Helping You Get Settled
Everyone moving to a new city requires a vast amount of information — details about neighborhoods and housing, automobile licenses, schools, cultural and recreational opportunities, and much more.
Whether relocating your family, a business or just yourself, the array of decisions and tasks can appear daunting, overwhelming and seemingly endless. This information should help you get started.
Automobile/Boat
Within 30 days of moving to Georgia, newcomers must apply for a Georgia Driver’s license and a Georgia license plate for each vehicle. For registration, proof of insurance is required by Georgia law, along with current registration, a Georgia driver’s license, title and name/address of lien holder or copy of lease agreement and a power of attorney from the leasing company.
Chatham County Auto Tag Department
| 1145 Eisenhower Drive, 31406 | 912.652.6800 |
| 295 Police Memorial Drive, 31405 | 912.644.4010 |
| 461 Johnny Mercer Blvd., 31410 | 912.898.3307 |
| Boat Registration | goboatgeorgia.com | 800.366.2661 |
1117 Eisenhower Drive, 31406
www.dds.ga.gov
To transfer a valid license from another state in the United States or from the District of Columbia, you must present:
- Your valid driver’s license.
- Some form of personal identification, such as a birth certificate (state-issued or certified copy), certified naturalization document, immigration ID card, valid passport or military ID card.
- Proof of Georgia residency, including lease or housing contract; rent receipt; utility bill; bank statement; or employer verification (on their letterhead, stating address).
- Social Security number.
Government Numbers to Know
| Chatham County Courthouse | 912.652.7850 |
| Chatham County Department of Family and Children Services | 912.651.2216 |
| Chatham County Health Department | 912.356.2441 |
| Chatham County Tax Assessor | 912.652.7271 |
| Georgia Department of Revenue | 912.356.2140 |
Hunting and Fishing Licenses
Wildlife Resources Division
912.727.2111
Legal
State Bar of Georgia
404.527.8700
Library
Live Oak Public Libraries
Main Branch: 2002 Bull St., 31401
www.liveoakpl.org
912.652.3600
There are 14 branches throughout Chatham County, and library cards are free to residents.
Georgia Historical Society
501 Whitaker St.
www.georgiahistory.com
912.651.2125
Extensive collection of historical documents, photographs and books.
| Media | |
| Bryan County News (twice weekly) | 756.2668 |
| Business in Savannah – BiS (weekly) | 236.9511 |
| Cash Magazine (bi-monthly) | 238.9444 |
| Coastal Senior (monthly) | 652.0487 |
| Connect Savannah (weekly) | 231.0250 |
| Savannah magazine (bi-monthly) | 652.0293 |
| Savannah Morning News (daily) | 236.9511 |
| Savannah PennySaver (weekly) | 231.0250 |
| Savannah Tribune (weekly) | 233.6128 |
| South Magazine (bi-monthly) | 236.5501 |
| The Herald (weekly) | 232.4505 |
| Television | |
| WSAV (3) NBC | 651.0300 |
| WVAN (9) PBS | 800.222.6006 |
| WTOC (11) CBS | 234.1111 |
| WGSA (13) CW | 692.8000 |
| WJCL (22) ABC, FOX 28 | 925.0022 |
| Radio | |
| Adventure Radio Group | 351.9830 |
| WLOW (Familiar Favorites) | 107.9 FM |
| WFXH (Rock) | 106.1 FM |
| WGCO (Oldies) | 98.3 FM |
| WGZR (Country) | 106.9 FM |
| WFXH (Sports) | 1130 AM |
| WGZO (Classic Hits) | 103.1 FM |
| Clear Channel Communications | 964.7794 |
| WQBT (Hip Hop and R&B) | 94.1 FM |
| WAEV (Top 40) | 97.3 FM |
| WYKZ (Adult Contemporary) | 98.7 FM |
| WLVH (R&B and Old School) | 101.1 FM |
| WSOK (Gospel) | 1230 AM |
| WTKS (News Talk Radio) | 1290 AM |
| Cumulus Broadcasting | 629.5000 |
| WEAS (Urban) | 93.1 FM |
| WIXV (Classic Rock) | 95.5 FM |
| WJCL (Country) | 96.5 FM |
| WZAT (Hot Adult Contemporary) | 102.1 FM |
| WBMQ (News Talk Radio) | 630 AM |
| WJLG (Sports Radio) | 900 AM |
| Georgia Public Broadcasting | 598.3300 |
| WSVH (Public Radio) | 91.1 FM |
| Thoroughbred Communications | 234.1053 |
| WRHQ (Quality Rock) | 105.3 FM |
Pets
Chatham County Animal Tags
| 1117 Eisenhower Drive, 31406 | 201-4300 |
| 295 Police Memorial Drive, 31405 | 644-4029 |
All cats and dogs must be registered with the Chatham County Animal Control Center. Vaccinations against rabies must be up to date. Tag fees are $5 for all animals that have been spayed or neutered; fees for all others are $35.
| Case Veterinary Hospital, P.C. | www.casevet.com | 352-3081 |
| Catnip ‘n’ Biscuits | www.catnipnbiscuits.com | 349-5838 |
| Crossroad Animal Hospital | www.crossroadah.com | 927-4343 |
| Dog Watch of the Low Country | www.dogwatch.com | 354-9004 |
Post Office
To reach the main branch and other branches, call 800-275-8777 or visit www.usps.com
| Main Branch | 2 N. Fahm Street, 31402 | 235-4666 |
| Bingville Station | 3601 Montgomery St., 31405 | 234-8935 |
| Eastside Station | 1900 E. Victory Dr., 31404 | 232-0914 |
| Oglethorpe Station | 1348 Eisenhower Dr., 31406 | 351-0640 |
| Port Wentworth | 300 Cantyre St., 31407 | 963-0106 |
| Garden City | 4431 Augusta Rd., 31408 | 964-4033 |
| Wilmington Island | 897-4225 | |
| Telfair Square | 117 W. State St., 31401 | 232-2952 |
| Tybee Island | 102 S. Campbell Ave., 31328 | 786-9632 |
| Southside Station | 10701 Abercorn Ext., 31419 | 925-9082 |
Recycling
| Chatham County Recycling | 652-6858 |
| Keep Savannah Beautiful | 651-6948 |
| Savannah Sanitation Bureau | 651-6579 |
Taxes
Savannah Area and Georgia Tax Summary
Compared to other states, Georgia enjoys modest tax rates. The state maintains low tax rates through a fiscally conservative government. A balanced budget is constitutionally mandated, and a pro-business climate nurtures strong economic growth. The state has not changed the maximum corporate income tax rate, which is 6 percent, since 1969.
Chatham County Sales Tax
Seven percent (4 percent state, 3 percent local option) on purchases of most goods and some services. The tax on food items is 5 percent.
Personal Income Tax
On net (after deductions) federal taxable income: $340 on the first $10,000, straight 6 percent of the balance (married filing jointly or single head of household).
Property Tax
Property taxes are assessed on 40 percent of the fair market value of the property. Applied to this amount are millage rates, which are levied by various governing authorities: Chatham County, the Board of Public Education county-wide, and some — but not all — municipalities. The Chatham Area Transit Authority levies a small tax in some service areas. Owner-occupied homes are eligible for homestead exemptions, and additional exemptions apply to certain categories of senior citizens.
Trash Pick-up
| Atlantic Waste Services | atlantic-waste.com | 964-2000 |
| Republic Waste Services of Savannah | republicservices.com | 964-2211 |
| Waste Management of Savannah | wm.com | 965-0047 |
| Waste Watchers of Savannah, LLC | wastewatchersllc.com | 964-7050 |
Utilities
Cable Television
Comcast, comcast.com 354-7531/800-266-2278
Electricity
Georgia Power, georgiapower.com 404-506-6526
Sonitrol of Savannah, sonitrol.com 232-6833
Gas
Atlanta Gas Light Company, atlantagaslight.com 239-6500
Georgia Natural Gas, southstarenergy.com 898-1987
Infinite Energy, Inc., infiniteEnergy.com 925-9329
K&M Utilities 927-6285
SCANA Energy, scanaenergy.com 478-743-1552
Southern LNG, Inc., elpaso.com 944-3800
Telephone
AT&T, att.com 888-757-6500/800-356-3094
Comcast, comcast.com 800-266-2278
Water/sewer service
City of Savannah 651-6460
Chatham Water Company 352-9339
Division II Contracting, LLC 330-8830
Water Purification
Kemira Water Solutions, 5kemira.com 234-860
Voter Registration Office
1117 Eisenhower Drive, Suite E, 31406 790-1520
You must be a U.S. citizen of at least 17 1/2 years of age to register and 18 years to vote, mentally sound and not currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction.
You must register at least 30 days before an election in which you wish to vote.
You may register at the Voters Registration Office, one of the Chatham County libraries, the Driver’s License Office and certain other government offices.
