The Bay County Board of County Commissioners, the Bay County Clerk of the Court, and the Bay County judiciary will host a grand opening ceremony for the new South Wing addition and recently completed renovations to the historic Bay County Courthouse at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 20, at the courthouse complex located at 300 E. 4th St., Panama City. The public is invited to attend the celebration, which will include a ceremony, refreshments, and tours of the upgraded facilities.
The $12.9 million, 29,000-square-foot South Wing addition features office space for the 14th Judicial Circuit judges and staff as well as two large courtrooms and one smaller courtroom. Construction began in July 2022 and was completed in October 2024.
“This project is a testament to our commitment to preserving Bay County’s history while meeting the needs of a growing community,” said Bay County Commissioner Robert Carroll, who served on the project’s construction committee. “The updated courthouse and new South Wing addition will provide more modern, efficient spaces for court operations and public service and makes for a one-stop-shop for the county’s court-related activities.”
Renovations to the historic courthouse—originally constructed in 1914—began in early 2024 and concluded in May 2025. The project modernized approximately 60,000 square feet of interior space and included a complete reconfiguration of the first and second floors to enhance operational efficiency and improve the working environment for staff.
“This is the first major renovation of the historic courthouse undertaken since the 1970s, so we are very excited about the improvements,” Bay County Clerk of the Court Bill Kinsaul said. “Our employees now have more up-to-date work spaces and amenities like a new break room and lactation room for working mothers.”