Do I need a permit for pavers, driveway, or hardscape in Savannah?
It depends. Whether pavers, driveway, or hardscape needs a permit in Savannah comes down to the details of your project.
The City of Savannah lists paving a driveway or walkway and constructing a retaining wall as work that needs a permit; driveway permits are issued through Traffic Engineering and a site or encroachment permit may also be needed. A flat paver patio at grade is not specifically listed, but grading, drainage, and setbacks can still apply, so confirm your scope with Development Services at 912-651-6530. Hardscape in a Savannah historic district that is visible from the public right-of-way may require Historic Review Board approval. 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. Patios are often exempt while driveway and right-of-way work is not, so confirm which side of that line your project falls on. Georgia sets no statewide list of work exempt from a building permit. The Georgia amendments to the International Residential Code delete Chapter 1, Scope and Administration, without substitution, and keep it in the code only as a reference and guide for local governments developing their own administrative procedures. The permit threshold for a patio, walkway or driveway is therefore set by your city or county. New or widened driveways, work in the public right-of-way, and added impervious surface commonly trigger a permit or stormwater review even where simple at-grade paving does not. Retaining walls above a set height normally require a separate engineered permit. The 4 foot figure quoted nationally comes from the model residential code, which Georgia keeps only as guidance, so confirm the height and the engineering requirement with your local building department.
Documents you may need
- Driveway or paving permit through Traffic Engineering for paving a driveway or walkway, plus a site permit or encroachment permit where applicableSometimes required
- Building permit application through the eTRAC portal at eTRAC.savannahga.gov for a retaining wallSometimes required
- Site plan or plot plan and wall section for retaining wallsLikely required
- Permit application (where required)Sometimes required
- Site plan showing area, drainage, and impervious coverageSometimes required
- Right-of-way / driveway apron approval (for work near the street)Sometimes required
Possible inspections
- Building inspection for a retaining wall where a permit is issued, scheduled through Development Services
- Traffic Engineering review for driveway paving and any encroachment
- Grading / drainage or right-of-way inspection where applicable
- Final inspection where a permit is required
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for pavers, driveway, or hardscape in Savannah?
- It depends. Whether pavers, driveway, or hardscape needs a permit in Savannah comes down to the details of your project. The City of Savannah lists paving a driveway or walkway and constructing a retaining wall as work that needs a permit; driveway permits are issued through Traffic Engineering and a site or encroachment permit may also be needed. A flat paver patio at grade is not specifically listed, but grading, drainage, and setbacks can still apply, so confirm your scope with Development Services at 912-651-6530. Hardscape in a Savannah historic district that is visible from the public right-of-way may require Historic Review Board approval. 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. Patios are often exempt while driveway and right-of-way work is not, so confirm which side of that line your project falls on. Georgia sets no statewide list of work exempt from a building permit. The Georgia amendments to the International Residential Code delete Chapter 1, Scope and Administration, without substitution, and keep it in the code only as a reference and guide for local governments developing their own administrative procedures. The permit threshold for a patio, walkway or driveway is therefore set by your city or county. New or widened driveways, work in the public right-of-way, and added impervious surface commonly trigger a permit or stormwater review even where simple at-grade paving does not. Retaining walls above a set height normally require a separate engineered permit. The 4 foot figure quoted nationally comes from the model residential code, which Georgia keeps only as guidance, so confirm the height and the engineering requirement with your local building department.
- 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.