Codes

City of Savannah Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance (FDPO) & NFIP information

• NEW: Click on: "encode plus" or the below link, to view the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance that went into effect after December 31, 2024. https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/savannah-ga/doc-viewer.aspx#secid-3356
  • The 2025 FDPO includes a two foot free board (FB) and other adjustments.  The two foot FB code will be reflected in: Sec. 8-7046. - Specific standards.  To view a marked up .pdf of the FDPO, Click on FDPO 2025 
• Links to Planning and Regulations of Development and Public Services Ordinances to include: 
  • Subdivisions, 
  • Soil Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control
  • Stormwater Management
• Link to list of current Georgia State Standard Codes in Effect 
  
  • Link ASCE 24-14 Library 
    
• City of Savannah, Dry Floodproofing Plan Review Check List
• Floodplain Worksheet for New and Substantially Improved Construction within the AE Flood Zone * Needed with Building Permit Application *
• Substantial Improvement/ Substantial Damage (50% Rule): Cost Estimate and Affidavit forms. 
  • (Information needed with Building Application of Pre-FIRM and Grandfathering projects: include: copy of signed contract and original signed affidavits.  If Homeowner doing work, need Owners Affidavit and signed Cost Estimate with back up material cost list. Labor cost is still required even if doing the work yourself or donated labor.  See 50% Rule document for more detail. Additional information may be needed depending on the project, contact Tom McDonald (912) 651-6530 X 1895.
• The FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Technical Bulletins
• FEMA Building Science has many publications organized by hazards.
• FEMA P-936, Floodproofing Non-Residential Buildings (FEMA, 2013)
• Answers to Questions About Substantial Damages Buildings, FEMA 213
        (information about the 50% RULE for buildings below the BFE)

City of Savannah Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) and Local Flood Studies maps:

Developers need to review both FEMA’s FIRM maps and City’s Local Flood Studies to help protect their project with the best available information to help reduce flooding during a high risk storm event.  View local flood studies that could affect your design. Besides FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM), designers, contractors, and home owners will need to review the City’s Local Flood Studies to ensure the proposed improvements meet City’s local storm water studies and ordinances.  For more information contact Tom Cawthon, Tcawthon@savannahga.gov (912) 650-7855, with City’s Stormwater Department for Site development or Tom McDonald tmcdonald@SavannahGa.Gov, (912) 651-6530 with Development Services for Building requirements.  To view the Local Studies and Historic/Current FIRMS click on: Local Flood Studies

City of Savannah Stormwater Management Information Page: 

The City’s Stormwater Department ensures developers comply with a state-issued stormwater permit, which requires stormwater monitoring, private site inspections, and site development permitting.  For more information: Stormwater Management Resources

Flood Elevation Certificate and Other Required Certificates Forms: 

• Elevation Certificate W/ Directions (2023 Edition, Expires on June 30, 2026) 
  • Link to FEMA’s Elevation Certificate Web Page
• Dry Floodproofing Certificate (Form FF-206-FY-22-153, Expires June, 30, 2026)
  
  

For all Flood Forms, Visit the Development Services Dept.'s "Applications and Check List" Page, Click : Here

• V Zone / Coastal A Zone Design Certificate.
• Non Conversion Letter

To access the City's on line Elevation Certificate database Click on: EC Database

Back to the Flood Protection Information web page