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Chatham County, GA

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Chatham County, Georgia — Tax Sale & Surplus Procedure

Local operations layer. The legal framework (redeemable tax deed, 12-month redemption, 20%/10% premium, § 48-4-5 surplus waterfall, barment notice, statutes, case law) lives on the parent page → georgia. This page covers how Chatham County actually runs it. Legal information, not legal advice. Last verified: 2026-06-02.

C0. Identity

  • County seat: Savannah · Population: 289,430 (2020 Census) · FIPS: 13051
  • Recording unit: county
  • County seat location: Savannah, GA 31401
  • Selling authority: Chatham County Tax Commissioner (serves as levying officer; issues and enforces tax executions [fi. fa.]; conducts tax sales). The Chatham County Sheriff is not the primary sale officer for county tax executions but serves civil process. — https://tax.chathamcountyga.gov/TaxSaleList
  • Parent legal framework: georgia

C1. Local Tax Sale

  • Conducts own sale? Yes — the Tax Commissioner’s Office conducts public-outcry tax sales. Chatham holds two distinct sale types on the same day: a Judicial In Rem Sale (when held, under O.C.G.A. §§ 48-4-75 through 48-4-81) conducted first, followed by a standard Sheriff’s Tax Deed Sale (redeemable deed). — https://tax.chathamcountyga.gov/TaxSaleList

  • Platform / vendor: In-person auction with advance online registration at the Tax Commissioner’s website (tax.chathamcountyga.gov). Separately, Bid4Assets has hosted Chatham County Live Tax Redeemable Deed sales (e.g., auction #1120928 – 67 Redeemable Deeds; auction #1165065 – 146 Redeemable Deeds; “Savannah City (Chatham)” auctions #1146539, #1196763, #1207436, #1250621), confirming that Bid4Assets is an active supplemental or co-auction channel for some Chatham County and City of Savannah sales. Whether a specific upcoming sale is conducted on Bid4Assets or exclusively in-person should be verified against the sale listing page at tax.chathamcountyga.gov at the time of the sale. — https://tax.chathamcountyga.gov/TaxSaleList ; https://www.bid4assets.com/auction/index/1120928 (403 on direct fetch; confirmed via search)

  • Sale location (in-person): Savannah Civic Center, 301 W. Oglethorpe Avenue, Savannah, Georgia — second floor, Bryan Meeting Room. (Note: An older source referenced “Chatham County Courthouse Steps, 133 Montgomery Street” — current official county website identifies the Savannah Civic Center as the sale venue as of 2026.) — https://tax.chathamcountyga.gov/TaxSaleList

  • Calendar / frequency: First Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m., when scheduled. Not every month has a sale; the Tax Commissioner may cancel or skip months. Sales run 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Next confirmed sale: July 7, 2026. June 2026 has no sale scheduled. The Judicial In Rem Sale (when held) precedes the Sheriff’s Sale on the same day. At the Levy Officer’s discretion, properties receiving no minimum bid may be re-offered at 2:30 p.m. the same day. — https://tax.chathamcountyga.gov/TaxSaleList

  • Advertisement: Properties are advertised in the Savannah Morning News (the county’s legal organ) in the public notice section beginning four weeks before the sale. Sale lists are also available for download on the Tax Commissioner’s website. — https://tax.chathamcountyga.gov/TaxSaleList ; https://www.savannahga.gov/FAQ.aspx?QID=555

  • Registration / deposit:

  • Payment terms: Cashier’s check, money order, or cash only; due by 2:00 p.m. on the day of sale. A purchaser who refuses to pay is liable under O.C.G.A. § 9-13-170. — https://tax.chathamcountyga.gov/TaxSaleList

  • Opening bid: All applicable taxes, penalties, and costs (levy, advertising, commissions). — https://tax.chathamcountyga.gov/TaxSaleList

  • Delinquent list location: Tax sale lists and photo lists are downloadable from the Tax Commissioner’s website at https://tax.chathamcountyga.gov/TaxSaleList. A PDF list is also available at https://cccdn.blob.core.windows.net/cdn/Files/TaxCom/Tax%20Sale%20List.pdf (updated before each sale).

  • Caveat emptor / title: The Levy Officer does not warrant title. “Buyer beware” applies; purchasers are charged with knowledge of all title defects. — https://tax.chathamcountyga.gov/TaxSaleList

C2. Local Redemption → framework: right-of-redemption

  • Where/how to redeem:

    • Sheriff’s Tax Deed (redeemable deed) sales: The former owner or any party with a recorded interest tenders the full redemption amount directly to the tax-sale purchaser (not to the Tax Commissioner’s office). Redemption amount = purchase price + 20% premium (first year or fraction) + 10% per year thereafter + any subsequent taxes paid by purchaser + applicable barment-notice costs. After payment, the reconveyance is recorded with the Clerk of Superior Court. See georgia for the full statutory formula (O.C.G.A. § 48-4-42). The 12-month minimum redemption window runs from sale date; it stays open until a valid § 48-4-45 barment notice is served and the notice period expires.
    • Judicial In Rem sales: Redemption is limited to 60 days from the sale date (O.C.G.A. § 48-4-80); after that, the purchaser holds absolute title. Tender is made to the Tax Commissioner before the sale for pre-sale redemption under § 48-4-81. — https://gandglegal.com/judicial-in-rem-tax-sales/

  • Local redemption contact / office: Chatham County Tax Commissioner 222 W Oglethorpe Ave #107, Savannah, GA 31401 Phone: (912) 652-7100 | Email: tax@chathamcounty.org — https://tax.chathamcountyga.gov/

  • Deviations from state default: None identified for the redeemable-deed path. The judicial in rem path (when Chatham uses it) offers a shorter 60-day redemption and vests absolute title at sale — a material deviation from the standard 12-month/barment path.

C3. Local Surplus / Excess Proceeds → framework: surplus-funds

OPERATIONS NOTE. Chatham County excess funds are held by the Tax Commissioner’s Office and disbursed upon approved claims filed directly with that office. Disputed claims may be transferred to Chatham County Superior Court (interpleader). The office does not recognize representation by asset recovery firms or Power of Attorney; only the claimant directly or their licensed attorney may file.

▸ For Investors / Operators — Chatham County runs two distinct sale types on the same day at the Savannah Civic Center: a Judicial In Rem sale first (absolute title at sale, 60-day redemption, no barment notice needed) and a Sheriff’s Tax Deed (redeemable deed) sale second (12-month redemption minimum, barment required to foreclose, quiet title required for insurable title). Bidders must confirm which sale type applies to each parcel before bidding. Some Chatham County and City of Savannah sales also appear on Bid4Assets — verify the channel before each cycle. Payment is due by 2:00 PM on sale day in cash, cashier’s check, or money order; certified funds must be tendered at the Tax Commissioner’s office (222 W Oglethorpe Ave #107). See georgia §§5b, 7b for title-ripening and lien-survival details.

▸ For Former Owners — Excess funds from Chatham County tax sales are held by the Tax Commissioner’s Office (PO Box 8092, Savannah, GA 31412; excessfunds@chathamcounty.org; (912) 652-7100). Submit an Excess Funds Request Form (available at tax.chathamcountyga.gov/ExcessFunds) by mail or email; only the claimant directly or a licensed attorney may file — the office does not recognize asset-recovery firms or Power of Attorney representatives. Review takes 3–4 weeks; approved claimants receive a notarized Release Form before a check is issued. After 5 years from the sale date, unclaimed funds transfer to the Georgia Department of Revenue.

C4. Offices & Contacts

OfficeNameAddressPhoneURL
Tax Commissioner (levying officer; excess-funds venue)Sonya L. Jackson, Tax Commissioner222 W Oglethorpe Ave #107, Savannah, GA 31401 · PO Box 8092, Savannah GA 31412 (excess funds mail)(912) 652-7100 · (912) 652-7391 · tax@chathamcounty.orghttps://tax.chathamcountyga.gov/
Clerk of Superior Court (deeds, quiet title, interpleaders)Clerk of Superior Court (name needs_verification)400 W. Oglethorpe Ave Suite 178, Savannah, GA 31401 · Real Estate Recording Division: 133 Montgomery Street, 3rd Floor, Room 304(912) 434-8920 · supctclk@chathamcourt.org · RE Manager Robin Osborne: (912) 434-8971https://superiorcourtclerk.chathamcountyga.gov/
Board of Assessors (property valuation, parcel data)Corey Gillenwater, Interim Chief AppraiserPete Liakakis Govt Bldg, 222 W Oglethorpe Ave Suite #113, Savannah, GA 31401(912) 652-7271 · (912) 652-7301 · boa@chathamcounty.orghttps://boa.chathamcountyga.gov/
Sheriff (civil process; not the primary tax-sale officer)Chatham County Sheriff’s Office1050 Carl Griffin Dr, Savannah, GA 31405(912) 652-7634 · (912) 652-7660https://sheriff.chathamcountyga.gov/
Land Bank AuthorityAlison Goldey, Land Bank Director6600 Abercorn Street Suite 100, Savannah, GA 31405(912) 652-3846 · agoldey@savannahga.govhttps://www.savannahga.gov/485/Land-Bank-Authority
City of Savannah Property Tax (separate municipal tax sale)City Property Tax Dept305 Fahm Street, Savannah, GA 31401—https://www.savannahga.gov/2733/Tax-Sales

Note on Recorder / Register of Deeds: Georgia has no separate Register of Deeds. Real property deeds are recorded with the Clerk of Superior Court, Real Estate Recording Division, at 133 Montgomery Street, 3rd Floor, Room 304, Savannah. GSCCCA statewide index at https://www.gsccca.org/. As of January 1, 2025, House Bill 1292 requires all real estate documents in Georgia to be electronically e-filed through GSCCCA.

C5. Local Procedure Notes

  • Two sale types on the same day: Chatham County runs the Judicial In Rem Sale first (when held), then the Sheriff’s Tax Deed (redeemable deed) sale. This is notable — the JIR sale vests absolute title immediately (O.C.G.A. §§ 48-4-75–48-4-81); the Sheriff’s Deed sale conveys defeasible title requiring barment or prescription to become absolute. Bidders must know which sale type applies to the parcel they are bidding on. — https://tax.chathamcountyga.gov/TaxSaleList

  • Judicial In Rem path (absolute title): When Chatham uses the JIR process, the county files a superior-court petition against the property and all interested parties (OCGA § 48-4-76). After the court orders the sale and advertising runs, the purchaser receives absolute title at the sale with a 60-day (not 12-month) redemption window. No barment notice is needed; quiet title action is likely not required for the JIR deed itself. Excess funds from JIR sales follow the same § 48-4-5 waterfall. — https://gandglegal.com/judicial-in-rem-tax-sales/ ; O.C.G.A. § 48-4-80

  • Bid4Assets co-channel: Multiple Chatham County and City of Savannah (Chatham) tax sales have appeared on Bid4Assets, including very recent ones. Whether a given month’s sale is conducted through Bid4Assets or only in-person at the Civic Center requires checking both the county website and Bid4Assets before each sale. — search-verified via multiple Bid4Assets auction listings

  • Re-offer at 2:30 p.m.: Properties that receive no minimum bid may be re-offered the same day at 2:30 p.m. at the Levy Officer’s discretion. — https://tax.chathamcountyga.gov/TaxSaleList

  • City of Savannah holds separate tax sales: The City of Savannah (a separate municipal entity within Chatham County) also conducts its own tax sales approximately 6 times per year, held at 2:00 p.m. at the City Property Tax Department (305 Fahm Street). Registration closes at 11:00 a.m. — separate from the county Tax Commissioner’s sales. — https://www.savannahga.gov/2733/Tax-Sales

  • No POA / no asset-recovery firm claims: The Tax Commissioner’s excess-funds office does not recognize Power of Attorney or asset-recovery firm representation. Only direct claimants or licensed attorneys may submit. — https://tax.chathamcountyga.gov/ExcessFunds

  • GSCCCA e-filing (HB 1292, effective January 1, 2025): All deed recordings must now go through eFiling at GSCCCA (https://efile.gsccca.org/). This affects recording of barment notices, deeds from tax sales, and any quiet-title orders. — search-verified

C6. Records Access

C8. Title & Quiet Title

  • Title type: Redeemable tax deed (Sheriff’s Tax Deed path) — defeasible title, subject to the 12-month (plus) statutory right of redemption. Title becomes absolute only after the right of redemption is barred (O.C.G.A. § 48-4-45/46) or title ripens by prescription (§ 48-4-48). Judicial In Rem deed — absolute title at sale; no redemption barment required. See georgia Module 7 for full title-ripening details.

  • Quiet title action (Sheriff’s Deed path):

    • Required? Practically yes for insurable/marketable title after barment; technically optional (title also ripens by prescription at 4 years from recordation, conditioned on adverse possession — O.C.G.A. § 48-4-48), but quiet title is the reliable path for title insurance. — https://kimandbagwell.com/recipe-for-regret-why-you-shouldnt-let-your-georgia-tax-deed-ripen-by-prescription/
    • Type: Judicial — filed as a civil action in Chatham County Superior Court.
    • Court: Chatham County Superior Court, 400 W. Oglethorpe Ave Suite 178, Savannah, GA 31401; Real Estate Recording Division for deed recording: 133 Montgomery Street, 3rd Floor, Room 304. Civil filing fee: $218.00 (general civil; effective July 1, 2024 +$4.00 increase). — https://superiorcourtclerk.chathamcountyga.gov/Superior/CivilIntakeFees
    • Special master: Georgia quiet-title actions (O.C.G.A. § 23-3-60 et seq.) require a court-appointed special master (a private Georgia-licensed attorney residing in-county with real-estate experience). Special master fees typically ~$2,500 (statewide estimate; Chatham-specific amount needs_verification).
    • Typical timeline: Uncontested: 6–12 months from filing to final judgment. Contested: 12–18 months. — search-verified via Georgia quiet-title practice sources
    • Typical cost range (estimate): $5,000–$8,000 total (attorney fees + $218 filing + special master$2,500 + service/publication costs); varies considerably with complexity and whether contested. needs_verification for current Chatham-specific attorney market rates.

  • Quiet title (Judicial In Rem deed path): Not required — the JIR sale vests absolute title at the sale. — O.C.G.A. §§ 48-4-80, 48-4-81

  • Deed seasoning notes: Title insurance companies typically will not insure a Sheriff’s Tax Deed until redemption is barred and (in practice) a quiet title judgment is obtained. Tax Title Services markets a 30–40-day alternative certification process accepted by some Georgia title companies in lieu of quiet title. — https://www.taxtitleservices.com/quiet-title-action-georgia

  • Title insurers active locally: needs_verification — major national underwriters (Stewart Title, Old Republic National, Fidelity National) maintain agents in the Savannah market but their specific posture on Chatham County tax deeds requires direct inquiry. Tax Title Services is an active Georgia-statewide alternative. No Chatham-specific insurer list was retrieved from primary sources.

C9. Purchaser Obligations

  • Subsequent tax payment office: Post-sale property taxes (subsequent taxes) must be paid to the Chatham County Tax Commissioner’s Office: 222 W Oglethorpe Ave #107, Savannah, GA 31401 (or any satellite office) Online at https://www.chathamtax.org/ Phone: (912) 652-7100 Subsequent taxes paid by the purchaser are added to the redemption price recoverable from a redeemer (O.C.G.A. § 48-4-42). — https://tax.chathamcountyga.gov/ ; georgia Module 1

  • Notice to owner procedure (barment / foreclosure of right to redeem): After the 12-month minimum from the sale date (Sheriff’s Tax Deed path only), the purchaser may serve a § 48-4-45 barment notice to foreclose the right of redemption. The notice must be served on:

    • The defendant in fi. fa. (former owner) — personal service in-county; certified/registered mail or statutory overnight for out-of-county persons
    • Any recorded holder of a security deed, lien, or interest — same service methods
    • Publication once a week for 4 consecutive weeks in the Savannah Morning News (Chatham’s legal organ) in the 6-month period before the redemption-deadline date The barment notice is then filed and recorded with the Clerk of Superior Court (133 Montgomery Street, Room 304, or via GSCCCA e-filing). — O.C.G.A. § 48-4-45 ; georgia Module 5

  • Redemption payment office (where owner goes): The former owner or other redeemer tenders directly to the tax-sale purchaser (the deed holder), not to the Tax Commissioner. If the purchaser cannot be located, the redeemer should contact the Tax Commissioner’s Office for guidance: 222 W Oglethorpe Ave #107, Savannah, GA 31401 · (912) 652-7100 · tax@chathamcounty.org — https://tax.chathamcountyga.gov/ExcessFunds ; georgia Module 2

  • Occupancy / access during redemption period: During the 12-month redemption window (Sheriff’s Deed path), the former owner retains a right of redemption; the purchaser holds defeasible title. In practice, many Georgia tax-deed purchasers do not occupy or improve the property during the redemption period to avoid constructive acknowledgment of the owner’s redemption right. Local practice in Chatham County is needs_verification — the Tax Commissioner’s published materials do not address occupancy.

C10. Local Restrictions

  • Land bank active: Yes — the Chatham-Savannah Land Bank Authority is an active intergovernmental entity (City of Savannah + Chatham County) organized under O.C.G.A. § 48-4-60 et seq. Mission: acquire vacant, abandoned, blighted, and tax-delinquent properties to return them to productive use. Focuses on affordable housing, blight reduction, and urban revitalization. — https://www.savannahga.gov/485/Land-Bank-Authority

  • Land bank director: Alison Goldey · 6600 Abercorn Street Suite 100, Savannah, GA 31405 · (912) 652-3846 · agoldey@savannahga.gov — https://www.savannahga.gov/485/Land-Bank-Authority

  • Right of first refusal (ROFR) active? needs_verification — Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 48-4-64 et seq.) empowers land banks to acquire tax-delinquent properties; Georgia has also had legislative proposals (e.g., HB 2052 in other states, O.C.G.A. land-bank article) regarding land-bank ROFR for tax-delinquent parcels. Whether the Chatham-Savannah Land Bank Authority currently exercises a statutory or contractual right of first refusal at Chatham County tax sales was not confirmed from a retrieved primary source. Bidders for tax-delinquent parcels in Chatham County should verify with the Tax Commissioner and the Land Bank Authority before the sale. — https://www.savannahga.gov/485/Land-Bank-Authority ; search-verified secondary sources only

  • Entity / insider restrictions: Georgia does not have a statewide entity-purchaser or insider restriction statute for tax sales (any person or entity may bid). No Chatham County ordinance imposing additional restrictions was identified. — needs_verification for any local ordinance

  • Municipal right of first refusal (City of Savannah): The City of Savannah conducts its own separate municipal tax sales; no city ROFR at the county Tax Commissioner’s sale was confirmed in retrieved sources. needs_verification.

C7. Meta

sources:

needs_verification:

  • Clerk of Superior Court current name (the individual clerk; “supctclk@chathamcourt.org” confirmed but clerk’s name not retrieved from primary source).
  • Whether the Chatham-Savannah Land Bank Authority currently exercises a statutory or contractual right of first refusal at county tax sales — O.C.G.A. § 48-4-64 permits it but county-specific practice was not confirmed from a retrieved primary source.
  • Occupancy / possession practice during the 12-month redemption period — local custom in Chatham County not confirmed from primary sources.
  • Pre-sale deposit amount (if any) for in-person bidders — official website states pay by 2:00 p.m. but does not specify whether any pre-sale deposit is required at registration.
  • Title insurance underwriters active in Chatham County specifically for tax-deed/quiet-title policies — no primary source retrieved confirming which national underwriters (Stewart, Old Republic, Fidelity, First American) insure in this market.
  • Quiet title special master cost for Chatham County Superior Court specifically — $2,500 figure is a statewide estimate; county-specific amount not retrieved.
  • Entity / insider restriction ordinance at the Chatham County level — no ordinance restricting entity bidders identified; absence not positively confirmed from county code.
  • Whether Chatham currently runs sales through Bid4Assets as the primary channel or whether Bid4Assets is supplemental to in-person — Bid4Assets listings confirmed via search; channel relationship not confirmed from county official page.
  • Whether the City of Savannah ROFR (if any) operates at county tax sales or only at municipal sales.

cross_links: georgia, surplus-funds, right-of-redemption, third-party-recovery-rules, tyler-v-hennepin-county, due-process-notice, bankruptcy-automatic-stay, federal-tax-lien-redemption, ripening-by-prescription, hoa-super-priority

changelog:

  • 2026-06-02: Initial page created. Sources retrieved: tax.chathamcountyga.gov (tax sales, excess funds, resources), superiorcourtclerk.chathamcountyga.gov (real estate, civil fees, FAQs), sheriff.chathamcountyga.gov (contact), boa.chathamcountyga.gov (assessors contact), savannahga.gov (land bank, city tax sales, SAGIS), dor.georgia.gov (county tax facts), gandglegal.com (JIR sales), savannahtribune.com (online registration), Bid4Assets confirmed via search. Two distinct sale types (JIR + Sheriff’s Deed) documented. No POA/asset-recovery firm policy confirmed for excess funds.

▸ For Investors / Operators — Chatham County runs two distinct sale types on the same day at the Savannah Civic Center: a Judicial In Rem sale first (absolute title at sale, 60-day redemption, no barment notice needed) and a Sheriff’s Tax Deed (redeemable deed) sale second (12-month redemption minimum, barment required to foreclose, quiet title required for insurable title). Bidders must confirm which sale type applies to each parcel before bidding. Some Chatham County and City of Savannah sales also appear on Bid4Assets — verify the channel before each cycle. Payment is due by 2:00 PM on sale day in cash, cashier’s check, or money order; certified funds must be tendered at the Tax Commissioner’s office (222 W Oglethorpe Ave #107). See georgia §§5b, 7b for title-ripening and lien-survival details.

▸ For Former Owners — Excess funds from Chatham County tax sales are held by the Tax Commissioner’s Office (PO Box 8092, Savannah, GA 31412; excessfunds@chathamcounty.org; (912) 652-7100). Submit an Excess Funds Request Form (available at tax.chathamcountyga.gov/ExcessFunds) by mail or email; only the claimant directly or a licensed attorney may file — the office does not recognize asset-recovery firms or Power of Attorney representatives. Review takes 3–4 weeks; approved claimants receive a notarized Release Form before a check is issued. After 5 years from the sale date, unclaimed funds transfer to the Georgia Department of Revenue.

Disclaimer: This page contains legal information, not legal advice. Laws, procedures, deadlines, office names, and contact details change. Verify every fact against the cited primary sources before acting. Nothing on this page creates an attorney-client relationship. If you have legal questions about a specific property, consult a licensed Georgia attorney. Last verified: 2026-06-02.

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