Building permits in the City of Savannah are issued by the Development Services Department, with all building permit packages — including plans — submitted online through eTRAC. Savannah's famous historic districts add a design-review layer: exterior work in the Landmark Historic District and other districts needs a Certificate of Appropriateness before a permit.
This Savannah building permit guide covers what requires a permit, how fees work, the eTRAC process, historic district review, trade permits, and inspections — so your Savannah project starts clean.
This guide covers the City of Savannah. Development Services permits work inside city limits; unincorporated Chatham County and other municipalities run their own processes. If your project is in the Landmark Historic District, Victorian District, Mid-City, or Cuyler-Brownsville Phase I, exterior work needs a Certificate of Appropriateness — contact the Historic Preservation Office before you apply. Coastal flood zones may also add requirements.
What requires a building permit in Savannah?
Under the Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes (the International Codes as adopted with Georgia amendments by the Department of Community Affairs per O.C.G.A. and DCA Rule 120-3-3), a permit is required before most construction, alteration, or demolition. Common triggers include:
Permit required
- New construction, additions, and tenant build-outs
- Structural / load-bearing alterations and demolition
- Reroofing, window and door replacement, and exterior work
- Electrical service changes and most wiring alterations
- Mechanical / HVAC installations and changeouts
- Plumbing alterations, repipes, and water heaters
- Site development and grading (Site Development Permit)
- Swimming pools, signs, and retaining walls
Typically exempt
- Painting, flooring, cabinetry, and cosmetic work
- Like-for-like minor repairs not altering structure or systems
- Certain low non-structural fences (confirm limits)
- Routine maintenance not extending or rerouting systems
Exemptions are narrow and scope-specific. When unsure, confirm with the building department before starting — see the penalty note below.
Get the permit issued before starting work. Building without one — or doing exterior work in a historic district without a Certificate of Appropriateness — exposes the owner to penalties and can require reversal. Apply through eTRAC first.
Who handles permitting in Savannah?
Permitting and inspections are administered by Development Services. For projects needing site work, a Site Development Permit is issued first (at a preconstruction meeting), then a Building Permit for vertical construction; historic, fire, and water/sewer reviews run alongside as applicable.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | 20 Interchange Drive, Savannah, GA 31415 (P.O. Box 1027, Savannah, GA 31402) |
| Phone | (912) 651-6530; Historic Preservation Office (912) 651-1457 |
| Online portal | eTRAC — eTRAC.savannahga.gov (all building packages submitted online) |
| Historic review | Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior work in design-review districts |
| Commercial renovations | Signed Water & Sewer Approval Form required before permit |
| Enforced code | Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes |
Submit everything through eTRAC. All building permit packages, including plans, are submitted online; you can also track projects in eTRAC without an account. Savannah holds informal Building Plan Review (BPR) meetings Thursdays at 10 a.m. via Microsoft Teams with plan reviewers, trade principals, the historic preservation officer, and the fire marshal.
Savannah building permit cost
Savannah building permit fees follow the city's Building Permit and Plan Review Fees schedule (payable to the City of Savannah) and are based on the type and valuation of work, with separate plan review and trade fees.
Fees can be paid online through eTRAC or by check/money order (no cash). For commercial renovations, a signed Water & Sewer Approval Form must be completed before the building permit is issued. Confirm current amounts in the fee schedule before budgeting.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building / construction fee | Based on the type and valuation of work |
| Plan review fee | Assessed for plan-review projects |
| Trade permits (E / P / M) | Charged separately per trade |
| Site Development Permit | Issued before vertical construction where site work is required |
| Historic design review | Certificate of Appropriateness in historic/design-review districts |
| Work-without-permit | Penalties and possible reversal of work |
Want a precise number for a specific Savannah project? Send us the scope and valuation and we'll return a fee estimate alongside a filing timeline.
Savannah trade permits
Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work generally needs its own permit and a state-licensed contractor; trade permits can be applied for online through eTRAC.
Electrical permits
Required for service installations, panel upgrades, solar PV, and most wiring alterations, performed by a contractor licensed through the Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board.
Plumbing permits
Required for new plumbing, repipes, water heater changeouts, fixtures, and gas piping, performed by a state-licensed plumbing contractor. Commercial renovations require the Water & Sewer Approval Form.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for HVAC changeouts, ductwork, and refrigeration, performed by a state-licensed conditioned-air contractor. Specialized systems are permitted and inspected separately.
Miscellaneous & specialty
Reroofs, pools, signs, and solar are permitted separately. In Savannah's historic and design-review districts, plans for exterior work must be stamped by the Historic Preservation Officer with a Certificate of Appropriateness attached.
Verify your contractor's license. Georgia licenses general and residential contractors through the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors, and electrical, plumbing, HVAC/conditioned-air, and low-voltage contractors through the Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board (both under the Secretary of State). Most projects over $2,500 require a licensed contractor, and only a licensed contractor — or a homeowner on their own residence — may pull a permit. Verify before signing; the property owner is responsible for ensuring a permit is obtained.
How to get a building permit in Savannah
Confirm scope, zoning & historic status
Verify the work needs a permit, confirm the parcel is inside Savannah city limits, and check whether it's in the Landmark Historic, Victorian, Mid-City, or Cuyler-Brownsville district.
Obtain historic & utility approvals
If exterior work is in a design-review district, obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness; for commercial renovations, complete the Water & Sewer Approval Form first.
Apply in eTRAC
Submit the signed application, complete application checklist, and all plans online through eTRAC; consider a Thursday BPR meeting for complex projects.
Plan review & corrections
Development Services (with historic, fire, and water/sewer as applicable) reviews the package; resolve comments and resubmit in eTRAC.
Site & building permits
For projects with site work, a Site Development Permit is issued at the preconstruction meeting, then a Building Permit for vertical construction.
Pay fees, build & close out
Pay fees in eTRAC (or by check/money order), build, pass inspections, and submit close-out documents to obtain your Certificate of Occupancy.
Inspections in Savannah
Request inspections through eTRAC; the Building Permit Process flow chart lists the contact at each step. Typical checkpoints include foundation, rough-in MEP, framing, insulation, and final. Post the permit and approved plans on site throughout construction.
A re-inspection fee applies to failed inspections and must be cleared before a final inspection or Certificate of Occupancy can be requested.
Official Savannah permitting resources
- 🏛️ Savannah Development Services
- 💻 eTRAC online permitting
- 📋 Permits for construction
- 💵 Fee information
- 🪪 GA contractor licensing (Secretary of State)
- 📘 Georgia State Minimum Codes (DCA)
Simplify Savannah permitting with Alliance Permitting
Savannah's online-only eTRAC intake, historic-district design review, and Water & Sewer prerequisite for commercial renovations reward applicants who line up approvals before they file. Alliance Permitting is a permit expediter for Savannah — our permit expediting services pair AI-driven document review with experts who know eTRAC and the Development Services process, so your Savannah submissions move faster.
Trusted by leading builders and brands — including Dream Finders Homes, Tesla, Verizon, Hyatt, and Sunnova.
Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Savannah because we deliver:
- Local expertise — we know Savannah Development Services, eTRAC, historic design review, and the Water & Sewer prerequisite.
- Complete oversight — track every permit and inspection across all your jobs in one place.
- Error-free submissions — AI pre-checks plus expert review catch issues before they become correction cycles.
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company: we prepare your paperwork, file it correctly, and coordinate with the building department through issuance — including preparing private-provider documentation where that option is available. We are not a contractor and do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your team and the jurisdiction.
Ready to break ground in Savannah sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your City of Savannah permits while you stay focused on building. Get a free, no-obligation quote today.
More Georgia permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of June 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with the City of Savannah Development Services Department before filing. This is not legal advice.