Frequently Asked Questions

Register for a portal account via this link: https://portal.baycountyfl.gov/ This account will permit you to apply for a verification letter, new address, or change of address.

Please select "Start an addressing application" and, if you do not have an account, click on "Register". 

Note: All correspondence will happen through this portal. If you have any questions, please call our office at 850-248-8071.

Register for a portal account via this link: https://portal.baycountyfl.gov/ This account will permit you to apply for a verification letter, new address, or change of address.

Please select "Start an addressing application" and, if you do not have an account, click on "Register". The application process takes approximately 5-7 business days. There is a $55 fee for each new address.

Note: All correspondence will happen through this portal. If you have any questions, please call our office at 850-248-8071.

Application for Address Numbering 

Property deed, parcel identification number and land use/zoning approval. For large parcels or parcels for which a second dwelling will be added, a site plan will be required.

It costs $55 for each new address. For new subdivision developments only, call the Address Numbering Section at 850-248-8071 for fee details.

Call the Bay County Planning and Zoning Department at 850-248-8250 for land use and zoning. If your property is in the city limits of Callaway (phone: 850-871-6000), Parker (phone: 850-871-4104), or Springfield (phone: 850-872-7570), please call that city’s Planning and Zoning Department for approval.

Please feel free to visit Bay County Animal Control at 6401 Bayline Dr. Panama City, Fl. Or contact us at (850)-767-3333 or by visiting our website at Bay County Animal Control.

If your pet has decided to go on an adventure without you please contact Bay County Animal Control at (850)-767-3333 to see if your pet has been located by one of our officers or to submit a lost report.

For any information regarding the adoption process and the fees involved please visit our page Adopting a Lifelong Friend.

Bay County Animal Control has traps available for use for a refundable deposit of $35.00. The deposit will be returned to you upon Bay County Animal Control receiving the trap. Please be aware that there are some things to keep in mind when using a cat trap:

• We find most of our clients have success when the trap is set at night.
• Bay County Animal Control will service traps once a day.
• For the safety of the animals and all people involved, only one animal should be in a trap at a time.
• Bay County Animal Control will not service a trap with more than one animal in it.
• You are free to bring the trap and animal to Bay County Animal Control to be serviced.

If the animal is a stray or you are unaware of where the dog lives, you can contact Bay County Animal Control at (850)-767-3333 and an officer may be dispatched out to your address to patrol for the animal and locate it. If the dog is owned, and you are aware of the owner's location please visit our page here for further help and steps that can be taken.

Bay County Ordinance does not allow for owned, feral, "community" or otherwise stray cats to roam freely in the county. While Bay County Animal Control does not actively seek out feral cats to trap and remove from properties, traps are available for use at our shelter. Please keep in mind that trapping stray cats is a legal option for the removal of unwanted animals and Bay County Animal Control will assist with servicing traps throughout the county. Cats that are located or trapped off property will be impounded and transported to Bay County Animal Control, and any owners of the impounded cat may receive a citation in accordance with county ordinance 4-43: Prohibition against animals-at-large and animals in beaches and parks.

Concerns About wildlife are best addressed by calling the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission or by visiting their website. However if you find yourself in any unsafe situation concerning wildlife, i.e. a snake, raccoon or opossum inside your home, please contact Bay County Animal Control at (850)-767-3333.

There is no ordinance within Bay County's municipal code that dictates how many animals an individual is allowed to have on property. However, if you live within city limits you may wish to contact your city's local Code Enforcement as your city may have an ordinance in place.

Concerns about alligators or other dangerous wildlife are best addressed by calling the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission or by visiting their website.

Bay County Animal Control will microchip your pet for a fee of $15.00. All pets that are adopted from Bay County Animal Control receive a microchip before leaving the facility.

Please be aware that a microchip is not a GPS location device but rather an identification tag, much like a name tag on a collar. Please be sure to contact the manufacturer with your updated owner information.

Generally if it is a copy of a specific activity you are searching for, if the report for the activity is under twenty (20) pages there will be no fee charged to the requesting party. However large cases where multiple activities or an extensive history is involved, a fee of $0.15 per page may be charged. It is recommended you contact the Bay County Animal Control at (850)-767-3333 for the specific activity that you are requesting.

The Eighth Edition FBC Code Requirements for inspections can be found here.

All permit related documents must be submitted through the Bay County on-line permitting system, also known as the Portal. This includes responses to plan review comments, third-party inspection results performed by a Registered Design Professional (Professional Engineer / Registered Architect) or Private Provider. The Portal can be found HERE. 

The Florida Building Code Section 105.1 – Required stipulates that “ Any owner or owner’s authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any impact-resistant coverings, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be performed, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit. We simply recommend that if you have a specific question concerning the applicability of the FBC, just call us – we’ll be happy to discuss your project and give good advice! 

No, however, additional information or clarifications are required. All that is required of the applicant is to simply upload the requested document revisions or missing information to the same building permit application through the Portal. Uploads can be performed under the “upload documents” option found under the permit, which is located under “my items” and “my permit applications”. 

The phrase “minimal plan review” simply means the Scope of Work associated with the building permit is very limited in nature and a lengthy or detailed review is not required by the Florida Building Code. As such, work to be performed on existing buildings that are rather simple, such as re-roofing, water heater replacements, HVAC replacements, and the like qualify as a minimum plan review project which will be reviewed and processed within three (3) business days. Contact us at (850) 248-8350 if you have questions concerning a small project that might qualify for minimum plan review. 

Registered users can visit the Portal Homepage and once logged in, select "permit search" under the Building Department category on the main page.  This functionality is not available unless a user account has been established.

When the final inspection is scheduled and once our inspectors log a passing result, our team of Permit Technicians will be automatically notified that the Certificate of Occupancy is ready to be issued. Once the Permit Technicians verify all required project close out documentation is on file, the CO will been issued. Permit holders can visit the portal homepage and select “My Items” and then “My Permit Applications” where a list of permit numbers will populate along the left of the page. Next, select the desired permit number to open a page displaying the permit status and all related documentation. The Certificate of Occupancy can be found under the section “Documents & Images” once it has been made available. 

Select the “My Items” button at the top of the webpage, near where you signed into your account. Open the section labelled “My Permit Applications” and find the permit on the list. This list will have a brief status and information on each permit, and allows you to edit permits using the various available options. From here, you can select the permit number on the left to open a page displaying the permit status and all related documentation. If anything looks inaccurate or you have further questions, we encourage you to call the Building Safety Division at (850) 248-8350. 

Visit the portal homepage or any of the Building Safety Division pages, and you should see an option for “Building Forms” along the left side of the screen. This page is a resource for all Building Safety Division forms and information. If you should need assistance, please call us at (850) 248-8350, we’d be happy to help you. 

New contractor registrations must be done in person at the Building Safety Division office. Please contact us at 850-248-8350 to schedule an appointment to talk with one of our License and Trades Investigators. 

The first thing to check is to make sure you are on the correct webpage, Bay County Web Portal. From the correct webpage, users will then select the “sign in” which will open the next step in the process and there you’ll find a “Forgot your password?” toward the bottom of the page. By selecting the forgot your password button, a screen will appear where you’ll enter the email address on record of the user account which will trigger an email to be sent to the email address on record. By following the instructions within that email message, a user will be able to create a new password and then log in using the newly updated password. 

Yes, you can. However, all county permit applications are now processed through the cloud-based online Portal which can be found HERE. If you do decide to pay us a visit in person, our staff will be happy to walk you through the Portal user registration and application process in person and you will be able to access the permit afterwards through your portal login. 

You can use the Bay County Property Appraiser’s website to perform a Property Search Selecting Here. After typing in your address or parcel number, you will see Parcel Summary page. The unincorporated areas of Bay County will be labelled as Fire County Mosquito District 55 or District 56. Other tax district numbers indicates the property is located within the jurisdictional boundary of an incorporated city and you will need to contact the appropriate government body for permitting. 

Contractor complaints can be filed with DBPR by following this LINK.

Contractor complaints can be filed with DBPR by following this LINK.

While you can find the product approval information on the manufacture’s websites / stores they are sold in. You may also search the information on this link: PRODUCT APPROVAL INFORMATION 

While we cannot recommend a specific contractor, licensed contractors are regulated by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and are searchable at MY FLORIDA LICENSE. 

The 2023 Florida Building Code, Eighth Edition can be viewed HERE. 

The Planning and Zoning Division is responsible for administering the Bay County Land Development Regulations which includes provisions for the establishment and enforcement of zoning requirements and set-back dimensions required in the unincorporated areas of Bay County. You can find most information on the P&Z website or you may contact our Planning and Zoning Department at 850-248-8250. 

The cost of the building permit fee, like the cost of a project, will depend upon the size and scope of the project. The intended use, size, and type of construction of the building are the biggest factors. A building permit for a typical 2,500 square foot site-built, single family dwelling, including state surcharges and plan review fees would be roughly $1,600 excluding any additional Bay County impact fees that may apply. More detailed information concerning permit fees can be found HERE. 

Building permits are valid for 180-days. In order to remain valid, a passing inspection result is required which resets the 180-day clock. In the event construction stalls or if no passing inspection results are recorded the permit will automatically expire and a new permit will need to be obtained. 

All building permit applications are required to be submitted online through the Bay County Portal which can be found HERE. 

The Bay County on-line permitting system, also known as the Portal, can be found HERE. Once the Portal web page is open, select the red “Sign In” button, scroll to the bottom of the page and select the red “Register” button to create a new account. Note that this registration process is open to everyone; however, Contractor user accounts must be registered using the email address on record with the Building Safety Division in order to properly link the Contractor license to the user account. 

Sign into your user account on the Portal, select the red “My Items” button followed by the red “My Permit Applications”. All permit applications and active building permits that are linked to your user account will populate in that area. 

Building permits are also searchable by permit number or street address by simultaneously pressing “ctrl F” and entering the known permit number or known street address in the search box. 

Visit the portal homepage and select “Estimate Fees” towards the top of the page under the heading Building Department. Similar to the permit application process, you will be asked to select the application type, enter details of the work description, and select work items. A fee estimate summary will be generated based on the information you provide. Note that this is an estimating tool only and final fees may vary. 

Notifications of a fee due will be sent from Bay County to the email address of the registered user. Once a user receives an invoice, the user will simply log into their Portal account and navigate their way to “my items” and then “my permit applications”. Once the desired invoice is located, the user will find and select “add fees to cart”. Once all desired fees are added to the shopping cart, users can then select “my shopping cart” to review all items in the cart and make the payment. Note that a user should avoid paying fees online prior to receiving an actual emailed invoice from Bay County. 

There are a couple of reasons fees might be removed from a user’s shopping cart. For instance, if by chance a user makes an error entering the credit card information, or if the user waited too long to complete the transaction, the fees are placed into a hold that is designed to prevent double payments. Regardless, fees will be released after 24-hours for the user to add them back into the shopping cart. Or, a user can simply contact the Building Safety Division to request assistance. 

Once payments are made, a notification is sent to Bay County staff to verify all payments have been successful and no other information is required. Once confirmed, the permit will be issued via email. 

Inspection requests are submitted by telephone or through the user’s portal account. A user can locate their permits “my items” and then “my permit applications”. Once there, select “Request Inspection”. A menu of inspection options will be available to select the appropriate inspection required to include an option to select the most desirable date to inspect. At this point, especially with the first inspection request, user’s should be certain to confirm the contact name and cell phone number of the person on-site or any necessary access door or gate codes required for Bay County staff to access the property. 

This is usually due to the inspection you are requesting not being in the correct order. For instance, a user may have accidently requested a plumbing final in advance in advance of the plumbing rough-in receiving a passing result. Additionally, there could possibly be an inspection required before the one you are schedule that may be “not applicable”. Regardless, if this should happen and the user isn’t finding success correcting the issue, please call Bay County at 850-248-8360. We’ll be happy to help resolve the matter for you and get that inspection scheduled. 

This is typically because a required document has not been attached to the application. User’s should be careful to ensure each document required is uploaded and attached to the application to be submitted. 

A completed Change of Contractor form must be provided to amend the building permit top reflect this change. Users can do that through the Portal user account. Staff will be automatically notified of the uploaded document and the change will become visible in a day or two. The new contractor will be listed under the project contacts once the substitute contractor required licensing and insurance certificate have been verified by BSD staff. 

Applications noted as pending are making their way through the mandatory review process stipulated by State Statute, the Florida Building Code, or local Land Development Regulations. Portal application are automatically assigned to the appropriate Bay County staff for a thorough review of all associated documents for accuracy and completeness. Should additional information be required, staff will contact the user in order to successfully resolve those outstanding issues. 

The Bay County online permitting process has been streamlined and modernized to eliminate unnecessary steps in the process thereby saving everyone involved both time and money. The current process begins with a single building permit application that includes 100-percent of the project Scope of Work required. This sole application automatically triggers a parallel process whereby all the required reviews take place simultaneously in lieu of the old linear process that involved the passing of paperwork from office to office (series process). Any specialty work such as mechanical, electrical, plumbing, or roofing are permitted under the single primary permit application and do not require additional permitting. 

All applicable fees will all be calculated at the conclusion of the review process and subsequently paid with one payment from the convenience of your home or office. Sub-Contractors are no longer required to submit permit applications or make multiple trips to the Bay County office building. 

Each project requires a Notice of Commencement to be recorded and filed at the Bay County Courthouse in accordance with Florida Statute 713.13 which can be viewed in its entirety HERE. The recorded NOC is required to submitted to Bay County prior to scheduling the first building inspection and is not required to be included in the building permit application, however, it is recommended that the applicant submit this document as soon as possible in order to avoid unnecessary delays when attempting to schedule inspections. 

Yes. Florida Statute 489.103, which can be found HERE, contains provisions for a property owner to self-perform as the contractor under certain and specific circumstances. Owners must follow the user registration process as described elsewhere. Once the property owner is a registered user, they can apply for a building permit through the Portal. However, Statute requires the property owner to appear in person at the Building Safety Division to review and sign the Owner-Builder Affidavit in the presence of one of the Bay County Building Safety Division a Notary Public prior to the issuance of the Building Permit. This Notary Public service is offered at no cost to building permit applicants. 

The Building Safety Division is located at 840 W. 11^th Street, Panama City, Florida 32401. As is all other departments involved in the review and permitting of development activities to include Planning & Zoning, Engineering, GIS, Traffic, Public Works, and Code Enforcement. 

Building Permit application forms can be online HERE. Checklists showing the items required to be submitted for a permit are available under our online forms. 

The Building Safety Division hours of operation, where we are open to public guests, are 8:00 am through until 4:00 pm and phones are answered until 5:00pm, Monday – Friday. 

Please refer to the document KNOW YOUR SCOPE by LICENSE TYPE for clarification on what type of work you can perform.

Yes, the information listed on the qualifier’s contractor license must match the information on the certificate of insurance INSURED section. (F.A.C. Rule 61G4-15.003)

No.  To use a workers’ compensation exemption, the information on the state contractor license must show the qualifying business name used for the exemption. (F.A.C. Rule 69L-6.012)

State law requires construction to be done by a licensed contractor. However, owners may apply for an owner-builder permit under an exemption from the law. The exemption specifies that, as the owner of the property, you may act as you own contractor with certain restrictions even though you do not have a license.

For assistance on applying for an owner-builder permit please contact the Permitting department at 850-248-8350.

View more information on the Regulation of Professions and Occupations Contracting’s Florida Statutes Title XXXII Chapter 489.103.

Florida law requires contractors to be licensed. Hiring an unlicensed contractor is a violation of Florida Statute 455.228 and is subject to a fine of up to $5,000.

While hiring an unlicensed contractor may provide a quick fix in the short term, it could result in many serious and lasting consequences, including further damage to your property. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) receives varying cases of alleged unlicensed construction activity including those alleging substandard work not up to building code, instances of homeowners paying for a job that is not completed as well as contractors abandoning the project.

By hiring a licensed contractor, you will have peace of mind knowing that the project will be done by someone who has taken the time to acquire the appropriate education and the proper workers’ compensation and general liability insurance and who possesses the necessary experience.

Any person who is not licensed and registered with the Construction Industry Licensing Board is working illegally. In addition, the State Attorney General's Office has stated that contracts made with an unlicensed contractor are not enforceable under law.

Another reason is the license provides some protection to the owner from being charged for work and materials not provided or paying twice for them (material suppliers and sub-contractors can place a lien on your home if they do not receive payment from your contractor). There are also trade licenses for those persons doing other work to provide some assurance that they have adequate knowledge and training in those fields.

First, is the person you are dealing with licensed? If you aren’t sure you can call Contractor Licensing at 850-248-8350 or the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation at 800-342-7940. 

DBPR Contractor Search - https://www.myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp?mode=0&SID

Learn about the registration and renewal fees on the Contractor Licensing page.

Yes. If exam and experience requirements are the same as Bay County. If you are interested in a reciprocal license, you will need to submit an application (PDF) for approval.

Your contractor’s license was not renewed by the expiration date. The status of your license before the expiration date was active. You may not practice with this license until the status has been updated.

Email renewal is preferred, however, renewal of your competency card may be done by mail.  Simply download and complete the Renewal form (PDF), attach a copy of last year’s competency card and current insurance information, include the appropriate payment as indicated on the form, and email to contractorlicensing@baycountyfl.gov or mail to: 840 W. 11th Street, Panama City, FL 32401

To register as a state-certified contractor in Bay County the applicant must provide the following:

• State license
• Proof of Workers' Compensation and liability insurance
• Driver’s license or government-issued ID
• A completed county Licensing application

A person applying to be a registered contractor in Bay County must provide the following:

• An Application for reciprocity
• A letter of reciprocity from the county where testing took place
• State license
• Proof of Workers' Compensation and liability insurance

No, Unincorporated Bay County does not have a "Local Business Tax Receipt," previously known as an "Occupational License."

However, it's essential to note that this does not apply to construction contractor licensing, which is mandated by the State of Florida under FSS, Chapter 489. The absence of an Occupational License in the county should not be confused with the requirement for construction contractor licensing.

Chapter 489, Part I, of the Florida Statutes and Chapter 61G4 of the Florida Administrative Code.

Yes, contractors are required to qualify a construction business with their individual license. (FS Chapter 489.119)

Yes, the name of the qualified business will be listed on the contractor’s license.

Yes, this information will be required upon registering with Bay County.

No. We only enforce codes in the unincorporated areas. Each municipality has their own Code Enforcement Department:

• Callaway: 850-871-6000
• Lynn Haven: 850-265-2961
• Mexico Beach: 850-648-5700
• Panama City Beach: 850-233-5100
• Panama City: 850-691-4593
• Parker: 850-871-2825
• Springfield: 850-872-7570

The Code Enforcement Division investigates unfit, unsafe and blighted structures, per Chapter 17 of the Bay County Code. 

The Builders Services Division is responsible for contractor licensing, plans review, issuing building permits and investigating work without permits, and performing inspections for compliance with the Florida Building Code.

Permits are only required to remove protected trees in the Urban or Suburban Service Area, and any Historic, Specimen, Champion, or Heritage trees. Permits are issued through Planning and Zoning. You can see the tree ordinance in the Bay County Land Development Regulations, Chapter 19, Section 1911. For more information, contact Planning and Zoning at 850-248-8250 or click here to fill out an application.

No. The Builders Services Division regulates contractors and contractor concerns.

No, but there are restrictions concerning fencing. You can see the fences and hedges ordinance in the Bay County Land Development Regulations, Chapter 13, Section 1305 (PDF).

Presently, Bay County does not have an occupational license. However, zoning regulates where businesses are allowed. You need to contact Planning and Zoning at 850-248-8250 for questions concerning zoning, or see the zoning guidelines by viewing the Bay County Land Development Regulations (PDF).

No. Signs are not allowed on the right-of-way. View other sign restrictions in the Bay County Land Development Regulations, Chapter 30 (PDF).

Visit the GIS map gallery to download Hurricane Preparedness maps.

Bay County uses public schools for hurricane shelters. Depending on the nature of the event and school construction / renovation, different schools may be used each year. Stay tuned to local media or call 850-784-4000 to find out which schools may be utilized in any given event.

Visit the GIS map gallery to download the Fire Districts and Population map.

Call 248-6040 if you live in Unincorporated Bay County and request one, or let your insurance company make the request. It is not required for you to leave your name and number, however if it makes it more convenient for you, we will call you when the report is ready.

If you aren’t sure about yard debris or land clearing, it is best to call your local Forestry Office. If you need a permit, they will supply you with one. The counties served are Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Walton, and Washington. For more information, contact:

• Chipola Forestry Center
  Florida Division of Forestry
  715 W 15 Street
  Panama City, FL 32401
  Phone: 850-872-4175
• Call 850-373-1801 for burn permits from the Florida Division of Forestry

It is illegal to burn household garbage including paper products, treated lumber, plastics, rubber materials, tires, pesticide, paint and aerosol containers. For more information visit the Division of Forestry Outdoor Burning and Forest Fire Laws webpage.

Only Florida approved fireworks are allowed, we encourage people to leave fireworks for professional displays.

Drainage swales are an environmentally sensitive means of providing roadside drainage that is promoted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) through the issuance of swale exemptions to General Stormwater Permit requirements. Nearly all subdivisions constructed during the last 10 years have used swales to convey runoff from the subdivision roads to retention basins and outfalls.

In addition to conveying stormwater, the intention of a swale is to provide stormwater treatment by allowing some portion of the runoff water to infiltrate into the ground versus completely running off to an outfall. The infiltration process cleans the runoff water and provides a natural recharge to the ground water. The FDEP swale requirements allow the stormwater 72 hours to infiltrate into the ground.

Frequent problems with drainage swales are that they are filled in by residential landscaping efforts or the flow line to an outfall is blocked by a driveway without a culvert. Another frequent problem is the high water table found in many areas of Bay County. The water table will not allow the stormwater to infiltrate into the ground and the swales stay "wet" all the time.

Standing water can be caused by a number of factors. First and probably foremost the yard should be graded such that there are no depressions and the water is directed toward an outfall. That outfall may be the roadside drainage system of swales, ditches and pipes or backyard drainage swales or ditches that eventually lead to an outfall. Frequently the flow of backyard drainage systems is blocked by privacy fences or other yard improvements. While roadside drainage systems are generally located on county property (road right-of-ways) which is maintained by the County, backyard drainage systems are not generally dedicated to the County and maintenance is the responsibility of individual property owners or a homeowners association.

Given the relatively flat terrain of Bay County and the frequently found high water tables, stormwater can be expected to stand for several days prior to it’s being absorbed into the ground. This is especially true during the rainy season when the ground is already highly saturated and the storage capacity provided by wetlands is already full.   

There may be a number of reasons for water standing in a ditch following a rainfall. First, the ditch may be blocked or obstructed so the stormwater runoff can not flow to an outfall point. Second, the ditch may be deeper than the flow line of the drainage structures (pipes and/or inlet boxes) and the remaining water will have to be absorbed into the ground. And finally, you may be located in an area with a high water table and the water in the ditch may be ground water which will not be absorbed. One means of checking this situation is to check the level of the water several days after the rainfall and determine whether the level is lowering over time. You can also check the level of the ground water by digging a hole on your property and determining the elevation of the water table of the adjoining land.

The Bay County Land Development Code regulates new developments within the county. Included in the provisions of the land development code are stormwater quality and quantity criteria. Stormwater quality refers to ensuring the quality of the stormwater runoff prior to the water exiting the development site. The land development code requires new developments to meet the criteria as established by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and U.S Army Corp of Engineers. Specifically, the Bay County Land Development Code governs the quantity of stormwater generated by a development.

New developments are required to control their stormwater runoff through attenuation measures. Attenuation requirements include the stipulation that a development cannot release more stormwater than was released before the development occurred for the 25-year rainfall event. Attenuation is generally provided by retention/detention basins or other means of storage.

(As a side note: The 25-year rainfall event produces a quantity of precipitation that will fall over time based on a 100% probability that a rainfall event of this specific volume and duration will occur every 25 years. Because a 25-year rainfall event occurs this year does not mean there will not be another rainfall of this magnitude for another 25 years. There is a 4% probability that a 25-year event will occur in any given year and a 100% probability that at least one 25-year rainfall event will occur every 25 years.)

Stormwater can be a significant source of pollution if not treated properly. In Bay County the major pollution problem caused by stormwater is the sediments that runoff from dirt roads. These sediments not only affect the clarity of the water but also the deposits adversely affect seagrass beds and block navigation ways.

The County has undertaken an aggressive program of stabilizing dirt roads with open graded asphalt with limited County funds and through the Participating Paving Program (whereby the residents pay 50% of the road improvement costs). In addition to stabilization the County has built a number of sediment basins which detain the stormwater runoff long enough for the sediments to settle out of the water.

While there are no guarantees depending on the nature of the storm event, there are several indicators that can be checked to provide some reasonable assurances that your home will not be subject to routine flooding. First, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) publishes flood control maps that depict the 100 year flood zone and for many areas provide the elevation of the 100 year flood. This elevation can be compared to the Finished Floor Elevation (FFE) of your new home.

Second, the FFE of your home should be one-foot or higher than the elevation of the adjacent road. Roads are generally built at a sufficient elevation to not "over-top" during normal rain events. Therefore if your home is higher than the road it is less likely to be subject to flooding. If your home is not higher than the road, there should be some means for conveying the stormwater runoff around your home to a lower area.

Finally, you may also get in touch with the County Stormwater Engineer who works in the Public Works Department and is aware of those areas that have previously been identified as flooding problem areas. Engineering's main phone number is 850-248-8301, an after-hours emergency number is 850-784-4000.

Contact the Bay County Traffic Engineering Division at 850-248-8740 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. To report a damaged or missing street sign after normal working hours, call 850-784-4000. To report a damaged or missing street sign, send an email.

To report a malfunction, contact the Bay County Traffic Engineering Division at 850-248-8740 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. To report a damaged or malfunctioning traffic signal after normal working hours, call 850-784-4000.

Speed humps can be requested by any of the following methods:

1. Neighborhood requests (a minimum of five signatures from the owners of five separate properties in the neighborhood will be required before the study will be initiated).
2. Regulatory agency request (i.e., Sheriff).
3. Bay County Traffic Engineering Staff field reviews.

All requests should be sent to the:

Bay County Traffic Engineering Division
840 W 11th Street
Panama City, Florida 32401

For additional information please read the Speed Hump Policy and Procedures for residential areas page 

Contact the Bay County Traffic Engineering Division at 850-248-8740 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

You can obtain traffic count information by visiting The Florida Department of Transportation planning page.

To report a water leak or water emergency you can call 850-248-5010 during regular office hours or you can call 850-248-5048 after regular office hours.

We are located at:
3410 Transmitter Road
Panama City FL 32404

Our office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Under a precautionary boil water notice, any one of the following methods can disinfect water used for consumption.

• Bring the water to a rolling boil and holding it there for one minute.
• Use a disinfecting chemical. If water cannot be boiled, put eight drops of common household bleach –which is 1/8 teaspoon of common household bleach into one (1) gallon of tap water, shake it, and allow it to stand for thirty (30) minutes before drinking.  If the water is cloudy, use 16 drops or about 1/4 teaspoon of bleach, shake it, and let it stand for 30 minutes. There should be a slight chlorine odor. Use common household bleach that has 5% to 6% active ingredients. Use food grade containers. Do not use bleach that has perfume scents added.
• Using water purification tablets or iodine that many sports and camping stores sell.

Consumption includes brushing teeth, washing fruits and vegetables and homemade ice. Tap water may be used for showers, baths, shaving and washing, so long as care is taken not to swallow or allow water in eyes, nose, or mouth. Children and disabled individuals should have their bath supervised to ensure water is not ingested. The time spent bathing should be minimized. Though the risk of illness is minimal, individuals who have recent surgical wounds, are immunosuppressed, or have a chronic illness may want to consider using bottled or boiled water for cleansing until the notice is lifted.

“Precautionary Boil Water Notice” will remain in effect until work is completed and a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.

For more information, please contact Bay County Utility Services at (850) 248-5010. 

Visit our Common Leak Causes page to get this information.

To find out which service area you are in, view our Service Area Map (PDF).

Review our Checking for Leaks page for information on this.

Review our payment options page to determine whether you want to pay in person, via drop box, online, over the phone, or through the mail.

To set up a new water and/or sewer account you may complete the application online Bay County Portal or come in to the Bay County Utility Services Administration Building at:
3410 Transmitter Road
Panama City, FL 32404

You will need to complete an application, provide a picture ID, a copy of the lease or proof of sale for the home, and pay a deposit. The deposit includes a water deposit of $60, a sewer deposit of $110, and a $40 non-refundable service charge which will total $210. If you have an irrigation meter there is an extra $60 deposit which will make your deposit $270, set up all together. If you choose to set up your irrigation account at a later date, you will have a deposit of $60 plus the $40 non-refundable service charge that will total $100 for the irrigation account. Deposits are retained on your utility account until you terminate service. At the time of termination, deposits will be applied to your final bill and any outstanding fees. You will be billed for the remaining balance or refunded the difference.

To set up a commercial/business water and sewer account, you must come into the Bay County Utility Services Administration Building. You will need to complete an application, provide a picture ID and pay a deposit. Commercial/Business deposit amount increase based off of meter size. The minimum deposit for water is $150, sewer $150, and a $40 non-refundable service charge which will total $340.

Water service can only be started same day as long as we have received a completed application, lease or proof of ownership, photo ID, deposit and before 4:00pm Monday-Thursday excluding Friday and holidays. If the request is after 4:00pm (M-Th), Friday, weekends or holidays it will be processed the next business day. 

Termination of water service can only be terminated by the account holder and will be completed same day as long as it is received before 1:00pm Monday-Thursday excluding Friday and holidays. If the request is after 1:00pm (M-Th), Friday, weekends or holidays it will be processed the next business day.

The due date for all residential water / sewer bills is the 20th of every month.  Accounts for which payments are not received by the due date will receive a 10% late penalty. Non-payment accounts will be subject to disconnect on or after the 5th of the following month.. Accounts disconnected for non-payment will require payment of the outstanding balance plus a service fee ($40.00)  in order to restore service. Deposits will not be used to cover the past due balance. Accounts will be reconnected same day if payment is received by 4:30pm on the day of disconnect. Payments made after the date of disconnect prior to 1:00pm will be reconnected same day. All others will be reconnected the following business day. 

The most common locations for the master water supply valve in a home or apartment are:

• Near the Clothes Washer Hook-Up
• Near the Water Heater
• Where the Water Supply Pipe Enters the Home

Once you've located the master valve, mark it with something distinctive bright paint, a flag or ribbon. This will save valuable time should you ever experience interior flooding or other crises requiring quick water shut-off.

Each project is initiated by the property owners. The Board of County Commissioners may approve the project when a majority of the owners sign a petition agreeing to participate, and not more than 40% object at the public hearing, or in writing.

Usually in less than 6 months. Projects are processed in the order they are received to be fair to all applicants. Actual construction time is less than 2 months on most projects.

The Bay County Roads and Bridges Division maintains the road.

The property owner's assessment can be paid at the completion or a monthly-amortized payment schedule can be arranged for up to 60 months. There is also a hardship provision if the property owner qualifies.

A Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU) is a mechanism for property owners within unincorporated areas of the County to receive services for which they currently do not have. Examples of these are Water, Sewer, Re-use Lines and Paved Roads.

All costs are paid by all the affected property owners within the affected benefit area.

No, this is not a tax, only the property owners within the benefit area pay for the improvement through a special assessment.

Each project is created individually; therefore a specific cost cannot be set, however an estimate will be provided.

Payment of the MSBU special assessment charge can be made in two different ways. The special assessment charge can be paid in full at the beginning of the assessment, or it can be combined with the annual property tax bill over 10 years.

Generally, no. The drinking water is tested before it leaves the water treatment plant and at various locations throughout the distribution system. If you live in a municipality that purchases water from Bay County, contact your water provider to see what services are available. If you purchase your water directly from Bay County, please contact the Utility Services Department at 850-248-5010 with any specific concerns.

Starting with the 2006 tax roll, developed residential parcels will be charged at flat fee of $40 and developed commercial parcels will be charge a flat fee of $200. Qualified senior citizens, disabled veterans and disabled persons shall be exempt from the payment of the stormwater utility fee for residential developed property for that parcel of real property, which is the homestead of the qualified citizen. In addition, community cemeteries shall be exempt.

Qualified Senior Citizen' is a person who qualifies for the additional homestead exemption pursuant to Ordinance Number 99-21 (codified in Bay County Code Section 14-6).

The homestead of any individual who qualifies for the additional disabled veteran ad valorem homestead exemption under §196.081 or §196.091, Florida Statutes.

The homestead of any individual who annually qualifies for the additional disabled person ad valorem homestead exemption under §196.101, Florida Statutes.

"Community Cemetery" means any small, stand-alone burial ground, without any owner of record, historically used for interments by members of the community.

Developed property means real property, which has been altered from "natural" state by the addition of any improvements such as a building, structure or impervious surface.

"Residential Developed Property" means each developed parcel the Property Appraiser has classified as land use type 1, 2, 4, 5 and 50, under the land use classifications (type) of the Florida Department of Revenue as set forth in §12D - 88, Florida Administrative Code. Each unit in a condominium shall be a separate "residential Developed Property."

The Florida Department of Revenue land use is classified and described as follows:

• 0000 - Vacant Residential Parcels
• 0100 - Single Family
• 0200 - Mobile Homes
• 0300 - Multi Family 10+
• 0400 - Condominium
• 0500 - Cooperatives
• 0600 - Retirement Homes
• 0700 - Miscellaneous Residential
• 0800 - Multi Family 10-
• 1000 - Vacant Commercial
• 1000 - 3900 Improved Commercial
• 4000 - Vacant Industrial
• 4100 - 4900 - Improved Industrial
• 5000 - Improved Agricultural
• 7000 - Institutional Vacant
• 7100 - 7900 - Institutional

Property owners can find their parcel land use classifications by doing a property search on the Property Appraisers website. The classification is listed as property type.

The parcel information to include land use type and senior citizen exemption are obtained from the Property Appraiser and is based on the last certified tax roll. Should you find any discrepancies in the parcel information used for the stormwater utility billing and fee, we will take your information, please contact the Engineering Division. We shall verify the information and coordinate with the property appraisers to make corrections.

The charge is a service fee, not a tax. However, to save administrative costs, it will be billed annually on the property tax bill and collected by the tax collector.

The flat fee stormwater charge will generate an estimated $1.5 million.

The stormwater charge is re-imposed annually and is payable, as part of your tax bill, each year between November 1 and March 31.

Yes, unless you are a qualified senior citizen, disabled veteran or disabled person. Stormwater charges are different than ad valorem taxes and the stormwater charge applies to all developed property uses regardless of homestead exemption. 

Yes. The same discounts and penalties applicable to ad valorem taxes will also apply to stormwater charges collected on the tax bill.

This is a question for your tax adviser. However, generally a stormwater charge against your residence is not a valid income tax deduction. However, if you own rental property or a business, the stormwater charge may be deductible when computing your income taxes. Please contact your accountant or income tax preparer for information regarding your specific situation.

Like property taxes, stormwater charges are billed to property owners only; each property owner or landlord will have to determine how the tenant should share in the stormwater charge costs.

No, this is preliminary notice of the stormwater charge that will appear as an additional line item on your property tax bill in November.

There may not be a problem on a specific piece of property or in a neighborhood, but the runoff from the property and the neighbor's property contributes proportionately to the County's overall stormwater system. All of those who enjoy living in Bay County benefit from positive actions to manage stormwater problems, and they all suffer when these problems are not addressed.

The County is developing a Capital Improvement Plan, which will outline the projects, which will be undertaken to reduce pollution and minimize flooding. The County staff is aware of many drainage problems, but if a citizen knows of others, they can call the Roads and Bridges Division at 850-784-4050 to report problems. Not every drainage problem can be fixed immediately (it has taken nearly 100 years to create the present situation), but the County is committed to working to solve these problems as quickly as possible.

New development approved and built in the County since 1991 have had to meet strict regulations on the quality and quantity of stormwater runoff. New development is required to contain and treat their polluted stormwater runoff, but in older neighborhoods, retrofitting stormwater is costly and sometimes difficult. Many of our current problems are caused by stormwater runoff from development occurring before 1991. Today's cost to remove, replace and upgrade old pipes and drainage systems exceeds the cost to build new systems.

If you have a question regarding the stormwater charge, you may contact the County Engineering Division at 850-248-8301, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2), hormones, and pheromones attract female mosquitoes to humans.

Mosquitoes are an important link in the food chain. Many animals depend on them as a source of food.

During their aquatic stage, mosquito larvae provide food for the other aquatic insects such as, dragonfly nymphs and beetles, fish, frogs and other water-dwelling animals. As adults, mosquitoes are eaten by:

• Bats
• Birds
• Insects
• Lizards
• Spiders

Mosquitoes do not feed on blood alone. The blood meal that is taken, is used by the female to produce eggs. Both males and females need liquid nourishment for food. Plants provide the source of liquid nourishment. Mosquitoes feed on plant nectar, honeydew, fruit juices and liquids oozing from injured plants. Because of this need for nourishment, mosquitoes are important pollinators of wildflowers during this feeding process.

Mosquitoes are more active in the evening, and people are less active. Also, the spray will be lifted quicker from the ground due to rising air currents during the day. Daytime spraying is also not practiced in order to avoid killing beneficial insects.

When conditions meet the required criteria Bay County Adulticide Operation team members spray every district (broken down in to 6 routes) weather permitting. Team Members will work a district until complete before moving on to the next. Adulticide spraying can vary from year to year due to environmental conditions, which include rainfall amounts and tide changes.

The amount of mosquito control pesticide that is sprayed from the trucks is not harmful to people or pets. However, as with any pesticide, it is a good idea to keep exposure to a minimum. For this reason, children should not be allowed to follow the mosquito trucks as people often did in the 1940s and 1950s.

Pets usually are repelled by the high pitch of the machine. Therefore, even if it seems that they are not spraying, the trucks should not be followed. Unless someone is very sensitive or allergic to pesticides, washing the skin with water is all that is needed. At the low insecticide dosage used, no symptoms should be experienced. People who are sensitive should call the office to notify us prior to any spraying.

No evidence to support that likelihood exists. If HIV infected blood is taken in by the mosquito, the virus is digested and quickly dies in the mosquito's stomach. If a mosquito takes a partial HIV infected blood meal from a person and then immediately feeds on an uninfected person, there would not be enough HIV particles present to transmit the disease.

Treatment for larval mosquitoes occurs only when problem species of mosquito larvae are found in large numbers. This involves constant monitoring of mosquito larvae habitats. Heavy rainfalls and exceptionally high tides can cause high increases in larval populations, which will soon advance to the adult stage where they become problems for humans.

Spraying for adult mosquitoes occurs only after the targeted species of mosquito has reached a point where they have become a documented problem. In order to spray for mosquitoes, certain types of mosquitoes must be found in significant numbers.

Florida mosquito control programs are established and operated according to the procedure given in the Mosquito Control Law, Chapter 388 Florida Statue (F.S) and the Mosquito Control Rules, Chapter 5E-1 3, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act of 1972 (FIFRA) requires that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) be certain that all personnel handling hazardous or restricted chemicals be trained to do so correctly and safely and that they be certified as pesticide applicators.

The state agency administering the certification is appointed by the governor of each state. In Florida, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) is the lead agency. The law requires that every person applying pesticide be certified or be supervised by a certified applicator. Every Florida district and program goes to great lengths to see that all personnel are trained in proper handling, use and application of pesticides. There are training courses offered throughout the year and each winter there is a week long short course which offers job specific training. This training results in the certification of all mosquito control personnel.

Program directors must abide by a number of laws and regulations to provide for the safe use of pesticides by all employees. Directors are obligated to meet the requirements of the right to know law and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). Ultimately, directors are responsible for everything that goes on within their administration.

There are many repellents that do not contain DEET that can be applied to the skin. Products with citronella (an oil extract from a lemon-scented grass) or eucalyptus can be purchased in health-food or camping/outdoor stores. Avon’s Skin-So-Soft, is widely used as a repellent but it is not effective for all people. These are good choices for children, although they must be reapplied more frequently. All of these are much less effective than DEET.

If your child is under the age of 5 years old, always check with your family doctor before you apply any repellent.

Bayway On Demand has intake staff dedicated to helping you with any applications, questions, and/or scheduling rides. Please call 850-785-0808 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Please visit our webpage, at www.baywaytransit.org, for bus routes and real time tracking.

There are two ways day passes and/or monthly ride passes can be purchased:

1.  On-board any bus;

2. In person at the Bayway office, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., located at 920 Wilson Avenue, Panama City, FL 32401.

Revenue is generated through multiple sources, including ad valorem taxes and non-ad valorem assessments; fees for services; grants; gasoline taxes; impact fees; and other sources.

There are several factors that determine where tax dollars are spent, such as constitutional and state mandates, public safety, programs essential to reducing future costs, the rising cost of insurance, the County’s strategic plan and strategic focus areas, input form citizens during the budget process and other necessities at the time of budget formulation.

To submit a new request, please click the New Request link and complete the form.
Or write or call
Bob Majka, County Manager
840 W. 11th St.
Panama City, FL 32401
(850)248-8140

If you are looking for a Death Certificate please contact the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics.

To request an interview, please call Bay County Communications Director Valerie Sale at 850-248-8170.

Maintenance issues and/or service requests should be reported through Cartegraph.

Facilities Management projects are requested by completing the Facilities Project Requirements Form which can be found in the Quick Links section on this web page. Completed forms should then be submitted via email to Michelle Arnold.

To get a feel for the tools and control of the Interactive Map download our help document (PDF).

If your property is in unincorporated Bay County you can find details about land use regulations on Bay County Planning and Zoning web page. If the property is in a city we have a list of city contact information here.

To find out more information about what your evacuation zone or storm surge zone means to you please contact Bay County Emergency Management.

There are two ways to find out your flood zone. It available on our interactive map BayView or on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.

Maps are available from Bay County GIS for a small fee to cover printing costs and staff time. The fee schedule for printed materials is available here (PDF).

View our benefits summary.

No. Applications are accepted for current posted vacancies only. If you are interested in employment in a job classification that is not currently posted, you may complete a job interest card. This job interest card will be emailed to you the next time the job classification is open for recruitment. When you receive the notice, you must complete an online employment application to be considered for employment.

When you visit our External Job Openings website, each position will have a closing date or shown as "Continuous."

Only applicants chosen for an interview will be personally contacted. All others will be notified of their status via email.

Visit the External Job Openings and build a personal account that will become available for access when you choose to apply for an open vacancy. Complete instructions on how to build an account are available for viewing to assist in building the account. For those who do not have internet access, the Bay County Library has computers for public use or you may visit the Office of Human Resources (HR) during normal operation hours and use our kiosk to apply on line. The HR staff is available to assist you in building an account or viewing vacancies.

Applications will only apply to the positions that are available under the Board of County Commissioners. All other elected constitutional offices such as Sheriff, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, Supervisor of Elections, Clerk of the Courts, and School Board are responsible for their own application process. You will need to contact the corresponding Constitutional Office individually.

No need to wonder, just log in to the website to check. Once the personal account has been established and application submitted for the vacancy, you may return to the website, sign in under the chosen user-name and password and review the status of your application as early as 24 hours later and through out the life of the vacant position.

Zollie Young Dog Park located at 3839 East 43rd Street is a off-leash dog Park. For more information, please call our office at 850-248-8730.

No, the parks are first come first serve.

Our parks are open daylight to dusk.

Camping over night is not allowed in the County parks.

Call our Parks and Recreation Division office at 850 248-8730, our on-call staff will be available to assist you.

These permits must be issued in compliance with the Bay County Comprehensive Plan and related Land Development Regulations. This compliance determination must be made by the Planning and Zoning Division and must be done in concurrence with the designation of a street address. Contact Planning and Zoning by either emailing us or calling 850-248-8250 to determine correct zoning on the parcel prior to applying for building permit.

These permits must also be issued in compliance with the Bay County Comprehensive Plan and related Land Development Regulations. Commercial projects require a Development Order to be issued prior to the issuance of any building permits. This development order is issued by the Planning and Zoning Division.

You can obtain this information from the Planning and Zoning Division. Staff prefers to have the parcel identification number (also known as an RE Number ) to accurately verify the parcel location. The parcel ID number may be obtained from the newer versions of the Warranty Deed, or from the Property Appraiser's Office.

Anytime you remove a protected tree you need a removal permit. What is considered a protected tree? A protected tree is an oak tree over 30 inches in diameter or greater (diameter is calculated by measuring circumference at breast height and then dividing this number by Pi (which is 3.14)).

Any time you use heavy machinery to clear a parcel of land for construction or for any other purpose other than timber farming activities on lands designated for such, you need a land clearing permit. If the parcel of land is over 3 acres in size the land clearing permit must be issued in association with a development order. If under 3 acres, a land clearing permit can be obtained from the Planning and Zoning Division. Call us at 850-248-8250 or email us.

You can view these documents online: view the Bay County Comprehensive Plan (PDF) and the Land Development Regulations (PDF).

Monday - Friday, 7:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Call the Roads and Bridges Division at 850-248-8810. After normal duty hours, your call will be automatically transferred to Bay County Emergency Management.

Call Roads & Bridges at (850) 248-8810 to put in a work request.

Call Roads & Bridges at (850) 248-8810 to put in work request.

All County maintained dirt roads are graded on a 4+/- week rotating schedule.  If you need to make a request for grading, or if you have a special request, please call (850) 248-8810.

You may contact Roads & Bridges at (850) 248-8810 to find out what type of work is being done in your area. 

Please contact the Division of Animal Control at (850) 248-6034.

Call the Traffic Management Center immediately at (850) 248-8750.

Florida Department of Transportation at (850) 270-1489. 

Please contact Solid Waste at 850- 236-2212.  Roads and Bridges does not provide a trash or yard debris pick-up service.

Please contact the Division of Animal Control at 850-767-3333.

The Florida Department of Transportation maintains all State Roads.  They can be reached at (850) 270-1489.

Call Gulf Power at (800) 487-6937 or go to Gulf Power Report a Streetlight Outage.

The ban on outdoor burning initiated after Hurricane Michael has been lifted for the unincorporated areas of Bay County. Outdoor burning is regulated by the Florida Forest Service (FFS). Current state restrictions on burning include a requirement to obtain permits for piles larger than eight feet in diameter and limit the pile to yard waste. Yard waste is any vegetative debris such as grass clippings, brush, leaves, tree limbs, palm fronds, etc. Residents must meet the required setbacks and the debris must fit in an eight-foot diameter pile or non-combustible container.

Outdoor burning of yard waste is allowed after 8 a.m. All fires must be extinguished one hour before sunset. It is illegal to burn household garbage including paper products, treated lumber, plastics, rubber materials, tires, pesticide, paint and aerosol containers.

Outdoor Burning Tips:
Clear an area down to bare soil around the pile to prevent the fire from spreading
Cover a non-combustible container with wire mesh to keep sparks from flying out and starting new fires

Please don’t burn within:
25 feet of forests
50 feet of paved public roads
25 feet of your house
150 feet of other occupied buildings

To obtain a burn authorization or for questions regarding outdoor burning, contact the Florida Forest Service Chipola Forestry Center at 850-373-1801.

Although the federal government cannot make you whole, it may be able to help your recovery move forward by providing grants for basic repairs to make your home safe, accessible and secure. FEMA assistance also may provide temporary help with a place for you and your family to stay while you build your own recovery plan. To apply visit DisasterAssistance.gov, or call 800-621-3362 (800-462-7585 TTY).  You will need  your social security number, daytime telephone number, current mailing address and address and zip code of the damaged property, and insurance information, if available. For more information about common questions and rumors, visit www.fema.gov/hurricane-michael-rumor-control.

Debris Removal 

• Hazardous limbs, trees, stumps, or other debris caused by Hurricane Michael that is near a commonly used area or maintained space of a property.
• The eligible areas on a property will be determined on an individual basis following a field survey.
• Demolition
• The demolition and debris removal of a structure that is a unsafe as defined per Chapter 17-1 of the County Code

• Debris removal from vacant lots, unimproved property, and unused or unmaintained areas
• Debris on agricultural lands used for crops or livestock
• Concrete slabs or foundations-on-grade

• The ROE grants right of property access and entry to the County, its agencies, contractors, and subcontractors for inspecting, removing, and clearing eligible storm-generated debris.
• The HHA releases the County, State, their agencies, contractors, and subcontractors for damage of any type, whatsoever, either to the property or persons situated thereon and releases, discharges, and waives any action, either legal or equitable which might arise out of activities on the property during property inspection, debris removal and/or demolition.

• Gaining legal access to private property is an important aspect of a remediation project from start to finish. Multiple facets of a project may require access to a property even before the actual debris removal or demolition begins.
• In some cases, you may be requested to grant access to your property even though the actual construction project area will not affect your property. For example, an ROE may be needed to grant access through the private easement that exists on your road and property to get to a project site. Right of entries are often requested at the beginning of the project to prevent future delays later on.

• A right-of-entry is a completely voluntary document. Your land is private and therefore it is your decision to waive the right to grant access. However, an ROE may be a requirement for the project to proceed. Failure to agree and sign a ROE may jeopardize the implementation of a project that could benefit you and/or your community.

• In most cases, no. Signing the ROE does not mean you are agreeing to having the project implemented. Agreeing to allow access to your property will allow the County and its contractors to access your property to perform a site inspection and collect the information necessary to submit to FEMA for review and approval.
• You may withdraw from the program anytime prior to the start of debris removal or demolition activities on your property without consequence. If you choose not to proceed after work has begun, you may be liable for the cost of work completed to date.

• Complete a ROE and HHA agreement at one of the County’s intake centers:

• Do not forget to bring the following with you:
  • A copy of your insurance policy (if insured)
  • Proof/statement of loss from insurance company (if insured)
  • Copy of your driver’s license
  • Proof of ownership (warranty deed, tax statement, etc.)
    • County property appraiser data can be used to verify ownership as well
  • If the property is owned by multiple persons, both parties may be required to sign the ROE and HHA based on how the property is titled

• With ROE you must submit a copy of your homeowner’s insurance policy.
• If your insurance policy covers disaster related debris removal or demolition, there may be an equitable charge to prevent duplication of benefits for services or you may be ineligible for the PPDR program.
• This program was designed to help individual homeowners without the means to remove disaster debris or demolish unrecoverable structures on their property following a major disaster.

• Yes. However, to avoid a duplication of benefits provided by the state or federal government, your insurance company may be required to provide payment from your policy designated for debris removal or demolition to the government.

• It depends on the policy that you have. There are generally two types of debris removal coverages in a homeowner’s insurance policy:
  • Specified Amount: If your homeowner’s insurance policy contains a separate, debris-specific clause, the local government will only collect the specified amount designated in the debris removal clause. These clauses are typically capped at a percentage of the coverage amounts listed in the policy (for example, 5 percent of the value of a primary structure, other structure, and personal property). You will not owe the local government any additional money, even if the actual costs to remove the debris exceeded the amount designated in your insurance policy for debris removal.
  • No Specified Amount: If your homeowner’s insurance policy does not have a separate, debris-specific clause and instead includes the costs of debris removal in the total coverage, the local government will only collect insurance proceeds for debris removal after you have rebuilt your home. The local government will only collect any available insurance proceeds, if any, after the rebuild. If there are no remaining funds, the homeowner will not owe the local government any additional money for debris removal.

• Yes. If you have a specified amount for debris removal in your insurance policy, you may use your insurance proceeds to remove disaster debris that is ineligible for removal under the program (e.g., swimming pools, patios, concrete slab, etc...). The local government will only collect remaining insurance proceeds, if any, after you have removed ineligible debris.

• No. The County will only seek reimbursement from the insurance carrier as stated above. The County will not attempt to collect any insurance proceeds designated for rebuilding.

• Eligible private property debris removal or structural demolition is a long process with multiple approvals.
• Be patient, you will be contracted the week during which work will be scheduled at your property.
• Approval and scheduling of structural demolition on properties will take even longer and undergo additional reviews and approvals.

• Only the legal owner/owners can sign up a property for this program
• Some rental properties may be considered commercial which is subject to additional review

• Commercial properties can be submitted under this program but eligibility for the program will be determined on a case by case basis

• The County and its contractors will review your ROE and HHA and reach out to schedule a site visit. During the site visit, information about the property and eligible hazards that are a result of Hurricane Michael will be documented, and this information will be submitted to FEMA representative for review and approval under the program. Only after approval by FEMA, will the County and its contractors begin debris removal or demolition services.