Bolthole Index

Chatham County, Georgia

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Bloomingdale, Georgia

Bloomingdale, Georgia (Chatham County) has its own zoning ordinance, and inside city limits it, not Chatham County, decides what you can build and where1. Building permit questions go to the city's zoning and permit contact at City Hall2. Septic permits for lots without public sewer come from the Chatham County Health Department3. Living in an RV on a residential lot is not allowed4.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes. Bloomingdale's own ordinance (Appendix A of the city code) governs land inside city limits1
Building permits
Ask City Hall; we could not confirm the city's permit rules2
Septic
Chatham County Health Department, on lots without public sewer3
RV living
Not allowed on a residential lot or any location not approved for it4
Minimum lot size
Varies by district; 15,000 sq ft with public sewer in R-A, R-A-1 and R-15
Flood rules
City flood damage prevention rules apply in special flood hazard areas6

Who to call

Building permits

City of Bloomingdale City Hall (zoning and building permit questions)

Zoning, building permit applications, fence and sign permits inside Bloomingdale city limits; staffs the Planning & Zoning Commission

912-748-0970

zoning@bloomingdale-ga.gov

8 West Hwy 80

Septic permits

Chatham County Health Department Environmental Health Office (Georgia Coastal Health District)

Permits and inspects on-site sewage (septic) systems and drinking-water wells in Chatham County under Georgia DPH rules

912-356-2160

1395 Eisenhower Dr. Savannah, GA 31406

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 17, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Bloomingdale means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Bloomingdale, GA have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs and lot size?

Yes. Bloomingdale's zoning ordinance is Appendix A of the city code, and it covers land inside city limits1. Its districts include R-A, R-A1, R-1, R-2, R-3, N-C, C-1, C-2, I-1, I-2, PEH, PW, PUD, OI and MHP1. Some uses are allowed outright, while others need a conditional use permit from the board of appeals7.

RVs: Bloomingdale does not allow a travel trailer or RV to be used for living, sleeping or housekeeping on a residential lot or any location not approved for that use4. The only temporary-living route in the code is an emergency-only temporary park approved by the mayor and council, for up to 18 months8.

Lot size: in the R-A, R-A-1 and R-1 districts the table shows 15,000 square feet for lots with public sewer5. Lots in the original map of Bloomingdale are exempt from those lot size rules5.

A second dwelling for a caretaker or groundskeeper needs a conditional use permit and is not allowed in R-1 or R-29. Georgia leaves tiny homes to local zoning, and we could not confirm a tiny-home rule in Bloomingdale's code, so ask City Hall10.

Do you need a building permit in Bloomingdale, and who issues it?

Bloomingdale's City Hall takes questions about building permits and zoning, and the city's planning page links building permit applications, fence and sign permits2. We could not confirm the city's building code, inspection steps or fee schedule, so call City Hall at 912-748-0970 before you plan a project2.

Across Georgia, the state's mandatory building codes apply to construction whether or not a city enforces them locally11. Georgia does not require a license to build your own home, but the owner still has to follow local codes and permits12.

The Chatham County building permit rules apply to unincorporated Chatham County, not to land inside Bloomingdale. For land outside city limits, see the Chatham County page.

How do septic permits work inside Bloomingdale?

Bloomingdale's zoning code says lots without public sewer are subject to Chatham County Health Department regulations for septic systems3. The county Environmental Health program permits and inspects on-site sewage systems13. Call the14 office before you buy a lot that is not on city sewer.

Georgia requires a construction permit before an onsite system goes in, and the County Board of Health must find the site suitable first15. The final inspection comes before the system is backfilled or used16.

Soils are a real concern in Chatham County: USDA rates only about 0.2% of soils as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system17. Where a public sewer line is within 200 feet of the property line, Georgia requires connection18.

Building a home in Bloomingdale: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot is inside Bloomingdale city limits, then ask City Hall which zoning district it is in2.
  2. Check the district's use table and lot size standard in Appendix A of the city code5.
  3. If there is no public sewer, get a site evaluation and septic permit from the14 office3.
  4. Ask City Hall for the building permit application and fee schedule, since we could not confirm them2.
  5. Check whether the lot is in a special flood hazard area, where the city's flood damage prevention rules apply6.
  6. Do not plan to live in an RV on the lot while you build4.

What stays with Chatham County, and what to check before you buy

Septic and wells in Bloomingdale go through the Chatham County Health Department3. Georgia says certain county health departments require a well permit, and well contractors must contact the local health department first19.

County-level numbers describe Chatham County as a whole: its population density is about 701 people per square mile20, and the nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 8 miles from the county center21. Chatham County's effective property tax rate is about 0.9%22.

For land outside city limits, Chatham County's own permit, zoning and septic rules apply instead; see the Chatham County page.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Bloomingdale's building code, inspection steps, certificate of occupancy or fee schedule, so ask City Hall at 912-748-0970 before you rely on any permit assumption2.
  • RVs cannot be lived in on a residential lot in Bloomingdale, even temporarily4.
  • Land in special flood hazard areas follows the city's flood damage prevention rules, which set elevation and anchoring requirements for manufactured homes and RVs6.
  • Chatham County's building permit and zoning rules apply only to unincorporated land, not inside Bloomingdale23.

Sources

  1. Bloomingdale Zoning App. A Sec. 400 - Use of land or buildings (Bloomingdale), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Bloomingdale City Hall (zoning and building permit questions) (bloomingdale-ga.gov)
  3. Bloomingdale Zoning App. A Sec. 501 - Table II (Bloomingdale), quoted and re-checked
  4. Bloomingdale Zoning App. A Sec. 804 - Boats and recreational vehicles (Bloomingdale), quoted and re-checked
  5. Bloomingdale Zoning App. A Sec. 501 - Table II (Bloomingdale), quoted and re-checked
  6. Bloomingdale Code Sec. 38-104 - Manufactured homes and recreational vehicles (flood) (Bloomingdale), quoted and re-checked
  7. Bloomingdale Zoning App. A Sec. 600 - Table of permissible and conditional uses (Bloomingdale), quoted and re-checked
  8. Bloomingdale Zoning App. A Sec. 602 - Temporary mobile home parks (Bloomingdale), quoted and re-checked
  9. Bloomingdale Zoning App. A Sec. 801 - Accessory uses (Bloomingdale), quoted and re-checked
  10. Georgia Tiny House Fact Sheet (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Mandatory and Permissive State Codes (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Residential and Commercial General Contractors Frequently Asked Questions (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. On-Site Sewage/Septic Systems - Georgia Coastal Health District, quoted and re-checked
  14. Chatham County Health Department Environmental Health Office (Georgia Coastal Health District) (coastalhealthdistrict.org)
  15. Manual for On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Manual for On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  18. GA DPH Onsite Sewage Manual (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Water Well Standards (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Population density: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Straight-line distance from the county center to the nearest city of 100,000+ people: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Zoning Ordinance of Chatham County, Section 1, quoted and re-checked

Written October 17, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Bloomingdale

Bloomingdale’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Bloomingdale city limits

    • Zoning ordinance is Appendix A of the city code, with districts R-A, R-A1, R-1, R-2, R-3, N-C, C-1, C-2, I-1, I-2, PEH, PW, PUD, OI, MHP.
    “No land or buildings shall hereinafter be used or occupied, and no building or parts shall hereafter be constructed, erected, altered, or moved, unless in conformity with all of the regulations herein specified for the district in which it is located.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Bloomingdale city

    • Use table: O means conditional use permit by board of appeals; X means permitted subject to general provisions.
    “an open circle "O" means that the use will be permitted in that district only if a conditional use permit is granted by the board of appeals.”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-A, R-A-1 and R-1 districts inside Bloomingdale city

    • 15,000 sq ft applies to lots with public sewer (with or without public water); 20,000 sq ft rows also appear for R-A, R-A-1 and R-1 (apparently lots without public sewer, not stated explicitly).
    • Lot size requirements do not apply to lots in the original map of Bloomingdale (Pierce Tract).
    • Lots without public sewer are subject to Chatham County Health Department septic regulations.

    minimum lot area with public sewer: >= 15000 sq ft (R-A, R-A-1, R-1) · minimum lot area (other row): >= 20000 sq ft (R-A, R-A-1, R-1; applicability not explicit)

    “15,000* 100′ 35′ 10′ 20′ 25′ 25% 2 r-a, r-a-1, r-1”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    RVs and travel trailers parked or stored on residential lots inside Bloomingdale city

    • Living, sleeping or housekeeping use is barred on a residential lot or any location not approved for such use.
    • Campground, private-public and travel trailer park are conditional uses in certain districts per the use table.
    • Flood rule: RVs in flood areas must be licensed and highway-ready or meet new-construction elevation requirements.
    “No major recreational equipment such as boats, travel trailers, and recreational vehicles shall be used for living, sleeping, or housekeeping purposes when parked or stored on a residential lot, or in any location not approved for such uses.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary camping/living in campers inside Bloomingdale city

    • Emergency-only temporary living areas on property approved by mayor and council, plans approved by Chatham County Health Department, building inspector and public works.
    • Permits up to 18 months; extension only by mayor and council after public hearing.

    temporary park permit maximum: <= 18 months (extension by mayor and council after public hearing)

    “permits may be issued by the city's building inspector to establish a temporary mobile home park for a period not to exceed 18 months.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory caretaker/groundskeeper dwelling units inside Bloomingdale city

    • Conditional use permit from board of appeals required.
    • Not allowed in R-1 and R-2 zones.
    • Occupants must be nontransient caretakers or groundskeepers employed by the owner or operator.
    “subject to the granting of a conditional use permit by the board of appeals, accessory dwelling units which are occupied or designed to be occupied by nontransient groundskeepers or caretakers employed by the owner or operator of property located in all zoning districts excepting r-1 and r-2 zones”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in special flood hazard areas inside Bloomingdale city (Chapter 38, Art. II Flood Damage Prevention)

    • Manufactured homes must be elevated at least one foot above base flood elevation and anchored.
    • RVs must be highway-ready or meet new-construction elevation and anchoring rules.
    “All manufactured homes must be securely anchored to the adequately anchored foundation system to resist flotation, collapse and lateral movement.”

Rules another office applies inside Bloomingdale

Bloomingdale does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Septic systems on lots without public sewer inside Bloomingdale city; the Chatham County Health Department regulates

    • Applies to lots without public sewer.
    “note: lots without public sewer are subject to chatham county health department regulations for septic systems.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Bloomingdale or Chatham County directly.

  • Building permit — Building permits inside Bloomingdale city
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Bloomingdale city
  • Building code adopted — Building code inside Bloomingdale city
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Bloomingdale city
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Bloomingdale city
12 more unanswered
  • Minimum dwelling size
  • Tiny homes
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Bloomingdale publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Chatham County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Chatham County: county rules, score and offices