How to Get a Business License in Savannah, Georgia

Savannah’s Business Tax Certificate — The Basics

Savannah’s business license is officially called a “Business Tax Certificate.” If you’ve been searching for a “Savannah business license” or “Savannah occupation tax certificate,” this is the document you need — they are all the same thing. Savannah uses “Business Tax Certificate” while most other Georgia cities (including Atlanta) use “Occupation Tax Certificate.”

The Business Tax Certificate is required for ALL businesses operating in Savannah city limits before they open. It is required under Article Y of the City of Savannah Revenue Ordinance.

Key facts about the certificate:

Expires December 31 each year
Must be displayed conspicuously at the business location
Not transferable — if a business changes ownership, the new owner must apply for a new certificate
If your address is outside Savannah city limits but inside Chatham County, you deal with Chatham County Building Safety & Regulatory Services for unincorporated areas — not the City of Savannah

The critical process difference in Savannah: you must complete a two-step process. Step 1 is Business Location Approval from Development Services. Step 2 is the Business Tax Certificate from the Revenue Department. You cannot skip Step 1 or reverse the order.

Step 1: Business Location Approval

This step is mandatory and must be completed before applying for a Business Tax Certificate. Many people go directly to the Revenue Department and get turned away. Don’t skip this step.

What Business Location Approval does: Development Services reviews whether your proposed business use is permitted under the property’s zoning classification, and whether the building meets building code and fire code requirements for your business type.

How to get it:

Submit a Business Location Approval Application to Development Services
Obtain the application through Development Services directly or via savannahga.gov
View the Business Approval Process Brochure and flow chart on savannahga.gov for the complete step-by-step sequence

Historic district: If your business is in or near the Savannah National Historic Landmark District, additional review under historic preservation standards applies. This adds time to the approval process — account for it in your planning.

Home occupations: Home-based businesses also require Business Location Approval. Residential zoning rules apply, which typically restrict signage, client traffic to your home, and non-resident employees.

Once you have approval: You will receive confirmation that your address and business use are zoning-compliant. Bring this with you when applying for the Business Tax Certificate.

Step 2: Apply for Business Tax Certificate

After receiving Business Location Approval, apply for your Business Tax Certificate through the Revenue Department.

Revenue Department, Business and Alcohol Regulations Unit Physical address: 132 E. Broughton Street, Savannah, GA 31401 Mailing address: P.O. Box 1228, Savannah, GA 31402-1228 Phone: (912) 651-6445

How to apply:

Download the Business Tax Application from savannahga.gov
Complete all sections following the instructions on the city website
Gather all required documents (see next section)
Submit in person at 132 E. Broughton Street or by mail to the P.O. Box above
Payment accepted in person or by mail per the Revenue Payment Methods page on savannahga.gov

Information required on the application:

Business name (legal name and DBA if applicable)
Business address (inside Savannah city limits)
Date business commenced or will commence
Business type and NAICS code
Estimated Georgia gross receipts for the current year
Number of employees
Whether you are electing the professional practitioner option

Certificate delivery: Typically within 10 business days after payment is processed.

Required Documents

Gather these before submitting your application:

SAVE Affidavit (notarized — current year only) Verifies the applicant’s lawful presence in the United States. Required under O.C.G.A. § 50-36-1. Must be notarized and must be from the current calendar year. A prior-year SAVE affidavit is not accepted. Must be accompanied by a copy of a Secure and Verifiable Document (Georgia driver’s license, US passport, military ID, etc.).

E-Verify Affidavit (notarized — current year only) Required under O.C.G.A. § 36-60-6.

11 or more employees: Must be registered for E-Verify (federal work authorization program). Provide your E-Verify user number on the affidavit.
Fewer than 11 employees: File an exemption affidavit stating you are not subject to the requirement. Prior-year E-Verify affidavits are not accepted.

Georgia Secretary of State registration: Your LLC certificate, corporate charter, or other state formation document from ecorp.sos.ga.gov.

Georgia DOR sales tax registration: If your business sells taxable goods or services, provide proof of registration through the Georgia Tax Center at gtc.dor.ga.gov.

Federal EIN: Free and instant at irs.gov/ein.

State professional license: If your profession is regulated by a Georgia licensing board, provide a copy of your current license. Check sos.ga.gov under Professional Licensing Boards.

Business Location Approval: The approval document from Development Services (Step 1 above).

Tax Calculation

Savannah’s Business Tax is based on a profitability-ratio system — not a flat percentage of gross receipts.

How it works:

Your gross receipts are multiplied by your industry’s profitability ratio
The profitability ratio is derived from national averages for your business class, using IRS and OMB statistical data
The resulting adjusted figure determines your tax amount per the bracket schedule

Why this matters: Low-margin businesses — grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores, wholesale distributors — pay proportionally less than high-margin businesses like consulting firms, law offices, and financial services. A business with $500,000 in gross receipts at a 3% profitability ratio is taxed on $15,000 of “adjusted” receipts, not $500,000.

Professionals option: State-licensed practitioners (attorneys, CPAs, physicians, architects, and others) can elect to pay a flat $400 per licensed professional instead of the gross receipts-based calculation. This option is available under O.C.G.A. § 48-13-9(c) and is often advantageous for small professional practices.

Payment methods: In-person at 132 E. Broughton Street or by mail to P.O. Box 1228. See the Revenue Payment Methods page on savannahga.gov for accepted payment types.

Payment Deadlines

Situation	Deadline
New business	Pay at time of application
Annual tax (existing businesses)	January 31 each year
Renewal submission with documents	By March 1 to avoid penalties

Important notes:

A business may continue operating on a prior year’s expired certificate until the renewal due date
Renewal forms are mailed automatically to existing businesses each year
Blank renewal forms are also downloadable from savannahga.gov
Penalties apply for renewals filed after March 1

Note: Savannah’s January 31 payment deadline is earlier than Atlanta’s April 1 deadline. Mark this date.

Short-Term Vacation Rentals

If you plan to operate a short-term rental property (Airbnb, VRBO, or similar platform) in Savannah, you need more than a Business Tax Certificate.

STVR permit: A separate City of Savannah Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) permit is required in addition to the Business Tax Certificate. STVR rules have been tightening in Savannah — the city has moved to restrict short-term rentals in certain zones in response to housing concerns.

Lodging taxes: You must collect and remit hotel/motel taxes on short-term rental revenue.

Current rules: Search “short-term vacation rental” on savannahga.gov for the current permit requirements, eligible zones, prohibited zones, and application process. Verify all current requirements before purchasing or leasing a property for this purpose, as rules have changed multiple times in recent years.

Alcohol Licensing

Savannah’s food and hospitality economy means many new businesses will need alcohol licenses. The process requires compliance at both the state and city level.

State alcohol license: Apply through the Georgia Tax Center at dor.georgia.gov/alcohol-tobacco. The state license has been mandatory since January 2022 — it is not optional, even if the city has historically processed applications without it.

City alcohol license: Apply through the Revenue Department (Business and Alcohol Regulations Unit) at the same address (132 E. Broughton Street / P.O. Box 1228). A separate supplement packet is required — download from savannahga.gov.

Sequence: Submit the state application first (or simultaneously). You cannot complete the city application without referencing the state application.

Fees: A separate fee schedule applies to alcohol licenses — it is distinct from the Business Tax Certificate fee schedule.

Contact and Resources

Revenue Department — Business and Alcohol Regulations Unit 132 E. Broughton Street (physical) P.O. Box 1228, Savannah, GA 31402-1228 (mailing) Phone: (912) 651-6445

Development Services (Business Location Approval) Available through savannahga.gov — contact for Business Location Approval Application

Coastal Health District (food service permits) (912) 644-5200

Chatham County Building Safety & Regulatory Services For businesses outside Savannah city limits but inside Chatham County: buildingsafety.chathamcountyga.gov

Georgia Secretary of State ecorp.sos.ga.gov | (478) 207-2440

Georgia Tax Center / Georgia DOR gtc.dor.ga.gov | dor.georgia.gov

SBDC at Georgia Southern University — Armstrong Campus (Savannah): Free consulting for entrepreneurs

SCORE Savannah: Free mentoring

Checklist: Savannah Business Tax Certificate

The two-step sequence — Location Approval first, Business Tax Certificate second — is the defining feature of Savannah’s process. Complete that sequence in order, gather both affidavits in advance, and the rest of the process is straightforward.