Savannah Drainage Guide: Flood Zones, 811, Permits (2026)

Updated October 24, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency listed before you start work.

Quick reference

Topic	What to know	Source
Rainfall	About 48.1 inches a year (1991 to 2020 normals); about half falls June through September	NOAA normals via Wikipedia
Elevation	Savannah about 20 feet; Wilmington Island about 10 feet	Wikipedia
City system	About 413 miles of pipe, 152 miles of ditches and canals, 7 pump stations, 31 tide gates	City of Savannah
Private property	The city does no stormwater work on private lots	City of Savannah
Permits	All development in Savannah needs a permit; check before filling or regrading	City of Savannah
Marsh buffer	25 feet from the marsh-upland line; variances through Georgia EPD	Georgia EPD
Before digging	Georgia 811: free, at least 3 business days ahead	Georgia 811
Contractor license	State license generally required for work over $2,500 in labor and materials	Georgia city guidance on state law

Why do Savannah yards hold water?

Savannah's 1991 to 2020 climate normals average about 48.1 inches of precipitation a year, with June the wettest month and about half the year's total falling from June through September. The city sits about 20 feet above sea level, with marsh extending miles inland from the Savannah River, and Wikipedia's summary of the city notes it's prone to flooding from heavy rain, low elevation and storm surge. Flat lots give water little slope to follow, and in low spots ground water can be close to the surface. Coastal Plain soils like the Ellabelle series, described from a site in neighboring Bryan County, are very poorly drained, with the water table at or near the surface for more than five months of the year. Drainage fixes here are mostly about moving water sideways to an outlet, not expecting the ground to soak it up.

How does the public drainage system work?

A 2022 City of Savannah stormwater presentation lists about 413 miles of pipe, 152 miles of open ditches and canals, seven pump stations, 31 tide gates and roughly 14,000 catch basins. The city's flood-reduction target is the 25-year storm, about 6 inches in 24 hours. Its 100-year design storm is about 10 inches. The city maintains public property, streets, rights-of-way and city easements, and does no stormwater work on private property. Residents report stormwater problems through 311.

In unincorporated Chatham County, Public Works maintains county canals, ditches and storm drains, and takes service requests through the Chatham County Connect app. The county asks owners next to a drainage ditch to keep its banks clear, and says dumping in open ditches and streams is prohibited.

Do tides affect yard drainage?

On low ground near the marsh, yes. The tide gates and pump stations in the city system exist because outfalls can't always drain by gravity. The Current reported that NOAA's Fort Pulaski gauge recorded 12 days of tidal flooding in 2020, compared with an average of two a year in 2000, and that king tides have flooded U.S. 80 to Tybee and Cardinal Drive on Isle of Hope. A yard drain that empties into a creek or low ditch may flow slowly or back up when the tide is high.

What needs a permit?

The City of Savannah's flood-protection brochure says all development within the city requires a permit, and asks owners to check with Development Services before building, altering, filling or regrading on their property or in an easement or right-of-way. The city's floodplain FAQ says development shouldn't reduce flood storage, with compensatory storage as the usual remedy, and that new construction and additions in flood zones A, AE, AH, AO and VE need a No Adverse Impact letter from a Georgia licensed engineer. For unincorporated Chatham County, the city refers questions to the County Engineering Department, which administers the county's stormwater, land disturbing and flood damage prevention ordinances. FEMA flood maps are free to view through SAGIS, and the city stresses that being outside a mapped flood zone doesn't guarantee a property won't flood.

What about the marsh?

Georgia EPD explains that coastal marshlands have a 25-foot buffer measured from the marsh-upland interface, the jurisdiction line set by the DNR Coastal Resources Division. Activities in the buffer that aren't exempt need a variance, which EPD handles. Building or maintaining a drainage structure is listed as exempt, but don't assume your project qualifies. CRD says jurisdiction determinations are typically valid for one year and recommends one before clearing or building near the salt marsh.

Do I have to call 811?

Yes. Georgia 811 says it's the law to have utility lines marked before mechanized digging, recommends a request for any project that breaks ground, and asks that requests go in at least three business days before work begins. The service is free.

Does a drainage contractor need a license?

Georgia's State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors licenses contractors for work over $2,500 in labor and materials, as Georgia city guidance on the state law explains. Whether a particular drainage or landscape job falls under the law depends on the work, so ask the contractor which license, if any, applies to your project. Wiring a sump pump is electrical work, which has its own rules.

Questions to ask a drainage contractor

Where exactly will the water end up, and could it affect my neighbors?
How much fall does the drain have, and what happens at high tide?
Does this job need a city or county permit, or a marsh buffer check?
Who will submit the Georgia 811 request, and when?
What state license, if any, applies to this job, and do you carry insurance?
How can the system be cleaned out later, and what's warrantied?

Common questions

Will the City of Savannah fix drainage in my yard?

No. The city maintains public streets, rights-of-way and easements, and does no stormwater work on private property. Report public drain problems through 311.

Can I add fill dirt to raise my yard in Savannah?

Check with Development Services first. Filling or regrading needs review, and in a flood zone you may have to offset the fill with compensatory storage.

How much notice does Georgia 811 need?

Submit your request at least three business days before digging. It's free, and marking lines before mechanized digging is required by Georgia law.

Chatham County yard drainage guide (2026)