES & LOCAL AUTHORITY
FIPS 13051
Article I · County Baseline

The county inherits from the state. And adds local rules.

The county enforces the 2018 International Building Code and related 2018 International Codes with Georgia State Amendments.

Chatham County handles permitting for unincorporated areas, while incorporated municipalities like Savannah, Pooler, and Tybee Island maintain their own independent building and zoning departments. Development in the county is heavily influenced by the Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission and strict coastal flood zone regulations due to the proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and tidal rivers.

The county enforces a strict Tree Protection Ordinance that requires a permit and potential mitigation for the removal of protected trees on private property.

How this fits with the state

The state authority here is GA State Licensing Board. The county file does not replace that — it adds the permit office, local overlays, and the actual filing path.

Source · Chatham County Building Safety and Regulatory ServicesLast verified · 05 / 2026
ARTICLE II · PERMIT OFFICES
WHERE THE PERMIT IS FILED
OPERATING PATH
Article II · Local Offices

Who issues, who inspects, who signs off.

Contractors must hold a valid Georgia state license and register with the county building department before pulling permits for work in unincorporated areas.

Building

Chatham County Building Safety and Regulatory Services

Permits, plans, inspections

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Permit portal

Chatham County Citizen Self Service (CSS) Portal

Apply, track, pay

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Planning / zoning

Chatham County Zoning Department

Land use, plan review

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Fire marshal

Chatham County Fire Marshal's Office

Prevention, alarms, sprinklers

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
ARTICLE III · INSURANCE & BONDS
COUNTY OVERLAY ON STATE BASELINE
VERIFY BEFORE BIDDING
Article III · County Overlay

What Chatham County usually adds.

The state sets the floor. The county and city can require additional certificates, local bonds, or pre-permit registration.

CoverageRequired?MinimumIssued by
Workers' CompensationState rule with county add-ons
Verify
3+ employees required
State authority
General LiabilityOften required by permit type
Conditional
Permit-based
Chatham County Building Safety and Regulatory Services
Surety BondTied to state license or county permit
Conditional
Varies by trade & jurisdiction
State or county
County overlayContractors must provide proof of general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage as required by the state of Georgia, with the county named as a certificate holder for specific projects.
Verify
Varies
Chatham County Building Safety and Regulatory Services
Source · Chatham County Building Safety and Regulatory ServicesVerify before filing
ARTICLE IV · INDEXED CITIES
CITIES IN CHATHAM COUNTY
1 CITY
Article IV · Browse by City

Indexed cities in Chatham County.

Pick a city to open its trade list. The trade page covers licensing, permits, insurance, and typical costs for that work in that city.

SavannahChatham County
01
ARTICLE V · TRADES
TRADES IN CHATHAM COUNTY
12 TRADES
Article V · Trades

Trades branching in Chatham County.

Each trade opens against the first indexed city in the county. Use the city browser above to open the same trade in another city.

Concrete
CODE · CN
GL
Open file →
Electrical
CODE · EL
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Flooring
CODE · FL
GL
Open file →
Framing
CODE · FR
GL
Open file →
General Contracting
CODE · GC
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
HVAC
CODE · HV
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Landscaping
CODE · LS
GL
Open file →
Painting
CODE · PT
GL
Open file →
Pest Control
CODE · PC
State Lic.GL
Open file →
Plumbing
CODE · PL
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Pool Service
CODE · PS
GLBond
Open file →
Roofing
CODE · RF
LicenseBondGL
Open file →
ARTICLE VI · SOURCES
LOCAL SOURCE REGISTER
VERIFY LOCALLY
Article VI · Sources & Citations

Every filing needs a source trail.

This template keeps the county page honest: local context here, filing decisions made with the issuing office.

State

GA State Licensing Board

Statewide licensing, reciprocity, and renewal rules.

/contractors/georgia
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
County

Chatham County Building Safety and Regulatory Services

Department that issues permits and schedules inspections for unincorporated areas.

Chatham County Citizen Self Service (CSS) Portal
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Planning

Chatham County Zoning Department

Land use, zoning review, and plan approvals.

Local planning office
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Fire

Chatham County Fire Marshal's Office

Prevention, protection systems, and code approvals.

Fire marshal's office
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Frequently Asked

Questions contractors ask before filing.

Q01Do I need a state license to work in Chatham County?+
Usually yes — the baseline is the state license through GA State Licensing Board. Chatham County and its cities may add local registration before you pull a permit.Source · GA State Licensing Board
Q02Does the county or the city issue the permit?+
It depends on where the work is. Unincorporated areas usually route through the county (Chatham County Building Safety and Regulatory Services). Work inside an incorporated city normally files with that city's department.Source · Chatham County Building Safety and Regulatory Services
Q03What changes between county and state?+
The county adds the actual permit office, local zoning overlays, plan-review timelines, inspections, and local fees. The state license defines who can contract; the county defines how the job gets filed.Source · County and municipal departments

Open the county file. Then pick the city.

Chatham County now inherits from the state template and adds its own local detail. The next layer is the city and trade pages.

Browse cities→Back to state←