Savannah, GA Property Tax: Rates & How to Save (2026)
Savannah, GA property taxes: $2,040/year median. See rates, how to appeal in Chatham County, and check your savings.
Key Takeaways
Median home value: $248,900 in Savannah.Median annual tax bill: $2,040.Tax rate: Chatham County's combined rate is 3.371%.Appeals filed with: Chatham County Board of Assessors (not the city).Appeal deadline: 45 days from your assessment notice date.
Savannah is the Chatham County seat, Georgia's fifth-largest city, and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Southeast. With a median home value around $249,000 and a wide range of neighborhoods -- from historic downtown to suburban west Chatham -- it's common for assessments to miss the mark on individual properties.
Property Tax Rates in Savannah
Savannah property taxes are assessed and collected by Chatham County. Georgia assesses all property at 40% of fair market value.
Here is how the tax math works for the median Savannah home:
Fair Market Value (county assessment): $248,900
Assessed Value ($248,900 x 0.40): $99,560
Tax Rate (Chatham County combined rate): 3.371%
Annual Tax Bill ($99,560 x 3.371%): $3,356
The Census Bureau reports a median annual tax bill of $2,040 for Savannah, which reflects all levies including county, school, and city taxes.
How Savannah Compares
Savannah: $248,900
Chatham County: $302,700
Georgia (statewide): $170,200
Homes in Savannah are valued 18% below the Chatham County median. Lower values do not mean your assessment is automatically correct - overassessments happen at every price point. The median annual tax bill in Savannah ($2,040) is 41% above Georgia's statewide median of $1,439. Home values in Chatham County range from about $195,435 (25th percentile) to $472,409 (75th percentile), so your appeal savings depend heavily on where your home falls in that range.
How to Appeal Your Savannah Property Tax
Property tax appeals in Savannah are handled by the Chatham County Board of Assessors. You have 45 days from the date of the assessment notice to file using the PT-311A form.
Based on a combined tax rate of 3.371%. Your actual rate may vary by tax district.
A 10% reduction on the median Savannah home ($248,900 down by $24,890) would save approximately $336 per year - or $1,008 over three years with the 299c freeze.
The median annual property tax bill in Savannah is $2,040, based on Census ACS 2024 data. Using Chatham County's millage rate of 3.371%, the computed tax on the median home ($248,900) is approximately $3,356.
Who do I contact to appeal my Savannah property tax?
Appeals are filed with the Chatham County Board of Assessors, not at the city level. File a PT-311A form within 45 days of your assessment notice.
Are Savannah homes undervalued compared to Chatham County?
Savannah's lower median does not mean the county's assessment of your specific home is correct. Overassessments happen at every price point. Compare your assessed value per square foot to actual recent sales of similar homes nearby.
How is my Savannah property tax bill calculated?
Georgia taxes property at 40% of fair market value. For Savannah's median home ($248,900), the assessed value is $99,560. Multiply by Chatham County's millage rate of 3.371% to get your annual bill. In growing cities like Savannah, reassessments often outpace actual market conditions -- compare your assessed value per square foot to recent closed sales within 1 mile of your home.
What evidence wins a property tax appeal in Savannah?
The strongest evidence is 3-5 comparable sales -- homes similar to yours in size, age, and condition that sold recently for less than your assessed value. In Savannah, there are typically enough recent sales to build a strong case. Focus on per-square-foot price comparisons and adjust for differences in lot size, condition, and amenities.
Can I appeal if I just bought my Savannah home?
Yes. If you paid less than the county's assessed fair market value, your purchase price is strong evidence of overassessment. If you paid more, the county may eventually reassess upward -- but they cannot do so just because you appealed. Either way, you should compare your assessed value to what similar nearby homes actually sold for.
Can my property tax go up if I appeal?
No. Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 48-5-311) protects you: the county cannot raise your assessed value above what they originally set just because you filed an appeal. The Board of Equalization only rules on the disputed value. Worst case, your appeal is denied and you keep your current assessment -- your taxes will not increase as a result of appealing.