Fire Damage Claims in Savannah and Chatham County

If fire has damaged your Savannah home, your claim may not look like a typical one. Much of Savannah's housing is older, a good share of it sits in protected historic districts, and rebuilding here comes with rules that most insurance estimates don't account for. This page covers what's specific to Savannah. For 35 years, Insurance Claims Consultants has helped property owners across Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina recover what their policies actually owe them.

"My name's on this business, and after 45 years I still take these calls myself — and I stand behind every claim we take." — Jeffrey A. Raines, Founder

Call us directly at (864) 497-2151.

A fire claim covers far more than what burned: heat damage to wiring and framing, water from firefighting, and smoke and soot that settle where you can't see them. The insurance company's adjuster works for the insurance company, and early estimates often miss that hidden damage. Report the loss promptly, and photograph everything before you clean up or throw anything away. Our fire damage claims guide walks through the whole process, from the first days after the fire to settlement.

If your home is in one of Savannah's local historic districts, exterior repairs visible from a street or lane generally need a Certificate of Appropriateness before work begins. That approval is separate from the building permit, and many rebuilds need both.

Which board reviews it depends on the district. The Historic District Board of Review covers the Downtown Historic District. The Historic Preservation Commission covers the Victorian, Streetcar, and Cuyler-Brownville districts, and also reviews demolition of contributing buildings in several conservation districts, including Ardsley Park/Chatham Crescent. Staff for both work out of the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC), and preservation questions go to 912-651-1440.

What this means for your claim:

• Repair comes before replace. Historic features are expected to be repaired where possible, and replacements must match the original in design, texture and, where possible, material. That usually costs more than the standard-grade materials an insurance estimate is built on.
• Photograph historic features before debris removal. The review process expects damage that can't be repaired to be documented with photos. Those same photos support your insurance claim. One set of pictures does both jobs.
• Look closely at your Ordinance or Law coverage. This part of a homeowners policy pays the extra cost of meeting building codes and local rules when you rebuild. Many policies include only a limited amount unless it was added, and whether it applies to historic-district requirements can depend on your policy's exact wording. That's worth having reviewed before you accept an estimate.
• Allow for review time. Historic approval adds time before work can start, which can stretch how long you need temporary housing. Your additional living expense claim should reflect the real timeline, not a standard one.

Fire repairs require a building permit, and which office issues it depends on where your property sits.

Inside Savannah city limits: City of Savannah Development Services, 912-651-6530. Permits are tracked online through eTRAC. The city also holds informal Building Plan Review meetings where you or your contractor can sit down with plan reviewers, the historic preservation officer, and the fire marshal before submitting plans.

Unincorporated Chatham County: Chatham County Building Safety and Regulatory Services, 1117 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah. Applications are taken in person, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and can't be sent by fax or email. Not sure which applies to you? The county suggests calling the Tax Assessor's Office at 912-652-7271 for your parcel number. A parcel number beginning with 1 means county jurisdiction.

Other cities in the county, such as Pooler, Garden City, and Tybee Island, run their own permit offices.

Both the city and the county work from detailed completeness checklists, and an incomplete application delays the start of work. A contractor who knows the local office saves real time here.

Many of Savannah's older homes were built in ways that affect both how fire spreads and how large the claim becomes.

• Balloon framing. In many wood-frame homes built before the mid-1900s, wall studs run continuously from the foundation to the roof with no fire blocking between floors. Fire and smoke can travel inside the walls from one floor to the next, so damage often reaches well beyond what you can see. A thorough claim opens walls to check.
• Older wiring. Original or early wiring often can't be saved after a fire, and replacing it means bringing the house up to current electrical code. That cost belongs under Ordinance or Law coverage, not just the basic repair estimate.
• Plaster, heart pine, and original millwork. These materials take on smoke differently from modern ones and are costly to match. An estimate written around drywall and stock trim will come in low.

Emergencies: Call 911.

Shelter and supplies right after a fire: The American Red Cross Southeast Georgia Chapter, based in Savannah, serves Chatham County and responds to home fires, helping families with a place to stay, food, and basic supplies. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Local assistance of all kinds: Dial 211 for United Way's referral line covering housing, food, and utility help.

Emotional support: Call or text 988, any time of day.

Permits and historic review: City of Savannah Development Services, 912-651-6530. Chatham County Building Safety, 1117 Eisenhower Drive. MPC historic preservation, 912-651-1440.

Talk With Us About Your Savannah Fire Claim

A fire in an older or historic Savannah home is rarely a simple claim. We'll review your policy, including your Ordinance or Law coverage, look at what the insurer's estimate leaves out, and tell you plainly whether we can help.

Click the ICC logo below to talk with us live by phone or video conference, or call us directly at (864) 497-2151. We serve all of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.