Planning & Zoning

Mission

The Development Services Department Planning & Zoning Division's mission is to promote orderly and quality development within the City of Panama City by ensuring that all land use and development proposals conform to the City's Comprehensive Plan and Unified Land Development Code. 

Get in Touch with Us

Contact the Planning and Zoning Division at (850) 691-4595 or planning@panamacity.gov

Land Development Process Flow Chart 

This chart provides an overview of the various steps of development review within the City. View the Land Development Process Flow Chart.

Approved Planning Board Meeting Schedule 

View the Planning Board Meeting Schedule.

Agenda Center

Planning Board and City Commission agendas and agenda items are posted in the Agenda Center. View agenda items online. 

Technical Review Committee (TRC) Pre-Submittal Form and Schedule 

View the TRC Pre-submittal Form and Schedule.

Exceptions to the Development Order Review Requirements

The City Commission adopted Ordinance 3266 amending Sec. 102-36 of the Unified Land Development Code on June 24, 2025, providing for additional exceptions to the Development Order review requirements. View the Exceptions to Development Order Review.

Purpose and Responsibilities   

The division is responsible for maintaining neighborhood integrity; ensuring appropriate height and site development requirements and design guidelines; ensuring appropriate transitions and linkages between different neighborhoods and uses; encouraging more walkable neighborhoods; buffering neighborhoods and existing development from the encroachment of incompatible uses; limiting the intensity of future development and redevelopment in a manner that is consistent with current development patterns and that minimizes further negative impacts to the city's infrastructure, traffic congestion, hurricane evacuation clearance times and quality of life and implementing specific development or redevelopment goals or plans that may be established for particular areas by the city commission or redevelopment that is provided by expressly authorized conditional use approval. The division is tasked with the following: 

  • Enforcing and implementing the City of Panama City Comprehensive Plan and the Unified Land Development Code pursuant to Chapter 163, Part II (Growth Policy; County and Municipal Planning; Growth Regulation Policy) of the Florida Statutes and is responsible for supporting the Planning Board (Local Planning Agency) and coordinating the Development Order review and Certificate of Acceptance review and inspection processes between various departments and divisions which make up the Technical Review Committee (TRC).
  • Responding to State Growth Management requirements.
  • Reviewing development order applications and issuing development orders for a variety of developments, projects, structures and uses including but not limited to subdivisions (minor and major), commercial and industrial developments, multi-family developments (3 or more dwelling units), single-family homes, duplexes, renovations, additions, alterations, modifications, land clearing and site work, sheds, docks and boat structures, marinas, seawalls, retaining walls, swimming pools, accessory dwelling units, signs and murals.
  • Reviewing applications and issuing approvals for major subdivision plats.
  • Reviewing permit applications and issuing permits for Conditional Uses, Gateway Overlay Fences and Outdoor Dining, banner and tent requests.
  • Amending and updating the annexation, Future Land Use, the local zoning maps and facilitating the issuance of formal interpretations of the Unified Land Development Code and the Comprehensive Plan.
  • Providing analyses, findings and recommendations to the Planning Board and City Commission on annexations, future land use amendments, rezonings, variances, Planned Unit Developments, vacations of rights-of-ways/easements, major developments, amendments to the Unified Land Development Code and the Comprehensive Plan.
  • Scheduling and coordinating pre-submittal meetings for development order, certificate of acceptance, Planning Board, administrative and permit requests and reviews.
  • Issuing approval letters for address assignments, fowl authorization, zoning and permitted use verification letters, lot splits, combinations and lot line readjustments.
  • Reviewing business and beverage license applications for consistency with local zoning ordinances.
  • Responding to all inquiries pertaining to the City’s adopted land use and zoning provisions and providing technical support to the City Manager, City Commission, other departments, appointed boards, residents, the business community and the general public on planning, land use, zoning and development issues.

Applicant's Land Development Guide

The Applicant’s Land Development Guide is intended to provide an overview of various requests including administrative, permit, Development Order, Certificate of Acceptance and Planning Board applications and reviews. All applicants should consult the applicable regulations in the Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) and the local Comprehensive Plan to review all the adopted policies and development requirements.

All applications, materials, plans, documents and fees must be submitted electronically via the Development Services Department’s online application portal, Cloudpermit. Submission via e-mail will not be considered. Ownership and Applicant Authorization Forms are included in the guides. They will also need to be submitted electronically. 

To submit an application via Cloudpermit, click HERE.

To learn more about Cloudpermit, click HERE.

  1. Administrative & Permit Reviews
  2. Development Order & Certificate of Acceptance Reviews
  3. Planning Board Reviews

Additional Resources


Future Land Use and Zoning Map 

Future land use designations indicate the general category and allowable density or intensity for a particular area, while zoning districts specifically define permitted uses and contain the design and development standards for those intended uses. View the Future Land Use and Zoning Map.

Future Land Use and Zoning Guide

This guide outlines the Future Land Use Map categories established in the City of Panama City Comprehensive Plan and the Zoning Districts established in the Unified Land Development Code (ULDC). Future Land Use and Zoning Guide 

Comprehensive Plan 

Pursuant to Chapter 163, Part II of the Florida Statutes, the Comprehensive Plan contains the long-range policy structure for the City of Panama City. The Comprehensive Plan contains elements that address future land use, housing, transportation, utilities, coastal management, conservation, recreation and open space, intergovernmental coordination, and capital improvements. All new development must be consistent with the goals, objectives, policies and maps in the Comprehensive Plan. 

Introduction and Table of ContentsIntergovernmental Coordination Element
Future Land Use ElementCapital Improvements Element
Transportation ElementConservation Element
Housing ElementPublic School Facilities Element
Utilities ElementEconomic Development Element
Coastal Management ElementProperty Rights Element
Recreation and Open Space Element


The Unified Land Development Code 

The Unified Land Development Code is enacted pursuant to Section 163.3202 of the Florida Statutes and its purpose is to implement the Comprehensive Plan of the City of Panama City by establishing regulations, procedures, and standards for review and approval of all development and use of land within the City of Panama City. The Land Development Code compiles all land development regulations into a single code. This compilation includes a description of all zoning districts including but not limited to zoning district development standards, design standards, use regulations, landscaping and buffering, parking, subdivision requirements, Planned Unit Development requirements and Overlay standards. View the local Unified Land Development Code.

Strategic Vision for Downtown Panama City and its Waterfront

In October 2018, Hurricane Michael caused historic levels of damage; Panama City is determined to rebuild and grow stronger, following a community-led vision for the future. The Strategic Vision for Historic Downtown and its Waterfront aims to direct future growth while also preserving the city’s history, connection to the waterfront, and strong sense of community, providing a foundation for Panama City to become the premier city in the Panhandle. View the Strategic Vision for Downtown Panama City and its Waterfront.

Panama City Neighborhood Plans

As part of the city-wide Long Term Recovery Planning Project, in 2019 the Strategic Vision for Downtown and Its Waterfront was created to direct future growth while also preserving the city’s history, connection to the waterfront, and strong sense of community, providing a foundation for Panama City to become the premier city in the Panhandle. Building upon the 10 Cornerstone Ideas for Downtown Panama City, the City engaged the community to define a vision for the future of the Glenwood, Millville, and St. Andrews neighborhoods. The Neighborhood Plans express the community’s vision and priorities for the future, setting a framework for how the Glenwood, Millville and St. Andrews neighborhoods could rebuild, change and grow over the coming years. View the Neighborhood Plans.

Bay County Legal Advertisements and Public Notices

Section 50.0311, Florida Statute, authorizes the City to use a publicly accessible website hosted by Bay County as an alternative means of publishing notices and advertisements otherwise required to be published. In newspapers of general circulation. On February 14, 2023, the City Commission adopted Resolution 20230214.7, authorizing the use of a county website for public notices. As such, the City intends to post legally required advertisements and public notices on the Bay County Public Notices website in lieu of and as an alternative to publication in a newspaper. As an alternative to viewing notices online, interested persons may receive legally required advertisements and public notices from the City by first-class mail or e-mail. If anyone is interested in receiving legally required notices by first-class mail or email, they should contact the City Clerk at cityclerk@panamacity.gov or (850) 852-7020, or Janette Smith, City Clerk – Treasurer, 501 Harrison Avenue, Suite 129, Panama City, FL 32401. View legal advertisements and public notices online.