Development Services Department
- Phone
- (912) 651-6530
- Hours
- Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET
Georgia
Savannah, GA permit fees and requirements
The City of Savannah Development Services Department regulates construction under the Revenue Ordinance's Article P fee schedule.
The all-inclusive building permit is a marginal valuation ladder — $8 per $1,000 of cost of construction to $5 million, $4 to $10 million, $2 above — with a $40 minimum, banded plan review, and a $5 technology fee on every permit. Standalone electrical and plumbing permits are $8 per $1,000 of work cost with a $40 minimum.
Permit costs we have worked out
Each page shows the fee components, the formula the jurisdiction uses, and a worked example you can follow by hand.
Estimate your potential Savannah permit fee with our Building Permit Fee Calculator.
| Permit | Category | Last reviewed |
|---|---|---|
| Savannah Building Permit Cost | structural | 2026-09-26 |
| Savannah Electrical Permit Cost | electrical | 2026-09-26 |
| Savannah Plumbing Permit Cost | plumbing | 2026-09-26 |
Local context
What is specific to Savannah
Savannah enforces the Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes with local amendments, including the historic-district review work of the Board of Architectural Review. The Development Services Department serves the city from Broughton Street.
What makes Savannah distinctive is the cost-of-construction definition itself: the Revenue Ordinance derives it from floor area — $80.00 per square foot of residential floor area and $125.00 per square foot of commercial floor area — rather than from a contractor's declaration. Renovation costs may be approved at staff level. Work inside a building permit's scope pays no separate trade fee: Sections 2 and 4 charge electrical and plumbing fees only 'for work not covered by a building permit.' A $5.00 technology fee rides every all-inclusive building and standalone trade permit, and extra inspection trips run $50 for the first re-inspection and $100 after that.
Valuation
How valuation is determined here
Cost of construction is floor area in square feet multiplied by the Revenue Ordinance's construction cost multiplier — $80.00/sq ft residential, $125.00/sq ft commercial. Renovations may be costed on a staff-approved basis.
Who to contact
The office that issues the permit, with the details we have verified. Confirm current hours before travelling.
What these fees do not include
The list is not a disclaimer: on a new house the fees left out can outweigh the permit fee several times over. Every entry here is stated on the permit page as well.
Not included in our estimates
These municipal figures cover the building permit, plan review, trade permits and the technology fee. They exclude:
- Water and sewer connection charges billed by the City's Water and Sewer enterprise.
- Board of Architectural Review filing fees for work in the historic districts.
- Impact fees adopted under the City's Development Impact Fee program.
- Right-of-way permits for work in the public way.
Official sources for this jurisdiction
The documents these figures are transcribed from. Where a source contradicts itself we keep both readings and say so on the permit page.
- Municipal codeCityPrimary source
City of Savannah Code of Ordinances (Part 9, Building and Housing)
The Code names the annual Revenue Ordinance as the instrument that sets permit fees; Article P of that ordinance carries the Inspection Fee schedule quoted throughout the seed.
- OrdinanceCityPrimary source
City of Savannah Revenue Ordinance, Article P — Inspection Fees
Article P §1: $8 per $1,000 of Cost of Construction to $5M, $4 per $1,000 to $10M, $2 per $1,000 above; $40 minimum; cost of construction = floor area x $80/sq ft residential or $125/sq ft commercial. §1(B)(1) plan review bands $40–$2,000. §2 and §4: electrical and plumbing $8 per $1,000 and any fraction thereof, $40 minimum. §19: $5 technology fee per permit.