Land in Chatham County, GA
Who keeps the records, who zones the land, which wetland and coastal rules apply, and what is driving growth in Chatham County.
Chatham County at a glance
- County seat
- Savannah
- Land area
- About 433 square miles
- Population
- 295,291 (2020 Census) to about 311,855 (2025 estimate), up 5.6%
- Deeds
- Chatham County Clerk of Superior Court (Real Estate Division)
- Property records
- Chatham County Board of Assessors
- Wetland permits
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District
Who zones the land
Chatham County zones the unincorporated parts of the county. These incorporated places set their own zoning: Savannah, Pooler, Garden City, Port Wentworth, Tybee Island, Bloomingdale. A parcel inside town limits follows the town’s ordinance and goes to the town for a rezoning. See how rezoning works in Georgia.
Wetlands, flood zones and the coast
Wetlands that fall under federal jurisdiction are permitted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District. It is in Georgia’s coastal management area, and work in tidal marsh or tidal waters needs a permit under the Coastal Marshlands Protection Act, processed by the Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division.
On the coastal plain, wetlands and flood zones decide what much of the land is worth. See wetlands and flood zones and price per upland acre.
What is moving land in Chatham County
- The Georgia Ports Authority’s Garden City Terminal, which the authority describes as the largest single container terminal in North America, drives demand for industrial land along I-16 and I-95.
- Chatham is one of four counties in the joint development authority that brought the Hyundai Metaplant to neighboring Bryan County in 2022.
Questions about land in Chatham County
Where are deeds recorded in Chatham County, GA?
Deeds in Chatham County are recorded by the Chatham County Clerk of Superior Court (Real Estate Division).
Who keeps property records in Chatham County?
The Chatham County Board of Assessors keeps the property records: owner, mailing address, acreage and assessed value. Land Shark shows every parcel in Chatham County with its owner on one map.
Who handles zoning in Chatham County?
The county zones unincorporated land. Incorporated places such as Savannah, Pooler, Garden City set their own zoning, so check which jurisdiction a parcel is in first.
Who regulates wetlands in Chatham County?
Federal wetland permits are handled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District. It is in Georgia’s coastal management area, and work in tidal marsh or tidal waters needs a permit under the Coastal Marshlands Protection Act, processed by the Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division.
Figures checked October 2026. Population from the U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Census and the July 2025 estimate). This page is general information, not legal advice.
Land Shark in Chatham County
Researching a tract in Chatham County means the county's records, the deeds, the zoning, the wetland and flood maps and the town limits, each in a different place. Land Shark puts them together.
- Every parcel and owner in Chatham County on one map, with flood, wetland and zoning layers.
- Recent sales nearby, priced per upland acre, where the county publishes them.
- The zoning code for the parcel’s district, county or town, one click from the parcel.
- Owners as contacts, every call and letter logged, and alerts when a parcel in your pipeline sells.