Chatham County, GA Ordinances (2026)

Chatham County bans selling, wholesaling or otherwise disposing of fireworks and firecrackers anywhere in the unincorporated county, and bars storing any fireworks at all. Discharging…

Chatham County Code Sec. 21-502 requires premises be kept clear of overgrown grass or weeds eighteen (18) inches or more in height. For disposal, Sec. 21-306 lets residents burn their…

Chatham County Code Sec. 21-306 (amended 2020) lets residents in or within a mile of a city or subdivision use fire pits less than 48 inches in diameter for recreation, provided the…

Chatham County's Property Maintenance Code requires every dwelling unit in the unincorporated county to have an approved, listed smoke detector meeting UL217. Detectors must sit…

Chatham County Code Sec. 21-306 prohibits open burning within one mile of any city boundary or platted residential subdivision. Residents inside that zone may still burn only their own…

Chatham County has no general light-trespass ordinance; spillover from a neighbor's lights is handled through zoning standards or nuisance law. On Tybee Island, beachfront fixtures…

Chatham County has no countywide dark-sky ordinance, but Tybee Island enforces a sea-turtle lighting rule (Land Development Code Sec. 3-230). From May 1 to October 31, beach-visible…

Chatham County will not release a menacing dog or cat impounded as a stray, or any dog or cat impounded a second time, until it is spayed or neutered at the owner's expense under Code…

Chatham County requires Animal Services to microchip any impounded dog, at the owner's expense, before it can be returned under Code Sec. 22-203(b). Anyone who finds a stray dog or cat…

In unincorporated Chatham County, dogs must stay under manual control of a person. A dog off-leash on public roads, in parks, or on another's property is 'at large' and unlawful…

Any cat allowed outside a Chatham County residence must be spayed or neutered under Code Sec. 22-104(a). A cat that becomes a nuisance to neighbors can be trapped by Animal Services…

Chatham County defines 'exotic animal' broadly to include wildlife and large reptiles or mammals. Complaints about exotic pets, wild, or protected species are referred to the Georgia…

Chatham County has no standalone hoarding statute, but it curbs hoarding through hard numeric pet limits (8 cats, 6 dogs per acre) and its cruelty/neglect provisions, which bar failing…

Chatham County's animal code forbids livestock and domestic fowl from running at large. Keeping backyard chickens and small livestock in the unincorporated county is governed by the…

Chatham County does not ban dogs by breed but does classify individual dangerous dogs under state law, O.C.G.A. Title 4, Ch. 8. Owners of a classified dog must pay a $150 registration…

Chatham County's fence regulations expressly do not restrict necessary retaining walls: Sec. 5-1 states the wall-and-fence rules 'shall not prohibit the construction of any necessary…

Yes. In unincorporated Chatham County, Sec. 5-1.1 of the zoning ordinance flatly requires a building permit for any wall or fence: 'No wall or fence shall be erected or constructed…

Chatham County's zoning ordinance regulates safety and visibility, not cost-sharing. Sec. 5-1.5 bars any fence that violates vision-clearance (sight-triangle) requirements, and Sec…

Chatham County Sec. 5-1.3(c) lists the fence materials allowed in residential districts: chain link or other fence wire, decorative wrought iron, masonry, wood, or other materials…

In unincorporated Chatham County, residential walls and fences may not exceed 6 feet in front and side yards or 8 feet in rear yards. Inside the City of Savannah, the NewZO caps most…

Chatham County bans knowingly possessing an open container of alcohol while driving or riding in a vehicle anywhere in the unincorporated county. Sec. 12-108 defines an open container…

Chatham County bans begging outright in specific public spaces: Sec. 11-105 makes it unlawful to beg or solicit money or aid for yourself at any place of business, house of worship…

Chatham County's disorderly conduct ordinance bans defecating or urinating on any street, lane or sidewalk in the unincorporated county, plus building halls, elevators, parks…

Chatham County's Smoke-free Air Ordinance of 2012 bans smoking in numerous outdoor areas, including within 10 feet of doors and vents of smoke-free buildings, restaurant seating…

Chatham County decriminalized small-scale marijuana possession within its own ordinance: Sec. 11-202 caps the fine for possessing one ounce or less at $150, lets a court substitute…

Chatham County makes loitering or prowling a crime when someone is in a place, at a time, or acting in a manner unusual for law-abiding people, under circumstances creating a real…

In unincorporated Chatham County, the Board of Commissioners builds and maintains subdivision sidewalks and curbing, then bills the cost pro rata to abutting property owners. Unpaid…

Anyone building or installing a structure, utility line or driveway in a Chatham County right-of-way, including pedestrian walkways, needs a Right-of-Way Encroachment Permit from the…

Chatham County bars peddlers and solicitors from blocking sidewalks or streets while doing business in the unincorporated county. Sec. 16-314(2)-(3) forbids standing or sitting near a…

Chatham County's Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance requires new and substantially improved structures in A1-30, AE, AH or A flood zones to elevate the lowest floor at least three feet…

Chatham County's Storm Water Management Ordinance, Sec. 24-708, makes it unlawful to dump trash, landscape debris or other material into any stream, channel, ditch or storm water…

Chatham County requires a development permit before any land-disturbing or construction activity in a Special Flood Hazard Area, plus an FDPO Approval Letter for parcels in the SFHA…

Chatham County requires an erosion, sedimentation and pollution control plan for land-disturbing activity, with best management practices meeting state manual standards. A 25-foot…

Chatham County requires a construction permit for every private dock built in the unincorporated area, with the fee for each dock set through the County Revenue ordinance under section…

Anyone who peddles, sells door-to-door, or solicits contributions in unincorporated Chatham County needs a license or permit from the Occupational Tax Section before starting…

Posting a No Soliciting sign carries legal weight in unincorporated Chatham County. Sec. 16-314(5) makes it a violation for any peddler or solicitor to enter or remain on a property…

Chatham County classifies every business in the unincorporated county by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and assigns it to one of six profitability classes…

Anyone who wants to hold a parade or public assembly in unincorporated Chatham County must get a permit from the County Manager before the event, under Code §18-402. The rule covers…

Chatham County bans camping and overnight gatherings in its county parks unless the Director of Public Works and Park Services issues a permit for an authorized event. Neighborhood…

Chatham County requires a permit from the County Manager before anyone holds a parade, festival, fair, or public assembly on county streets, parks, or other public grounds. The Chief…

Chatham County adopts the International Building, Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical Codes under Code § 20-201, making it unlawful to erect, alter or wire any building or structure in…

Chatham County Code § 20-306 puts re-inspections in the hands of the Director of the Department of Building Safety and Regulatory Services: a failed inspection earns one free re-check…

Chatham County enforces the National Electric Code on all electrical work in the unincorporated area under section 20-202, making it unlawful to wire or install electrical equipment…

Chatham County requires anyone operating a child day care agency in the unincorporated county, defined as care for four or more unrelated children more than one day a week, to hold an…

Chatham County has no standalone "green building" ordinance, but every construction project in the unincorporated county must meet the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)…

Chatham County requires all plumbing work in the unincorporated area to comply with the International Plumbing Code, adopted countywide under section 20-201(2). A permit from Building…

Three or more public complaints to Building Safety and Regulatory Services or the County Manager about code, state-law or ordinance violations at a Chatham County short-term rental…

Chatham County requires every short-term rental license application to spell out the property's parking rules under Code §16-1304(1)(g), post them on a sign inside the unit, and…

Operating a short-term rental in unincorporated Chatham County requires a BSRS license that costs $350 up front, renews annually for another $350, and only issues once all ad valorem…

Unincorporated Chatham County does not require a short-term rental to be the owner's primary residence, but only property owners (not renters) may hold a license. The City of Savannah…

Chatham County caps short-term rental occupancy at two adults per bedroom plus two additional adults under Code §16-1302(7); recreational vehicles and tents follow the manufacturer's…

Every short-term rental in unincorporated Chatham County must hold an annual license from Building Safety and Regulatory Services under Code §16-1303(1), costing $350 under…

Chatham County short-term rental licenses must post noise restrictions on a sign inside the unit, and any citation for violating the county's noise ordinance at the rental draws a fine…

Chatham County does not require a host to be present during a stay, but every short-term rental must name a valid local point of contact responsible for responding to both renters and…

Chatham County requires every licensed short-term rental to carry homeowner's or structural insurance equal to the home's value or $300,000, whichever is greater, under Code…

Chatham County bans camping on county property in unincorporated areas, and lets the County or law enforcement clear campsites and stored personal property. Article XIII, adopted May…

Chatham County bans sleeping on public sidewalks, streets, alleys or bridge approaches at any time, and bans blocking building or driveway entrances by sitting or lying down. Sheriff's…

Chatham County Code Sec. 22-108 bars any dog from howling, barking, or making unreasonably loud sounds that disturb the neighborhood's peace, day or night, whether the dog is on…

Chatham County bars construction, drilling, demolition and utility maintenance noise that crosses a residential property line or a posted Noise Sensitive Area between 10 p.m. and 7…

Chatham County caps outdoor sound under its Noise Control Ordinance for the Unincorporated Area, Sec. 24-304. Residential property lines may not exceed 60 dBA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m…

Chatham County enforces a nighttime noise curfew through Sec. 24-304: residential property lines that may run up to 60 dBA by day must fall to 55 dBA between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m…

Chatham County limits amplified sound equipment, radios, loud speakers, sound trucks and similar devices, to 90 dBA measured 50 feet away, and only for county-authorized activities…

Chatham County caps vehicle noise on public roadways at 55 dBA under Sec. 11-109 of the General Offenses chapter. Any vehicle, whether from its stereo, exhaust or engine, that exceeds…

Chatham County treats a food vendor who sets up a booth or stand on a street or sidewalk in the unincorporated county as a peddler. Under Code Sec. 16-314(1), no booth or stand may go…

Chatham County limits where a non-motorized food cart can set up to sell. Sec. 16-315 confines cart sales to streets around the county's squares, parks and recreation areas, and bans…

Once Chatham County's Director of Inspections serves a nuisance complaint, Section 21-704 sets the clock: the hearing must be scheduled no sooner than 10 days and no later than 30 days…

Chatham County's Nuisance Abatement Code lets the Director of Inspections open a case on any dwelling, building or structure that's unfit for human habitation, unfit for its current…

To report a suspected nuisance property in unincorporated Chatham County, file a written request for inspection with the Director of Inspections. Section 21-703(1) accepts complaints…

Unincorporated Chatham County levies a 6% excise tax on hotel, motel and short-term rental charges under Sec. 16-402. Stays booked for more than 30 consecutive days, meeting-room…

Chatham County's only bicycle-path ordinance is narrow: Sec. 12-401 bars gasoline-powered vehicles, including motorcycles, mini-bikes and go-carts, from the Bicycle Path on Wilmington…

Chatham County has run a codified Red Light Camera Enforcement Ordinance since February 4, 2005: cameras at monitored intersections in the unincorporated county issue a civil penalty…

Chatham County requires every manufactured and mobile home park in the unincorporated area to hold a business license renewed annually, and that renewal only issues once the Director…

Chatham County bars unsupervised minors 16 and younger from public streets, parks, playgrounds and other public places in the unincorporated county between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. on…

Chatham County's twelve unincorporated neighborhood parks are open from 8:00 a.m. until dark daily. Its other county parks and grounds close overnight: 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. in fall…

Chatham County requires an annual license before any adult bookstore, explicit media outlet, or adult movie house can operate in the unincorporated county, and bars these businesses…

Chatham County incorporates the Board of Health's Rules and Regulations for Body Art Studios and Tattoo/Body Piercing Artists directly into county ordinance under section 21-110(1)(g)…

Any massage therapy practice operating in unincorporated Chatham County needs its own annual business license under Sec. 16-802, separate from the therapist's state license. The…

Chatham County requires anyone operating a pawnshop or similar secondhand dealing business in the unincorporated county to hold a valid occupational license before opening, under the…

Chatham County requires anyone operating a pawnshop in the unincorporated county to hold a license under Sec. 16-1103, keep detailed transaction records with photographs and…

Chatham County Police keep a rotating 'head-out' wrecker list, and getting on it means running a business that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, carries liability insurance…

Chatham County requires a building permit before constructing a residential pool in the unincorporated area, built to the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code adopted under section…

New residential subdivisions in unincorporated Chatham County must plant canopy street trees inside dedicated Tree Easements along every street frontage, spaced 40 to 60 feet apart and…

After a storm or disaster, unincorporated Chatham County residents must sort debris by type before it goes to the curb or a drop-off site: yard waste, construction and demolition…

The City of Savannah protects many trees: on undeveloped land any tree over two inches in diameter, and on developed land any tree 12 inches or larger (except single-family lots)…

Georgia's statewide Water Stewardship Act limits landscape irrigation to the hours between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m., year-round, for anyone on an EPD-permitted water system. This schedule…

In unincorporated Chatham County, it is unlawful to allow overgrown grass or weeds to reach a height of eighteen (18) inches or more, per Property Maintenance Ordinance §21-502. Owners…

Georgia encourages rainwater harvesting. Under the state Water Stewardship Act, capturing and reusing rainwater and stormwater is allowed any day at any time, even during watering…

In the City of Savannah you may prune trees on your own private lot, but no one may trim, prune, or remove any tree on public property or right-of-way without written approval from the…

Backyard grilling is allowed in Chatham County. Cooking food is an express exception to the open-burning rule (Code Sec. 21-306), and standard propane grill cylinders are…

Backyard smokers are allowed in Chatham County; cooking food is an express exception to the open-burning ordinance (Code Sec. 21-306). No local ordinance targets smoker smoke or odor…

In the City of Savannah, an "established driveway" must have a solid surface such as pavement, pavers, contained gravel or stone; bare soil does not qualify in front yards except in…

In the City of Savannah, boats, RVs and trailers must be kept on an established driveway or enclosed in a legal accessory building, not loose in a front yard. Unincorporated Chatham…

Chatham County makes it unlawful to park a commercial or oversized vehicle, trailer, motor home, semitrailer or truck tractor exceeding 22 feet or 10,000 pounds on any lot in a…

In unincorporated Chatham County, an untagged vehicle on private property is an "abandoned motor vehicle" requiring a $10 permit and decal, and no more than one is allowed per…

Chatham County has no separate designated-loading-zone ordinance, but Sec. 12-302 lets commercial and oversized vehicles otherwise banned from residential streets stop while being…

Chatham County will not let a motor home, trailer, semitrailer, truck tractor, or any vehicle over 22 feet or 10,000 pounds sit on a residential street or right-of-way at all. Sec…

In unincorporated Chatham County, no vehicle over 22 feet long or 10,000 pounds, and no trailer, motor home, semitrailer or truck tractor, may be parked or stored on the road or…

Chatham County's zoning ordinance allows a home occupation carried on inside a dwelling, using no more than 25% of the gross livable area, employing only resident family members, and…

A home occupation in Chatham County must involve no display of articles or products or signs. On-premise business signs and window displays are effectively prohibited so the property…

Georgia lets residents make non-hazardous baked goods, jams, jellies, and preserves in a home kitchen as a cottage food operation. Products must be sold directly to the end consumer…

A Georgia family child care learning home cares for at least three but not more than six unrelated children under 13. Section 2-28 lets Chatham County treat it as a home occupation…

Chatham County residents can self-haul bulky items and dry trash to county disposal sites; under Code §21-316 a non-commercial pickup truck may unload without charge, and §21-318 lets…

In the City of Savannah, residential refuse carts should be placed at curbside by 7 a.m. on collection day and removed by 7 p.m. In unincorporated Chatham County, §21-308 requires…

Chatham County Code §21-408 establishes a recycling program at county drop-off centers and encourages all residents, in both incorporated and unincorporated areas, to participate…

Every property owner and occupant in unincorporated Chatham County must clear away accumulating household trash at least once every 14 days. Anyone who cannot legally dispose of that…

Chatham County runs a weekly curbside pickup for yard waste, leaves, pine straw, grass clippings and brush, plus a monthly pickup for separated bulky items, in the unincorporated…

Chatham County Code §21-313 makes it unlawful to dump, deposit, or leave litter on any public or private property in the unincorporated county without authorization. Violations carry a…

Chatham County requires unincorporated-area residents to prepare, separate and store curbside waste under specific rules, and to have trash removed at least every 14 days, under…

Chatham County requires multi-family, commercial, institutional and industrial properties to keep garbage in engineered solid waste dumpsters, not household cans. The dumpsters must…

Chatham County Code §21-503 applies the property-maintenance rules to all residential and abutting zones. For large lots, undeveloped land, natural forest, and agricultural land…

Chatham County's Property Maintenance Ordinance (Code of Chatham County Article 21-502) makes it unlawful for an owner or occupant to allow accumulations of litter, debris, garbage, or…

Converting a Chatham County garage or other non-habitable space into living quarters requires a building permit. The county lists any change of occupancy class, and conversion of…

In unincorporated Chatham County, a building permit is required for accessory buildings, storage buildings, and tool sheds. Chatham County Building Safety & Regulatory Services lists…

Accessory dwelling units in Savannah and unincorporated Chatham County are governed by the joint NewZO zoning ordinance (Sec. 8.7.4). NewZO defines an ADU as a separate residential…

Unincorporated Chatham County designates historic districts and properties through the County Historic Preservation Ordinance (Code Ch. 3, Art. V). A nine-member Historic Preservation…

Chatham County treats used needles and syringes as biomedical waste. Section 21-602(5) defines sharps to include needles, IV tubing and syringes with attached needles. Section 21-603…

For uses in Chatham County's R-districts, Sec. 4-6.2 caps building coverage at 40 percent of the lot. Single-family lots are governed mainly by minimum lot area: 12,000 square feet in…

Chatham County Sec. 4-6.1 requires that no structure sit closer than 20 feet from any design right-of-way line, nor closer than 25 feet from the property line for front yards. In an…

Unincorporated Chatham County's residential and nonresidential R-district schedules cap maximum building height at 36 feet (Sec. 4-6.1 and 4-6.2). Sec. 5-2 exempts features such as…

Chatham County treats any bar, tavern, lounge, night club, dance hall or game room whose sound is plainly audible beyond its own premises as an automatic noise disturbance under Sec…

Chatham County bars loud loading and unloading at night. Sec. 24-305(3) makes it a violation to load, unload, open, close or handle boxes, crates, containers, building materials…