Chatham County, GA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Under the county's Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, Code Sec. 24-114, a development permit is required in conformance with the ordinance before any development activity begins in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). Sec. 24-115 requires applicants who want to develop, alter, repair or improve parcels or structures in the SFHA to submit a complete FDPO Review Application packet and obtain an FDPO Approval Letter from the Administrator before applying for the development permit itself; any change to the project after that letter issues must be resubmitted for approval.

Sec. 24-116's General Standards then govern construction: the entire residential or non-residential structure must comply if any portion sits in the SFHA, must meet the more restrictive standard where multiple Base Flood Elevation (BFE) lines apply, must be anchored against flotation, collapse or lateral movement, and must use flood damage-resistant materials for all areas not elevated at least three feet above the BFE. Enclosures below that three-foot threshold need engineered flood openings, at least two vents on opposing walls sized to one square inch of net area per square foot of enclosed floor area, with vent bottoms no higher than one foot above grade, to equalize hydrostatic pressure during flooding.

The Administrator (Chatham County Engineering) reviews permit applications, obtains FEMA and DNR base flood and floodway data, records elevation certificates, and makes substantial-damage and substantial-improvement determinations after flood events. Coastal High Hazard Areas, including Coastal A and V zones, face additional construction standards under Sec. 24-121. Records and FIS/FIRM maps are kept at the Department of Engineering, 124 Bull Street, Savannah.