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

Chatham County contains the City of Savannah, Tybee Island, and roughly 100 miles of tidal marsh, river, and ocean shoreline. FEMA has documented flooding in the county dating back to 1811, with major hurricane impacts continuing into the 21st century. Flood zones in Chatham County include high-risk Zone A, Zone AE (with published Base Flood Elevations), and coastal Zone VE (areas subject to wave action and storm surge), as well as moderate/low-risk Zones X and X-500. The Chatham County Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance (FDPO), adopted under the authority of O.C.G.A. § 12-5-440 et seq. and the federal NFIP regulations at 44 CFR Part 60, requires that any new construction, addition, conversion, or substantial improvement of a structure in a Special Flood Hazard Area meet minimum standards. Unincorporated Chatham County applies a 3-foot freeboard requirement: the lowest finished floor of new homes and substantially improved homes must be at least 3 feet above the 100-year Base Flood Elevation, and electrical, plumbing, and ductwork components must also be elevated to BFE+3. The substantial-improvement (50%) rule applies when the cost of repairs or renovations exceeds 50% of the structure's Fair Market Value; once triggered, the entire structure must be brought into current floodplain compliance. Building permits in SFHAs are issued by the Chatham County Department of Building Safety & Regulatory Services after floodplain review by the Department of Engineering. Chatham County's CRS Class 5 rating produces an annual savings to county policyholders documented at over $2.4 million, averaging about $202 per policy. Chatham Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) coordinates evacuation and storm-surge planning for hurricane events. The City of Savannah and other municipalities administer their own FDPOs.