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Code Compliance
Announcements
With the new year, we’d like to remind everyone to check and make sure their mailing address is updated with the county tax collector. The county and city use this address to locate and contact you concerning various issues, including code compliance violations that need to be addressed in a timely manner. The City of Panama City requires the address number to be visible from the street and be made up of numbers at least four inches in size for residential and six inches in size for commercial properties. This ensures county, city and emergency personnel can quickly locate your property and could help with response times.
Community Engagement
Code Compliance works actively with the community to address various issues and concerns. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working with our team in your community.
Contact the Code Compliance Division at (850) 691-4593 or codecompliance@panamacity.gov
Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide Panama City citizens with the highest quality of service and to uphold and enforce Codes and Standards established to protect the public health, safety and welfare of all residents, business owners and visitors based upon priorities consistent with established standards. Courtesy and professionalism will serve as guiding principles that will permeate the character of the Code Compliance office, thereby ensuring that our determination to deter blight within the city is tempered with sensitivity and compassion.
Code Compliance Purpose and Responsibilities
The City of Panama City’s Code Compliance Section is responsible for the enforcement of the City’s Municipal Code Ordinances. These ordinances and codes are designed to protect the Health, Safety, and Welfare of all who live, work or visit our city. Code Compliance ensures a positive effect on property value, community appearance, and neighborhood pride.
Responsibility for maintenance of properties and the overall aesthetic appearance of neighborhoods ultimately lie with the property owners. This means every citizen is responsible for their property. Properties that are not maintained can fall into disrepair and deteriorate, which devalues neighborhoods and can become an attractive nuisance to children who might play in the building or structure to their danger or become a harbor for vagrants and criminals. As the City grows and ages, it becomes more crucial and challenging to ensure that all property owners are aware of the ordinances and requirements for maintenance of their properties. Code compliance provides a vital, effective means of education through public notices and enforcement of the City’s standards. To ensure that our city remains and continues to grow and become a model city for all to enjoy and admire.
Code Compliance’s primary goal is voluntary compliance. This is achieved through a proactive, comprehensive community communication initiative that stresses cooperation and compliance through education. When necessary, Code Compliance Inspectors must use other steps to ensure compliance.
Code Compliance Inspector Duties
Code Compliance Inspectors perform routine inspections of properties, respond to citizen complaints and provide citizens with available resources to assist them in correcting noted violations.
- Complaints
- Self-Observed
- Citizen Complaints
- Government Referrals
- Assignment of complaint to Code Compliance Inspector
- Initial Inspection conducted by the Code Compliance Inspector
- Notification Process
- Verbal or informal notice of violation, with time frame to correct.
- If not corrected in the timeframe, notice of hearing/formal violation will be sent to the property owner advising of a hearing date.
- Code Compliance hearing
- If the violation(s) are not corrected within the time frame delineated, the case will be heard in front of a magistrate.
- The magistrate will order that the property be brought into compliance within a specified timeframe, and if not brought into compliance within that timeframe, allow the city to abate the violation(s).
- Once the violation(s) are corrected, whether it be voluntarily or city abated, the code compliance case will be brought back before the magistrate for a final hearing. During the hearing, any fines and costs will be ordered and, if not paid within 30 days, allow the city to place a lien upon any other real or personal property owned by the violator.
- It is the property owner’s responsibility to provide updates on improvements to the property and advise once all violations are corrected, at which time the inspector will re-inspect and prepare the case for its final hearing.
- Compliance is the most cost-efficient manner for all parties involved.
Anonymous Reporting
Effective July 1, 2021, Florida Statutes, as amended by Senate Bill 60, require a name and address to be provided in order to report potential violations of codes and ordinances for investigation.
The City of Panama City utilizes Cloud Permit as a comprehensive solution for managing building permits, planning and zoning, and code compliance activities. Cloud Permit is a cloud-based e-permitting software that enables municipalities to complete the building permit lifecycle in one digital workspace and streamlines community development processes for both the municipality and its citizens.
Abandoned Vehicles
The procedure for removing abandoned vehicles is handled by the Code Compliance Division. The method of removal is based upon whether the vehicle is located on public or private property. All derelict, disabled, or unlicensed motor vehicles must be parked or stored within an enclosed structure such as a garage.
If the vehicle is located on private property and is not so enclosed, the owner will be notified that the vehicle must be removed or placed within an approved enclosure. If the vehicle is not removed or placed within an approved enclosure within an allotted time, code compliance will take action at the owner’s expense.
If a vehicle is abandoned on city property, the code compliance division will tag it for removal within 72 hours, unless otherwise noted.
Anyone wishing to report abandoned vehicles anywhere within the city limits of the City of Panama City, please call the Code Compliance Division at (850) 872-3000.
Abandoned, Discarded Objects & Unsheltered Storage
The Code Compliance Division enforces Chapter 12 of the Panama City Municipal Code. This section states that it is unlawful for any person to place or leave on any property in the city any dilapidated furniture, appliance, machinery, equipment, building material or other item, which is either wholly or partially rusted, wrecked, junked, dismantled or in inoperative condition and which is not completely enclosed within a building.
Unfit/Unsafe Dwelling/Structure
Unfit or unsafe dwelling or structure shall mean any dwellings or structure or portions thereof and accessory buildings which are structurally unsafe, unstable, or unsanitary; inadequately provided with exit facilities; constitute a fire hazard; unsuitable or improper for the use or occupancy to which they are put; constitutes a hazard to health or safety because of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, obsolescence or abandonment; dangerous to life or property of the occupant thereof or of the surrounding areas; unfit for human habitation if so intended or used; or otherwise in violation of the housing, building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, sanitation and fire codes of the city.
Any unfit / unsafe dwelling or structure is considered a nuisance and in violation of the Panama City Municipal Code. If you have received a notice of violation and are required to repair or demolish an unfit / unsafe structure or if you would like to file a complaint about such a structure, please contact the Code Compliance Division.
A building permit is required for commercial or residential demolitions. For more information, please contact the Planning and Land Use Department, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., at (850) 872-3025.
Overgrowth
Any excessive accumulation of untended growth of weeds, undergrowth or other dead or living plant life upon a lot, tract or parcel of land, improved or unimproved, to the extent and in the manner that such lot, tract or parcel of land becomes or may become infested or inhabited with rodents, vermin, snakes or other wild animals; may become a breeding place for mosquitoes; threaten or endanger the public health and welfare; or may reasonably cause disease; or adversely affect and impair the economic welfare of the adjacent property.
Does the Code Compliance Division only investigate and initiate code violations based on complaints received from citizens?
No, while many of the code cases investigated each year are initiated by citizen complaints, most cases are inspector initiated. Code cases are initiated by inspectors on an ongoing basis in their assigned zones.
Does Code Compliance staff meet with Neighborhood Associations or other Organizations?
Yes. Our staff meets with Neighborhood Associations, Community groups and individual citizens on a regular basis. An organization or individual simply has to call or e-mail our office to set up a date and time to meet with a staff member.
Can I have roosters or chickens at my home?
Roosters are not allowed, but with approval, a homeowner may have up to 6 hens. Before it is approved, the owner must apply for a permit. Included in their permit application is a letter from each abutting property owner or occupant advising their approval for the homeowner to keep fowl.
Do I need a permit for a fence, shed or storage container?
It depends on the size, location and use of the fence, shed or storage container. Start your process by contacting the planning and permitting department at (850) 872-3025 or planning@panamacity.gov
What can I do about my neighbor’s tree limb(s) hanging over my property?
There are no regulations restricting the spread of trees and plants over property lines. Such matters must be addressed between the affected neighbors. If a limb(s) are hanging over your property line, you may have them trimmed as long as it is only on your property and does not require entering the neighbor’s property.
Contact Us
501 Harrison Avenue, Panama City, FL 32401
(850) 691-4593
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
2025 Magistrate Hearings
Code Compliance Hearings begin at 9:00 a.m. at City Hall in Room 010 unless otherwise stated. The hearing length depends on the number of code compliance cases.
Location: City Hall, 501 Harrison Ave, Panama City, FL 32401
Time: 9 AM - 11 AM
Dates:
- May 22, 2025
- June 18, 2025
- July 17, 2025
- August 21, 2025
- September 18, 2025
- October 23, 2025
- November 20, 2025
- December 18, 2025
Additional Resources
The Code Compliance Department is governed by Chapter 162 of the Florida Statutes.
In addition, the Code Compliance Department adheres to the City of Panama City Code of Ordinances.
City of Panama City - Housing and Community Services
Call 211 and you will be directed to various resources in your area, based on your location. This is a great first step; they can usually point you in the right direction.