Savannah, Georgia Public Records

For more serious criminal and civil matters, residents use the Chatham County Superior Court and Chatham County State Court, both located at the Chatham County Courthouse, 133 Montgomery Street, Savannah, GA 31401 (Superior Court phone: 912-652-7200; State Court phone: 912-652-7181). Superior Court has jurisdiction over felony criminal cases, divorce and family law matters, civil cases exceeding $25,000, real property disputes, and estate/probate matters. State Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil claims between $15,000 and $25,000, and certain traffic offenses. The Chatham County Probate Court, also at 133 Montgomery Street (phone: 912-652-7208), processes wills, estates, guardianships, and marriage licenses. The Chatham County Magistrate Court at the same courthouse (phone: 912-652-7240) handles civil claims under $15,000, dispossessory (eviction) actions, warrant applications, and small claims matters. Court records for Georgia state courts are searchable online through the Georgia Courts Case Search portal at georgiacourts.gov (eFile Georgia portal) for participating counties including Chatham. The system allows searches by party name, case number, or attorney. Certified copies of court documents are available from the Clerk of Superior Court for $2.50 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page, plus a $2.00 certification fee. Uncertified copies are typically $0.25 per page.

The county's property records are fully searchable online at no cost through the qPublic.net portal, which allows searches by owner name, property address, parcel number, or map/grid reference. The system displays current and historical assessments, property photos, tax digest information, and associated parcel maps. The Chatham County Clerk of Superior Court serves as the Register of Deeds and is located at 133 Montgomery Street, Savannah, GA 31401 (phone: 912-652-7200, website: chathamcourts.org). This office records and maintains all real property documents including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, security deeds (mortgages), liens (tax liens, mechanic's liens, judgment liens), easements, plats, powers of attorney affecting real property, and UCC financing statements related to real estate. Georgia law requires recording to provide constructive notice and establish chain of title. The Clerk's Office provides online access to recorded land records through a subscription-based system (typically requiring registration and per-document fees or monthly subscription). Walk-in searches are available free of charge at the courthouse during business hours. Recorded document copies cost approximately $1.00 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page. Chatham County also maintains a GIS mapping system accessible through the county website, providing parcel boundaries, aerial photography, flood zones, zoning districts, and overlay information useful for property research and development planning.

Major employers in Savannah include Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (a General Dynamics subsidiary manufacturing business jets, employing over 13,000), Memorial Health University Medical Center (the region's largest healthcare provider with over 6,000 employees), St. Joseph's/Candler Health System, the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (approximately 9,000 employees), the City of Savannah, Chatham County government, and the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), which enrolls over 14,000 students and employs approximately 2,500 faculty and staff. Fort Stewart, located approximately 40 miles southwest, and Hunter Army Airfield within Savannah contribute significant military and civilian employment. Tourism is a dominant economic force, with over 15 million visitors annually generating approximately $3 billion in economic impact. Historic preservation, hospitality, restaurants, cultural institutions, and convention business support thousands of jobs. Manufacturing has grown substantially, with companies like JCB North America, International Paper, and various logistics and distribution centers capitalizing on port access and transportation infrastructure. Estimated median household income in Savannah is approximately $52,000-$56,000, below the state average but reflective of the city's mix of service-sector employment, college students, and income diversity. Recent economic development has focused on technology sector growth, film production (Georgia's film tax credits have attracted productions), and expansion of logistics operations supporting e-commerce distribution. Savannah's economy represents the commercial and cultural core of Chatham County, with suburban and unincorporated areas increasingly serving residential and light industrial functions supporting the urban center.

The Savannah Police Department is located at 2800 Ogeechee Road, Savannah, GA 31405 (phone: 912-651-6675, website: savannahga.gov/police). Citizens can request police reports, incident reports, and accident reports under Georgia's Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.) by submitting requests in person at police headquarters, by mail, or through the department's online portal. Standard police reports typically cost $5-$10 per copy, with processing times of 3-5 business days for non-sensitive records. The department maintains records of crimes, arrests, traffic accidents, and calls for service within Savannah city limits.

The Chatham County Sheriff's Office is headquartered at 1050 Carl Griffin Drive, Savannah, GA 31405 (phone: 912-652-6920, website: chathamsheriff.org). The Sheriff's Office has jurisdiction over unincorporated areas of Chatham County, provides courthouse security, serves civil process, and operates the Chatham County Detention Center. The detention center houses pre-trial and sentenced inmates from across the county, including those arrested by Savannah Police.

Arrest and jail booking records are publicly searchable through the Chatham County Sheriff's Office inmate roster at chathamsheriff.org/inmate-search. The online system provides real-time information including inmate names, booking photos (mugshots), booking dates, charges filed, bond amounts, housing location, and projected release dates. The roster is updated continuously as arrests occur. Under Georgia's Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70), arrest records, booking logs, and incident reports are generally public unless exempted by ongoing investigation or juvenile status. Citizens may request copies of arrest reports, warrants, and booking documents by contacting the Sheriff's Records Division during regular business hours, with standard fees of $0.10-$0.25 per page for copies.

Online ordering is available through VitalChek (vitalchek.com) with additional processing fees ($12-$16) but faster service (5-10 business days). Birth records in Georgia are restricted for 100 years; only the registrant (if of legal age), parents listed on the certificate, legal guardians, or legal representatives with proper documentation may obtain certified copies. Death certificates are similarly restricted for 25 years to immediate family members and legal representatives. The Chatham County Probate Court, located at 133 Montgomery Street, Savannah, GA 31401 (phone: 912-652-7208, website: chathamcourts.org), issues marriage licenses for couples planning to marry in Georgia. Both parties must appear in person with valid government-issued photo identification. The marriage license fee is approximately $56, though couples who complete a premarital education course can reduce the fee to approximately $16 and waive the standard waiting period. Georgia does not require blood tests. Marriage licenses are valid for six months from issuance. Marriage certificates (proof of marriage after ceremony) are recorded with the Probate Court and certified copies cost approximately $10-$15 each. Divorce records are maintained as court records by the Chatham County Clerk of Superior Court at 133 Montgomery Street (phone: 912-652-7200), as divorce cases are filed in Superior Court. Certified copies of divorce decrees cost approximately $2.50 for the first page plus $0.50 per additional page, plus a $2.00 certification fee. Georgia vital records have varying levels of digitization; recent records (post-2000) are generally more accessible, while historical records may require in-person research or longer processing times.

The city maintains a searchable database of active business licenses, though it may not be fully accessible online; inquiries can be made by phone or in person. Fictitious business name registrations (DBAs - "Doing Business As") in Georgia are filed with the Chatham County Clerk of Superior Court at 133 Montgomery Street, Savannah, GA 31401 (phone: 912-652-7200). DBA filings must be published in the legal organ (official county newspaper) for four consecutive weeks and an affidavit of publication filed with the Clerk. Filing fees are approximately $40-$60 plus publication costs. Georgia corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other formal business entities are registered with the Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division, 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SE, Suite 313 West Tower, Atlanta, GA 30334 (phone: 404-656-2817, website: ecorp.sos.ga.gov). The Secretary of State maintains a free, fully searchable online database of all registered business entities at ecorp.sos.ga.gov. Users can search by business name, registered agent name, or control number to view entity status (active, dissolved, administratively dissolved), formation date, registered agent and office address, principal office address, entity type, and annual registration status. The database is updated regularly and provides certified status certificates for a fee. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements and lien searches are filed with and searchable through the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority at gsccca.org. The system provides online access to UCC filings statewide for a subscription or per-search fee. Commercial property tax assessments for business owners are accessible through the Chatham County Board of Assessors at qpublic.net/ga/chatham, allowing business owners to review assessed values, appeal deadlines, and exemption eligibility for business personal property and real estate holdings.

Savannah voters are served by the Chatham County Board of Elections and Registration, located at 1117 Eisenhower Drive, Suite A, Savannah, GA 31406 (phone: 912-790-1520, website: chathamcountyga.gov/elections). This office administers all federal, state, county, and municipal elections for Savannah residents, maintains voter registration rolls, assigns polling locations, provides absentee ballots, and certifies election results. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with extended hours during early voting periods.

Georgia residents can register to vote online through the Georgia Secretary of State's My Voter Page at mvp.sos.ga.gov. Applicants must provide a valid Georgia driver's license or state-issued ID number, and the last four digits of their Social Security number. Voter registration deadlines in Georgia are 29 days before any election. Georgia requires photo identification to vote in person; acceptable IDs include Georgia driver's license, Georgia ID card, U.S. passport, military ID, or tribal ID. First-time voters who registered by mail may need to provide additional identification.

The City of Savannah holds municipal elections for Mayor and eight City Council seats (six district seats and two at-large seats). Savannah municipal elections are nonpartisan and held in odd-numbered years, most recently in November 2023. The next Savannah municipal elections will be held in November 2027 for Mayor and all council seats. Council members serve four-year terms. Information about municipal candidates, sample ballots, and local referendums is available through the Chatham County Elections Office and the City of Savannah website at savannahga.gov.

Savannah voters can find their assigned polling place through the Georgia My Voter Page at mvp.sos.ga.gov by entering their name and date of birth or county and address. The system displays polling location address, hours, sample ballot, early voting locations, and absentee ballot status. Chatham County operates numerous early voting locations with extended hours beginning three weeks before Election Day.

Georgia election records that are publicly accessible include voter registration lists (available for purchase for political purposes), campaign finance disclosure reports through the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission (ethics.ga.gov), candidate qualification documents filed with county election offices, precinct-level election results published after certification, and absentee ballot application statistics. Individual voter history (whether a person voted, though not how they voted) is public record.

In the November 2024 presidential election, Chatham County reported approximately 145,000 votes cast from roughly 215,000 registered voters, representing approximately 67% turnout, higher than the statewide average and reflecting competitive races and strong voter engagement in the Savannah metro area.

For the November 3, 2026 general election, Savannah and Chatham County voters will decide several significant races. Georgia's gubernatorial election will be held, with Governor Brian Kemp term-limited (pending state law, governors may serve two consecutive terms). All statewide constitutional officers will be on the ballot including Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, and other positions. Georgia does not have a U.S. Senate seat up in 2026 (Senators Ossoff and Warnock are on different cycles). All 14 Georgia State Senate districts and 180 State House districts, including those representing portions of Chatham County (State Senate District 2 and House Districts 163, 164, 165), will be contested. Chatham County voters will elect county commission seats (some districts on staggered terms), Sheriff, Clerk of Superior Court, Tax Commissioner, and other constitutional officers. Judicial elections for superior court and state court judgeships may appear if seats are contested or retention elections required.

Georgia offers no-excuse absentee voting by mail. Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot online through the Georgia My Voter Page (mvp.sos.ga.gov), by mail, fax, email, or in person at the Chatham County Elections Office. Absentee ballot requests must be received by the Friday before Election Day (11 days before), though officials recommend applying earlier. Completed absentee ballots must be received by 7:00 PM on Election Day; postmarks do not extend the deadline. Georgia requires absentee voters to include a photocopy of acceptable ID with their ballot or provide their driver's license/state ID number on the ballot envelope. Drop boxes may be available at early voting locations and the elections office during early voting hours, subject to Georgia election law requirements.