Local rules and regulations for Chatham County, Georgia. Population: 295,291.
Verified from official government sources
Select a topic to see Chatham County's rules on that subject.
Georgia's 2015-2018 fireworks law legalized consumer fireworks statewide and preempts local bans, so Chatham County's old prohibition (Code Sec. 21-201) is superseded. Adults may use consumer fireworks any day 10 a.m. to midnight, later around July 3-4, Dec 31 and Jan 1. The…
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 leaves, storm debris, or recreational and cooking fires. Chatham is NOT among Georgia's…
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 own yard and storm debris for weed, pest and disease abatement, but only under the open-burning…
Chatham County has no special propane ordinance; storage and use of LP-gas follow Georgia's adopted International Fire Code (2018) and the Safety Fire Commissioner's LP-gas rules (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 120-3-16). Standard 20-pound barbecue grill cylinders are exempt from permits…
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 fire is safely contained by a structure able to hold it and burns only the resident's own…
Chatham County Code Sec. 21-306 allows backyard fires for recreational purposes or cooking food for immediate human consumption as an exception to the open-burning ban, even within a mile of a city or subdivision, using only the resident's own materials in a safely contained…
Chatham County sets no wildfire-hazard-zone ordinance, and Georgia has no California-style fire-severity zone maps or defensible-space mandate. This coastal lowcountry county manages wildland fire through the Georgia Forestry Commission, and Chatham is excluded from Georgia's…
There is no special Chatham County smoke-alarm ordinance; the statewide rule (O.C.G.A. Sec. 25-2-40) applies. Every dwelling must have an approved smoke detector installed on each story, including basements. New homes are hard-wired under the adopted codes; pre-1987 homes need…
In unincorporated Chatham County, the occupancy rate for a short-term rental is no more than two adults per bedroom plus two additional adults. For an RV or tent, the manufacturer's rated capacity applies. Savannah and Tybee set their own similar caps.
Chatham County short-term rental licenses must be renewed every year by July 1. The license has to be posted inside the unit, and a sign listing parking rules, occupancy limits, noise restrictions and emergency contacts must be displayed for guests.
An initial Chatham County short-term rental license costs $350, with a $350 annual renewal (a $175 late fee applies to late renewals). Owners must also collect hotel/motel tax and remit it to the county monthly, unless renting only through platforms that collect it.
Chatham County short-term rentals must comply with the county Noise Ordinance (Chapter 24, Noise Control). Noise restrictions must be posted for guests, and a rental cited for a noise violation is fined at least $100. Repeated noise complaints can cost the owner the license.
Any dwelling rented for fewer than 30 days in unincorporated Chatham County must hold a valid short-term rental license issued by Building Safety & Regulatory Services (BSRS). Renting without one is a violation. Savannah and Tybee Island each require their own separate STVR…
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, by contrast, caps non-owner-occupied rentals and requires owner-occupancy for its…
A Chatham County short-term rental must carry homeowner's or other structural insurance at least equal to the value of the structure or $300,000, and the declarations must list the unit as a rental property. Savannah and Tybee also require proof of STVR-specific insurance.
Each Chatham County short-term rental application must outline the property's parking rules and how guests will comply. Those rules must be posted for renters, and exceeding the stated parking limits is a citable violation carrying 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 the county. That contact and emergency number must be posted for guests.
Unincorporated Chatham County sets no annual cap on the number of nights a short-term rental may operate. Tybee Island instead imposes a minimum: non-conforming rentals must rent at least 90 days in a 12-month period, and Savannah caps non-owner-occupied density in historic…
Savannah's Table I caps sound at the receiving property line: residential 60 dBA (7 a.m.-7 p.m.) and 50 dBA (7 p.m.-7 a.m.), business 65 dBA, industrial 75 dBA, and posted noise-sensitive areas 55 dBA at all times.
Savannah defines a barking dog as one that barks, bays, cries or howls continuously for 10 minutes, or intermittently for a half hour or more, disturbing any person at any time of day or night. Harboring such an animal is prohibited.
Savannah bars construction, drilling, demolition and utility maintenance from creating a noise disturbance between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. At other hours, construction noise exceeding 85 dBA at a property line is a violation.
In the City of Savannah, residential sound may not exceed 60 dBA from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or 50 dBA from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., measured at the property line. Any noise disturbance across a residential boundary is prohibited.
Unincorporated Chatham County caps roadway vehicle noise at 55 dB. Savannah limits standard vehicles to 76 dBA at 35 mph or less (80 dBA above), and heavy trucks to 91/95 dBA, measured 25 feet from the lane.
Industrial receiving land is capped at 75 dBA and business at 65 dBA at all times under Savannah's Table I. Loading, unloading, and handling containers or garbage cans is barred from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. across residential boundaries.
Savannah exempts motor-powered, muffler-equipped lawn, garden, and tree-trimming equipment and electrical power tools from the residential sound-level limits when used between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Outside those hours the noise limits apply.
Savannah bars operating a radio, TV, phonograph, amplifier, or loudspeaker so as to create a noise disturbance across a property line. Bars, taverns, and nightclubs whose sound is plainly audible beyond the premises are automatically in violation.
City-authorized outdoor concerts, festivals, parades, and neighborhood functions may use sound equipment not exceeding 90 dBA measured 50 feet away. Where the receiving land is residential, such equipment may be used only from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Air transportation is exempt from Savannah's noise ordinance, which does not apply to rail and air transportation. Aircraft noise is governed federally by the FAA and by airport noise-abatement procedures, not by county decibel limits.
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 city administrator (arborist).
The City of Savannah treats accumulated weeds and noxious vegetation on vacant lots and unoccupied parcels as an unlawful nuisance. After notice, the city can order the growth abated; unpaid abatement costs become a lien.
Chatham County sits on Georgia's coast, where salt-marsh grasses and other native tidal vegetation are protected under the state Coastal Marshlands Protection Act. Altering marsh, filling, or clearing native marsh plants requires a state Marsh Permit.
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). Protected trees may not be removed without an approved permit or waiver.
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 restrictions. Chatham County and Savannah set no ban on residential rain barrels.
Chatham County and Savannah have no ordinance banning residential backyard composting. Home compost is allowed, but a pile that creates odor, attracts rodents or vermin, or becomes unsanitary can be cited as a nuisance under Savannah's code.
The City of Savannah declares untended growth of weeds and grass on any lot a public nuisance and orders it abated. Unincorporated Chatham and other cities enforce their own overgrowth rules; there is no single county-wide grass-height number.
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 applies across Chatham County, including Savannah.
Neither Chatham County nor the City of Savannah bans artificial turf on private residential yards. There is no specific county ordinance regulating synthetic lawns, though zoning landscape and stormwater standards may apply to larger installations.
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 permit-exempt. The main limit is Georgia's Fire Code (IFC Sec. 308), which restricts charcoal and larger…
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, though Georgia's Fire Code restricts charcoal and solid-fuel cookers on combustible apartment…
Chatham County sets no blanket overnight ban on passenger cars. Motorcoaches, trailer coaches and motor homes may sit on a residential street only when parked less than 24 hours; longer street storage of RVs and trailers is prohibited.
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 ribbon-strip tire paths. Vehicles must be kept on that driveway or enclosed.
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 expeditiously loaded or unloaded, or while performing utility, construction or public right-of-way…
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 bans motor homes over 22 feet on residential lots with covenants.
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 covenant-restricted residential subdivision, with a narrow exception for active loading and utility…
The City of Savannah prohibits parking any vehicle over 20 feet long or 10,000 pounds, plus trailer coaches, motor homes, semitrailers and truck tractors, on a street beside a residential lot. Unincorporated Chatham uses a 22-foot threshold.
Chatham County sets no ordinance letting residents paint curbs; curb colors and no-parking markings are official traffic-control devices. The county adopts the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices by reference, so only the county controls curb markings.
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 right-of-way beside a residentially zoned lot, except for brief loading or under-24-hour stays.
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 property. Georgia's O.C.G.A. 40-11 governs vehicles left on public or private land.
Chatham County's Chapter 12 traffic code sets no specific rule requiring or restricting EV charging stations or reserving EV parking spaces. EV charging is regulated through building and electrical permits and city zoning, not a county parking ordinance.
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 residential fences at 4 feet in the front yard and 8 feet in rear and interior side
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 without a building permit.' Temporary construction-site fences may be approved separately for…
Chatham County Sec. 5-1.3(b) requires every swimming pool to be enclosed by a fence at least 4 feet high (or a screen enclosure), with openings too small to pass a 6-inch sphere and self-closing, self-latching gates. Recreational security fences may reach 10 feet with a setback…
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. 5-1.2 prohibits a fence within 5 feet of a parallel existing structure or one that blocks light…
In residential Chatham County, Sec. 5-1.3(c) bars barbed wire, razor wire, glass shards or other sharp material, and prohibits sheet metal, salvage or similar materials. Barbed or razor wire is allowed only atop 6-foot-plus fences in business, industrial or agricultural areas…
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 retaining wall.' A retaining wall is still a structure, so a building permit under Sec. 5-1.1…
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 customarily found within residential areas. Whatever the choice, the fence must be visually…
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 R-1-A single-family district, a detached dwelling needs a 5-foot side yard and a 25-foot rear…
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 church spires, cupolas, water towers, chimneys, flag poles and radio or television towers from…
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 R-1-A, 21,000 in R-1-B, and 32,000 in R-1-C (Sec. 4-6.1).
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. Single-point tethering is banned; only a trolley system qualifies.
Georgia and Chatham County do not ban any dog breed. Instead, a dog is regulated by its behavior: it can be declared a 'dangerous' or 'vicious' dog under O.C.G.A. § 4-8-21, triggering strict confinement, muzzle, insurance, and registration duties.
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-Savannah zoning ordinance, which a 2018 amendment opened to limited backyard…
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 Department of Natural Resources, not handled as ordinary domestic pets.
Any cat allowed outside a Chatham County residence must be spayed or neutered. A cat deemed a nuisance to neighbors may be trapped and taken to Animal Services as an at-large animal. Households are limited to 8 cats.
Chatham County's animal-control chapter sets no beekeeping rule. Hive-keeping is allowed under the Chatham County-Savannah zoning ordinance, which a 2018 amendment opened to limited residential beekeeping. Honeybees are also protected under Georgia's Bee Law (O.C.G.A. Title 2…
In single-family residential zones, Chatham County caps ownership at 6 adult dogs (over 1 year) per acre and 8 cats, unless the animals are permanently confined to the home's living space. Litters under four months old don't count.
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 to provide adequate food, water, space, shelter, and sanitary conditions.
Chatham County's animal ordinance covers horses, cows, goats, swine, and fowl and bars them from running at large. Where and how many livestock you may keep is set by the county's zoning ordinance, and Georgia's Right to Farm law protects established agricultural operations.
Chatham County's animal-control chapter sets no specific wildlife-feeding ban. Wild, game, and protected species are handled by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Coastal Chatham does restrict beachfront lighting that harms nesting sea turtles.
Above-ground pools holding water over 24 inches deep are 'swimming pools' under Georgia's code, so the same permit and barrier rules apply. The pool wall can act as the barrier only if the ladder or steps can be secured, locked, or removed.
Hot tubs and spas holding water over 24 inches deep are 'swimming pools' under Georgia's code. But a spa or hot tub with a safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 is exempt from the pool barrier requirements.
Residential pools in unincorporated Chatham County need a building permit from Chatham County Building Safety & Regulatory Services. Any structure holding water more than 24 inches deep is a swimming pool under Georgia's adopted residential code and must meet its barrier rules.
Under Georgia's adopted residential code, an outdoor pool must be surrounded by a barrier at least 48 inches high measured from the outside, with no gaps or openings that let a 4-inch sphere pass through.
Georgia's residential code requires pool access gates to open outward, be self-closing, and have a self-latching device. When the latch is under 54 inches high, the gate and barrier get extra child-proofing to prevent unauthorized entry.
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, with no wholesale or distribution allowed.
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 using only equipment customarily found in the home.
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 keeps its residential appearance.
Georgia has no statewide home-business preemption, so a home occupation in unincorporated Chatham County must comply with Section 2-28 and be reviewed by Building Safety zoning administration. A county occupation-tax certificate is also required.
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, but it must be licensed by Bright from the Start (DECAL).
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 get written notice with ten days to cut before the county mows and bills them.
Chatham County's code sets no dedicated garage-sale permit; occasional residential yard sales are treated as an accessory home use under the Chatham County–Savannah unified zoning ordinance (NewZO). Frequent, ongoing sales can become an unpermitted home occupation. Savannah and…
Chatham County Code §21-302 requires occupants to keep garbage in watertight, rust-resistant receptacles with close-fitting lids, holding between 10 and 32 gallons. Under §21-308, containers set out at the curb or right-of-way must be removed within 24 hours after collection.
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 animal excrement anywhere on the premises. It applies to residential zones and abutting zones…
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, owners must maintain a five-foot-wide cleared strip at the property line within 150 feet of any…
Unincorporated Chatham County has no county-run curbside route: residents contract a private hauler or use county drop-off centers. Inside the City of Savannah, sanitation provides once-weekly curbside collection, and only household garbage may go in the City-provided cart.
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 residents dump residential dry trash without a direct charge. The City of Savannah collects…
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 roadside receptacles to be removed within 24 hours after collection.
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. Recycling is voluntary rather than mandated; residents must properly prepare and separate…
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 fine up to $500, up to 30 days in jail, and each day is a separate offense (§21-314).
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 unit on the same lot as the main home, allowed in specified districts on lots meeting minimum-area…
In unincorporated Chatham County, a building permit is required for accessory buildings, storage buildings, and tool sheds. Chatham County Building Safety & Regulatory Services lists these among the structures that shall require permits, plus zoning setbacks under the NewZO…
Chatham County has no separate tiny-home ordinance. A site-built tiny house on a foundation is regulated as a dwelling (or ADU) under NewZO and Georgia's building codes; a tiny house on wheels is generally treated as an RV, not a permanent residence.
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 storage or non-habitable space to living quarters, as work that shall require permits.
Carports are expressly listed among the new structures that require a building permit in unincorporated Chatham County. A carport must also meet NewZO zoning setbacks, height, and lot-coverage limits for its district.
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 lights must be shielded so they do not illuminate the beach, or be turned off from sunset to…
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 must be shielded so the light source is not visible from the beach (Sec. 3-230).
Yard and campaign signs in Savannah and unincorporated Chatham County are regulated by the NewZO sign standards (Article 9.9), which list signs allowed without a permit. Signage in the county is governed by Section 7-17 of the Chatham County Zoning Ordinance.
Garage-sale signs are temporary signs regulated by the NewZO sign standards (Sec. 9.9). Small temporary signs are addressed in Sec. 9.9.10 (signs allowed without a permit); signage in the county falls under Section 7-17 of the Chatham County Zoning Ordinance.
These cities are located within Chatham County and may have their own ordinances.
These communities are in unincorporated Chatham County. County ordinances apply directly to these areas.
Ordinance data for Chatham County is sourced from the following official government references. Click any topic above for detailed citations.