New Resident Guide · Panama City, Florida
Bay CountyUtilities & Services
Just bought or moving within Bay County? Here is every office and utility you'll need to get settled across Panama City, Panama City Beach, Lynn Haven, and the rest of the county — power, water, gas, trash, homestead exemption, voter registration, and your zoned schools. Print it and keep it on the fridge.
Step 1
County Offices
The government offices every new homeowner needs — for your homestead exemption, taxes, license plates, schools, and voter registration.
Property Appraiser
Bay County Property Appraiser
File your homestead exemption (deadline March 1), check your assessed value, and look up property records. Filing homestead is the most valuable thing a new Florida homeowner can do.
Tax Collector
Bay County Tax Collector
Pay property taxes, register your vehicles and get Florida license plates, and handle driver license services (by appointment). New residents must get a Florida license within 30 days.
Supervisor of Elections
Bay County Supervisor of Elections
Register to vote or update your voter registration with your new address.
Public Schools
Bay District Schools
Find the schools your new address is zoned for and enroll your children.
Find My School →Official Records / Deeds
Bay County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller
Records and provides copies of your deed and other official property documents; also court records.
Building & Permitting
Bay County Building Services
Permits and inspections for unincorporated Bay County. Cities permit their own.
Sheriff (Non-Emergency)
Bay County Sheriff's Office
Non-emergency police matters and reports. For emergencies, always call 911.
Step 2
Set Up Your Utilities
Call ahead of your move-in date so the power and water are on when you arrive. Electric and water depend on your exact address — see the note under each.
Electric
FPL (the former Gulf Power) covers the cities; Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative covers rural areas.
Florida Power & Light (FPL) — Northwest
Serves: Panama City, Panama City Beach, Lynn Haven, Callaway, Springfield, and most populated areas (formerly Gulf Power).
Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative
Serves: Rural Bay County (Southport, Fountain, parts of Lynn Haven).
Water & Sewer
Inside a city, use the city; elsewhere it's Bay County Utility Services.
Bay County Utility Services
Serves: Unincorporated county and some municipal areas.
Natural Gas
TECO Peoples Gas is the piped-gas utility here (not Florida Public Utilities); many homes are all-electric.
TECO Peoples Gas
Serves: Panama City, PCB, Lynn Haven, and the 30A corridor where mains exist.
Trash & Recycling
There's no single countywide curbside hauler — cities run their own pickup; unincorporated residents subscribe privately. The county number is for disposal/landfill.
Bay County Solid Waste
Serves: Countywide disposal and drop-off centers.
Internet & TV
Availability varies block to block — check your address on each provider's site.
Not sure who serves your exact address?
Electric, water, and trash can change street by street. The fastest ways to confirm: check the seller's most recent utility bill, ask your closing agent or title company, or call the city utility office for the city your home is in. If your home is in an unincorporated area, it's handled by the county. Your MaxLife agent is happy to help you pin this down before closing.
Bay County Setup — Common Questions
Who provides electricity in Bay County, FL?
FPL — the former Gulf Power, fully rebranded — covers Panama City, Panama City Beach, Lynn Haven, and most populated areas. Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative covers rural areas like Southport and Fountain. Confirm by address.
How do I set up water service in Bay County?
Inside Panama City or Panama City Beach, use the city utility. Everywhere else it's Bay County Utility Services at (850) 248-5010.
How do I file for the Florida homestead exemption in Bay County?
File with the Bay County Property Appraiser at baypa.net or (850) 248-8401. The deadline is March 1, and you must own and occupy the home as your permanent residence as of January 1 of that year.
Where do I register my car and get a Florida driver license after moving to Bay County?
The Bay County Tax Collector (baycountyfltax.gov, (850) 248-8541) handles property-tax payment, vehicle registration/tags, and driver licenses (by appointment), with offices in Panama City, PCB, Lynn Haven, and Callaway. New residents generally must get a Florida license within 30 days and register their vehicles within 10 days of starting work or enrolling children in school.
How do I register to vote in Bay County?
Register or update your address through the Bay County Supervisor of Elections at bayvotesfl.gov or (850) 784-6100. You can also update your registration when you get your Florida driver license.
Helpful next reads
Take it with you
Print this Bay County contact sheet as a clean one-pager — perfect to keep on the fridge or hand to a client at closing.
Buying or selling in Bay County? Talk to Ryan Solberg at MaxLife Realty.
Contact details verified June 2026against each agency's and provider's official website. Government offices and utilities occasionally change phone numbers, websites, and service areas — please confirm before relying on a number for a deadline or time-sensitive matter. MaxLife Realty is not affiliated with any office or utility listed here. For emergencies, call 911.