Savannah building, trade and site permits are filed online through eTRAC. Development Services: 912-651-6530. Zoning appeals go to the MPC: 912-651-1440.
Last checked Oct. 6, 2026. Facts come from the City of Savannah Development Services Department, its Zoning Division and the Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission.
Inside Savannah city limits, the city’s Development Services Department issues building, trade and site permits and inspects the work. Zoning is set by the city’s ordinance and administered by its Zoning Division. Rezonings, variances, historic district approvals and subdivisions go through the Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission, known as the MPC.
Who to call
- Building permits and inspections: Development Services, 912-651-6530
- Zoning questions: Planning and Urban Design, 912-525-2783
- Rezoning, variances, historic approvals: MPC, 912-651-1440, 110 E. State St.
- Historic Preservation Office: 912-651-1457
- Floodplain questions: 912-651-6530, ext. 1895
- Apply and track permits: eTRAC
How to apply
All building, trade and site permits and plats are applied for online through eTRAC, the city’s electronic Tracking, Review and Approval Center. Development Services takes applications only electronically. Anyone can search eTRAC by address, permit type or permit number without an account. For help with the site, call 912-651-6510, ext. 1393.
The city’s building permits page has the residential and commercial submittal checklists, the permit process flow chart and the fee information. Its Permit Tracker map, updated weekly, shows active building and site permits across the city.
Free advice before you apply, from the city’s Permits for Construction page:
- Building Plan Review meetings: 10 a.m. Thursdays on Microsoft Teams, with plan reviewers, the historic preservation officer and the fire marshal.
- Site Plan Review meetings: 1:30 p.m. Thursdays on Microsoft Teams, with stormwater, water and sewer, park and tree, traffic and the MPC.
Do I need a permit?
From the city’s lists of residential projects that need a permit and do not:
| No permit needed | Permit needed |
|---|---|
| Exterior paint | Full roof replacement, including underlayment |
| Replacing roof shingles only, or patching under 100 square feet | New siding |
| Same-size window replacement | Windows that change size |
| Kitchen cabinets, carpet, hardwood floors | Drywall, spray foam insulation |
| Wood or chain-link fence under 7 feet | Fence or privacy wall over 7 feet |
| Concrete patio on grade | Porch, deck or raised patio; enclosing a porch or carport |
| Open pergola under 200 square feet and 10 feet tall | Shed or closed-roof building over 120 square feet |
| Repairing a leaking sink, toilet or pipe | New or replaced water heater, HVAC, swimming pool |
A driveway or walkway needs a permit from Traffic Engineering, and possibly a site or encroachment permit.
Doing the work yourself
A homeowner may get a permit to work on their own home if they live there (not a rental), have not pulled a permit at another address in two years, hire licensed Georgia contractors for any work they do not do themselves, follow the inspection schedule and file a signed, notarized homeowner’s affidavit with a copy of their driver’s license.
Codes, flood rules and historic districts
- Savannah builds to the 2024 editions of the International Building, Residential and Fire codes, the 2023 National Electrical Code and the Georgia amendments.
- Since Jan. 1, 2025, new or substantially improved buildings in a flood hazard area must be built 2 feet above the required flood level, under the city’s flood protection rules.
- Homes in the Landmark Historic District, the Victorian District, Mid-City or Cuyler-Brownsville Phase I may face extra requirements. Call the Historic Preservation Office at 912-651-1457 before you start.
Zoning
The zoning map shows each property’s district and parcel ID. The zoning ordinance lists what is allowed in each district, including parking, signs and historic district standards. The SAGIS map viewer covers the whole county.
The Zoning Division handles zoning information requests, zoning confirmation letters and business location approvals, and enforces the zoning and noise ordinances. Requests can be tracked in eTRAC.
Boards and meeting dates
The MPC’s 2026 calendar of meetings lists the boards that hear Savannah cases. Applications and forms are on the MPC site; each meeting has a filing cutoff date on the calendar.
| Board | When | Rest of 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Planning Commission | 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, every three weeks | Oct. 27, Nov. 17, Dec. 15 |
| City of Savannah Zoning Board of Appeals | 10 a.m., 112 E. State St. | Oct. 22, Nov. 19, Dec. 17 |
| Savannah Historic District Board of Review | 1 p.m. | Oct. 14, Nov. 10, Dec. 9 |
The city’s zoning page sends residents to the MPC for Zoning Board of Appeals petitions, zoning map and text amendments, certificates of appropriateness in historic districts, site plans and subdivisions.
What this means for you
- File and track every permit in eTRAC; there is no paper route.
- Check the no-permit list before you hire anyone; many small jobs are exempt.
- In a historic district or flood zone, call first.
Related: property taxes, who to call at City Hall and history and landmarks.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a building permit in Savannah?
Apply online through eTRAC, the city’s permit tracking site at etrac.savannahga.gov. Savannah Development Services takes building, trade and site permit applications only electronically. Questions: 912-651-6530.
Do I need a permit to build a fence in Savannah?
Not for a wood or chain-link fence under 7 feet tall, according to the city’s residential permit list. A fence or privacy wall over 7 feet needs a building permit and plans.
Can a homeowner pull their own permit in Savannah?
Yes, for work on a home they live in, not a rental, if they have not pulled a homeowner permit at another address in two years and file a signed, notarized homeowner’s affidavit.
How do I find my property’s zoning in Savannah?
Look up the address on the city’s zoning map or the SAGIS map viewer. The city’s Planning and Urban Design zoning staff can be reached at 912-525-2783.
When does the Savannah Zoning Board of Appeals meet?
The City of Savannah Zoning Board of Appeals meets at 10 a.m. on the fourth Thursday at 112 E. State St. Its remaining 2026 meetings are Oct. 22, Nov. 19 and Dec. 17.
Have your say