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Property Maintenance in Chatham County, GA (2026)

2 rules for unincorporated Chatham County, Georgia.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Chatham County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Property Blight

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, and is enforced by Building Safety & Regulatory Services

Property Blight and Nuisance Rules in Chatham County

Some Restrictions

Code of Chatham County §21-502

It shall be unlawful for the occupant of premises or the owner of premises to have, to place, or to allow any of the following on the premises... Any accumulation of litter, debris, garbage or animal excrement on any front, side or rear yard or on any porch, or underneath any building or in any accessory building.

Vacant Lot Maintenance

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 building.

Vacant Lot Maintenance in Chatham County

Some Restrictions

Code of Chatham County §21-503

This Ordinance is effective in all residential zoned properties and in the zones that abut residential zones. Portions of large lots, undeveloped land, natural forest areas and land used for agricultural purposes within 150 feet of any building are required to maintain a five (5) foot wide strip at the property line abutting such land.

All Chatham County ordinances

See every category we cover for Chatham County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.

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