Land Survey Costs in Chatham County, GA (2026)
Chatham County covers a diverse coastal landscape stretching from Savannah's historic downtown to barrier islands including Tybee Island, Wilmington Island, and Whitemarsh Island, plus fast-growing suburban areas in Pooler, Garden City, and Port Wentworth. That geographic and historical diversity makes Chatham County one of the more complex surveying markets in Georgia. Costs reflect it.
What Drives Survey Costs in Chatham County
Coastal and Tidal Complexity
Much of Chatham County's land is bounded by tidal marshes, rivers, and intracoastal waterways. Surveying near the Savannah River, Back River, Bull River, and the extensive marsh systems governed by the Georgia Coastal Marshlands Protection Act requires surveyors with coastal expertise. Tidal boundaries are more complex than upland boundaries, and delineating jurisdictional wetlands adds time to any survey involving properties near the marsh edge.
Historic Savannah's Unique Lot Configurations
Savannah's original grid, laid out in 1733, produced a distinctive urban pattern with trust lots, ward lots, and irregular configurations that have been subdivided and reconfigured over nearly three centuries. Properties in the Savannah Historic District, Ardsley Park, Midtown Savannah, and surrounding areas can have deed histories that require painstaking research to untangle. Survey costs in these older areas reflect that additional research time.
ALTA Surveys for Commercial Properties
Savannah is one of the busiest port cities in the United States, and its commercial real estate market is active. Hotel, retail, mixed-use, and industrial properties in and around the port area require ALTA/NSPS surveys for commercial transactions. Savannah's growth has also pushed major commercial development to Pooler along I-95, where distribution centers and retail developments require detailed surveys. These surveys run significantly higher than residential work.
Barrier Island Properties
Tybee Island and Wilmington Island properties present a specific set of survey challenges: smaller lots, high flood zone prevalence, coastal setback requirements, and frequent changes to shoreline position over time. Getting a boundary survey on a barrier island costs more than a comparable inland lot in Pooler or Garden City.
Typical Survey Costs in Chatham County (2026)
| Survey Type | Typical Cost Range | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Boundary Survey | $500 to $1,500 | Property lines, sales, permit applications |
| Topographic Survey | $1,500 to $6,000 | Site planning, drainage, construction |
| ALTA/NSPS Survey | $4,000 to $15,000+ | Commercial transactions, port-area properties |
| Elevation Certificate | $500 to $950 | Flood insurance, coastal NFIP compliance |
| Wetland/Tidal Boundary Survey | $2,000 to $8,000+ | Marsh boundary delineation, permits |
Survey Costs by Area in Chatham County
Savannah Historic District and Midtown
The historic district's distinctive lots and complex deed histories put residential survey costs at $700 to $1,500 for basic boundary work. ALTA surveys for commercial and hotel properties in the historic district routinely exceed $6,000.
Tybee Island
Tybee Island is a barrier island with high flood zone prevalence and coastal management restrictions. Boundary surveys on Tybee run $700 to $1,400. Elevation certificates are nearly standard practice for any Tybee property purchase or permit application. Expect $500 to $850 for a residential elevation certificate there.
Pooler and Garden City
These fast-growing suburban communities have more modern plat records and lower survey complexity than Savannah proper. Residential boundary surveys in Pooler typically run $450 to $900. The active commercial and logistics development near I-95 drives substantial ALTA and topographic survey demand in the area.
Port Wentworth and Industrial Areas
Port Wentworth and the Savannah River industrial corridor see significant ALTA, topographic, and construction staking survey activity tied to port expansion and industrial development. These surveys are at the higher end of regional pricing.
Licensing and How to Hire in Georgia
Georgia requires all land surveyors to hold an active PLS license from the Georgia State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. Verify any surveyor's license at verify.sos.ga.gov before signing an agreement. For coastal and wetland survey work, ask specifically about the surveyor's experience with Georgia Coastal Marshlands Protection Act requirements and FEMA coastal flood zone mapping.
Ready to get started? Find a land surveyor in Chatham County and connect with licensed professionals who know the Savannah area's unique survey requirements.