Do I need a permit for interior remodeling in Savannah?
Yes. In Georgia, interior remodeling generally requires a permit, and Savannah is no exception.
Cosmetic work such as paint, flooring, or cabinet swaps is usually exempt, but moving walls, plumbing, gas, or electrical typically requires a permit. Fee is often based on project cost, so keep an accurate scope and cost estimate for the application. The City of Savannah lists erecting partitions, finishing a rec or storage room, finishing an attic or garage, and installing or replacing drywall as work that needs a building permit, so many interior remodels are not exempt. Savannah issues stand-alone trade permits, so electrical, plumbing, and mechanical portions of a remodel each need their own permit in addition to the building permit. Interior work in a historic district generally does not need Historic Review Board approval, but any exterior change tied to the remodel does. A remodel that moves walls or includes electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work falls outside cosmetic exemptions, which cover finishes such as paint, flooring, trim, and cabinets. Each trade normally needs its own permit and inspection on top of the building permit, and removing or altering a load bearing wall usually requires a beam detail or engineering before the work is approved. Opening walls in an older home can trigger separate lead paint, asbestos, and smoke alarm requirements, so raise those with your department at application time. 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. Each trade normally needs its own permit on top of the building permit, so ask which trade permits your scope will require.
Documents you may need
- Permit applicationrequired
- Floor plan or scope-of-work descriptionLikely required
- Trade permit applications (electrical, plumbing, mechanical)Sometimes required
- Contractor license and insurance informationSometimes required
- Signed building permit application through the eTRAC portal at eTRAC.savannahga.govrequired
- Building plans when partitions are erected or a rec or storage room, attic, or garage is finishedLikely required
- Separate electrical, plumbing, or mechanical trade permits for any trade workLikely required
Possible inspections
- Rough trade inspections (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) where applicable
- Framing inspection if walls are altered
- Final inspection
- Building inspection for framing and drywall, scheduled through Development Services
- Rough-in trade inspections for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for interior remodeling in Savannah?
- Yes. In Georgia, interior remodeling generally requires a permit, and Savannah is no exception. Cosmetic work such as paint, flooring, or cabinet swaps is usually exempt, but moving walls, plumbing, gas, or electrical typically requires a permit. Fee is often based on project cost, so keep an accurate scope and cost estimate for the application. The City of Savannah lists erecting partitions, finishing a rec or storage room, finishing an attic or garage, and installing or replacing drywall as work that needs a building permit, so many interior remodels are not exempt. Savannah issues stand-alone trade permits, so electrical, plumbing, and mechanical portions of a remodel each need their own permit in addition to the building permit. Interior work in a historic district generally does not need Historic Review Board approval, but any exterior change tied to the remodel does. A remodel that moves walls or includes electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work falls outside cosmetic exemptions, which cover finishes such as paint, flooring, trim, and cabinets. Each trade normally needs its own permit and inspection on top of the building permit, and removing or altering a load bearing wall usually requires a beam detail or engineering before the work is approved. Opening walls in an older home can trigger separate lead paint, asbestos, and smoke alarm requirements, so raise those with your department at application time. 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. Each trade normally needs its own permit on top of the building permit, so ask which trade permits your scope will require.
- 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.