Do I need a permit for electrical panel or service upgrade in Savannah?
Yes. In Georgia, electrical panel or service upgrade generally requires a permit, and Savannah is no exception.
Panel changes and service upgrades require an electrical permit and inspection in Georgia; the power company usually will not reconnect an upgraded service without a passed inspection. Work must meet the adopted National Electrical Code as amended for Georgia; most jurisdictions require a licensed electrician. The City of Savannah lists relocating or changing services as work that needs an electrical trade permit, so a panel or service upgrade must be permitted. Stand-alone trade permits must be filed online through eTRAC by a Georgia licensed contractor registered in the system; homeowners can self-perform only in an owner-occupied residence under the Homeowner's Affidavit. A service or meter change usually requires coordination with the utility for disconnect and reconnect after the city inspection passes. Chatham County's own permitting office is the Chatham County Department of Building Safety and Regulatory Services, reachable on (912) 201-4300 at https://buildingsafety.chathamcountyga.gov/. Its online permit portal is https://buildingsafety.chathamcountyga.gov/PermitsInspections/ApplyForPermit. It issues permits for the unincorporated county. If your city does not run its own building department, and many smaller Georgia municipalities do not, this is the office that will handle the job. A service change needs the inspection to clear before the utility resets the meter, so schedule it before the changeover day.
Documents you may need
- Electrical / technical permit applicationrequired
- Panel and service load / equipment detailsLikely required
- Contractor license and insurance informationLikely required
- Electrical trade permit application submitted online through the eTRAC portal at eTRAC.savannahga.govrequired
- Georgia licensed electrical contractor registered with eTRAC, or a signed and notarized Homeowner's Affidavit if the owner self-performs in an owner-occupied homerequired
- Panel and service size detailsLikely required
Possible inspections
- Electrical rough / service inspection
- Final electrical inspection (utility reconnect may be required)
- Electrical trade inspection for the service or panel, requestable until 8:30 am on the day of inspection
- Final inspection, with utility coordination for a service or meter change
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for electrical panel or service upgrade in Savannah?
- Yes. In Georgia, electrical panel or service upgrade generally requires a permit, and Savannah is no exception. Panel changes and service upgrades require an electrical permit and inspection in Georgia; the power company usually will not reconnect an upgraded service without a passed inspection. Work must meet the adopted National Electrical Code as amended for Georgia; most jurisdictions require a licensed electrician. The City of Savannah lists relocating or changing services as work that needs an electrical trade permit, so a panel or service upgrade must be permitted. Stand-alone trade permits must be filed online through eTRAC by a Georgia licensed contractor registered in the system; homeowners can self-perform only in an owner-occupied residence under the Homeowner's Affidavit. A service or meter change usually requires coordination with the utility for disconnect and reconnect after the city inspection passes. Chatham County's own permitting office is the Chatham County Department of Building Safety and Regulatory Services, reachable on (912) 201-4300 at https://buildingsafety.chathamcountyga.gov/. Its online permit portal is https://buildingsafety.chathamcountyga.gov/PermitsInspections/ApplyForPermit. It issues permits for the unincorporated county. If your city does not run its own building department, and many smaller Georgia municipalities do not, this is the office that will handle the job. A service change needs the inspection to clear before the utility resets the meter, so schedule it before the changeover day.
- Who issues the permit in Savannah?
- The local building department for Savannah handles permitting. This page lists its contact details and online portal. Your mailing city is not always the permitting authority, so confirm the jurisdiction before you apply.
- How do I find out the exact requirements for my project?
- Run the free PermitRoadmap check for your specific project and answers. It returns the likely permits, documents, inspections, and next steps, each linked to its official source.
PermitRoadmap is an independent informational service and is not affiliated with any city, county, state agency, or permitting authority. Results are informational and do not replace confirming requirements with the local permitting authority.