Savannah, GA
Savannah Plumbing Permit Cost
A standalone Savannah plumbing permit is priced by Revenue Ordinance Art.
P §4 at $8.00 per $1,000 of total work cost, and any fraction thereof, with a $40.00 minimum and the $5.00 technology fee — the identical shape to the electrical section, and like it, free of charge when the plumbing is already inside a building permit's scope.
How this fee is calculated
These are the components the schedule defines for this permit, as they applied on 2026-09-28. A component only applies to your project if its conditions match — read that column before assuming a figure. Want a figure for your own project? Estimate this fee with the permit fee calculator.
| Component | Formula | Applies when | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbing permit fee ($8.00 per $1,000, any fraction thereof)Permit fee | $8.00 per $1,000 of project valuation, or fraction thereof | Every permit of this type | — |
| Technology fee ($5.00 per permit)Technology fee | $5.00 flat fee | Every permit of this type | — |
| Minimum plumbing permit fee ($40.00)Permit fee | the shortfall up to the $40.00 minimum on calculated permit fee | permit fee under 4000 | — |
A real permit fee is these components added together. The department’s final calculation is the one that applies — this is the schedule it will be based on.
A worked example
Follow the arithmetic by hand. Every line is produced by the engine from the rules above, so the total cannot drift away from the schedule behind it.
Worked example
A plumbing contractor pulls a standalone permit for a whole-house repipe and three-fixture rough-in with a work cost of $3,200.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Project valuation | $3,200 |
Example total
$45.00
An estimate, not an official fee. It is calculated from the published fee schedule as it applied on 2026-09-28. The permit office’s own calculation is the one that applies, and your project may fall under rules this schedule does not describe.
Fee schedule as of 2026-09-28Rules applied 3Rules considered 3
| Component | How it is calculated | Amount |
|---|---|---|
Plumbing permit fee ($8.00 per $1,000, any fraction thereof)Permit feeRevenue Ordinance Art. P §4: for work not covered by a building permit, $8.00 per $1,000, and any fraction thereof, of total work cost. Standalone trade permits only — no plumbing fee is charged for work inside a building permit's scope.Show the working
| $8.00 per $1,000 of project valuation, or fraction thereof, in $1,000 steps | $32.00 |
Technology fee ($5.00 per permit)Technology feeRevenue Ordinance Art. P §19: a $5.00 technology fee is added to all standalone trade permits.Show the working
| $5.00 flat fee | $5.00 |
Minimum plumbing permit fee ($40.00)Permit feeRevenue Ordinance Art. P §4: 'The minimum fee is $40.00.'Show the working
| $40.00 minimum on calculated permit fee, less the $32.00 calculated | $8.00 |
| Total | $45.00 |
Assumptions
- Calculated from 3 fee rules in effect on 2026-09-28.
- Amounts are rounded to the nearest cent, once, at the end of each component.
The rate is $8.00 per $1,000 "and any fraction thereof", so $3,200 rounds up to four whole steps: $8.00 × 4 = $32.00, below the $40.00 minimum. The permit-minimum shortfall raises the fee to $40.00. The technology fee adds $5.00. Total: $40.00 + $5.00 = $45.00.
What is different in Savannah
Plumbing permits cover water heater replacements, fixture rough-ins, repiping, sewer laterals and backflow devices, filed by Georgia-licensed Class I plumbing contractors with the Development Services Department. Inspectors verify pressure tests, venting and backflow protection before concealment; failed re-inspections are $50 for the first trip and $100 after. Savannah's flat $8/$1,000 trade rate makes small jobs inexpensive — most residential service work lands at the $40 minimum.
What this figure does not include
Impact fees, utility connections and other departments’ permits are the usual omissions, and in some jurisdictions they are larger than the permit fee itself.
Not included in these figures
City water and sewer connection charges and capacity fees, grease-trap review for food service, private well and septic approvals in unsewered areas, and after-hours inspection fees ($50/hour, three-hour minimum).
What you need before applying
- Georgia Class I Plumbing Contractor LicenseRequired
Standalone plumbing permits are issued to contractors holding a Georgia Class I plumbing contractor license registered with the City.
Common questions
What is the fee for a standalone plumbing permit in Savannah?
$8.00 per $1,000 of total work cost, and any fraction thereof, with a $40.00 minimum fee, plus the $5.00 technology fee per permit.
Savannah Revenue Ordinance, Art. P §4
Do I need a separate plumbing permit if I have a building permit?
No. Article P §4 charges plumbing fees only for work not covered by a building permit; fixtures roughed in under the building permit pay no additional plumbing fee.
Savannah Revenue Ordinance, Art. P §4
Why did my small job pay the minimum instead of the rate?
Because $8.00 per $1,000 of a job under $5,000 computes to less than $40.00 — a $3,200 job is $32.00 by rate — the ordinance's minimum fee of $40.00 applies instead. The minimum is a floor on the permit fee.
Savannah Revenue Ordinance, Art. P §4
What are the re-inspection fees in Savannah?
$50.00 for the first re-inspection and $100.00 for the second and each subsequent one when work fails inspection, is not ready, or the corrections were not made as scheduled.
Savannah Revenue Ordinance, Art. P §8
Source and verification
The documents behind every figure on this page, with the dates that make them checkable.
- 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.
Verification
Last verified against the official source in Sep 2026.