Northwest Florida and the Panhandle
Bay County property records and hazards
Bay County is home to about 199,700 people, and FEMA counts $36.3 billion in buildings there. FEMA's National Risk Index rates its overall natural-hazard risk "Relatively Moderate", higher than 94% of U.S. counties. For property, the costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and tornadoes: together about $131.0 million of expected building damage a year. Its incorporated cities and towns are Callaway, Lynn Haven, Mexico Beach, Panama City, Panama City Beach, Parker and Springfield. 28 hurricanes have passed within 30 miles since 1851 and 11 made landfall on its coast.1
What Bay County faces most
Ranked by FEMA's National Risk Index: the hazards expected to do the most damage to buildings in this county each year, with each hazard's FEMA risk rating.
- 1
Hurricanes
Very HighThe local numbers
- FEMA rates hurricane risk in Bay County "Very High" (score 98.7 of 100, compared with every U.S. county).1
- Expected damage to buildings: about $112.3 million a year, the 12th-highest expected building loss from this hazard of 67 counties in the state.1
- 28 hurricanes passed within 30 miles of the county since 1851 (7 of them at Category 3 or stronger while nearby); counting tropical storms, 58 storms in all.2
- Hurricane landfalls on this county's coast: 11 since 1851, most recently Michael (2018) at Category 5, Earl (1998) at Category 1, Kate (1985) at Category 2 and Agnes (1972) at Category 1.2
- Strongest storm on record nearby: Michael (2018), at Category 5 strength (about 161 mph sustained) as it passed.2
- Most recent hurricanes nearby: Michael (2018), Category 5, Earl (1998), Category 1 and Erin (1995), Category 1.2
- 26 federal disaster declarations for hurricanes have included the county.3
What it means for a buyer or owner
In Bay County, hurricane wind and storm surge tend to arrive together, and the county has taken 11 direct hurricane landfalls. Wind is the part every property shares, so the roof and openings matter as much as the flood zone.
Ask for the roof's age and permit, any shutters or impact-rated windows, and a wind mitigation report.
In your report: the Storm history & wind sheet · Guide: Hurricanes, roofs and insurance
- 2
Inland flooding
Relatively ModerateThe local numbers
- FEMA rates inland flooding risk in Bay County "Relatively Moderate" (score 74.7 of 100, compared with every U.S. county).1
- Expected damage to buildings: about $15.8 million a year, the 34th-highest expected building loss from this hazard of 67 counties in the state.1
- FEMA's index maps about 53 square miles of the county inside the 1%-annual-chance floodplain it uses for inland flooding.1
- 56 inland flood events in FEMA's record, about 2.0 a year.1
- 4 federal disaster declarations for flooding.3
What it means for a buyer or owner
Beyond the roughly 53 square miles of mapped floodplain in Bay County, rain-driven flooding follows rivers, lakes, wetlands and canals, and it doesn't stop at the mapped lines: FEMA says more than 20% of flood insurance claims come from outside high-risk areas.
Ask whether the home has flooded or had a flood claim, and look at the lot's elevation in the report.
In your report: the Flood & hazard sheet · Guide: How to read a Florida flood zone
- 3
Tornadoes
Relatively HighThe local numbers
- FEMA rates tornado risk in Bay County "Relatively High" (score 94.1 of 100, compared with every U.S. county).1
- Expected damage to buildings: about $2.8 million a year, the 21st-highest expected building loss from this hazard of 67 counties in the state.1
- 57 tornadoes recorded in the county in FEMA's index (NOAA Storm Prediction Center records), about 0.8 a year.1
What it means for a buyer or owner
With roughly 0.8 tornadoes a year on record, Bay County sees mostly brief, narrow touchdowns, often spun up by tropical systems and spring squall lines, so damage is very local. The same roof-to-wall connections that resist hurricane wind help here.
Check the roof covering, any hurricane straps or clips, and the insurer's windstorm deductible.
In your report: the Hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) sheet
- 4
Coastal flooding and storm surge
Relatively ModerateThe local numbers
- FEMA rates coastal flooding risk in Bay County "Relatively Moderate" (score 77.2 of 100, compared with every U.S. county).1
- Expected damage to buildings: about $1.6 million a year, the 19th-highest expected building loss from this hazard of 67 counties in the state.1
- 26.9% of the county's building value ($9.8 billion) sits in FEMA's coastal flood hazard areas.1
- 19 tropical-storm or hurricane landfalls on this stretch of coast since 1851.2
What it means for a buyer or owner
With 26.9% of Bay County's building value in FEMA's coastal flood areas, check three things before you buy: the flood zone (VE and Coastal A zones carry the strictest building rules), the ground and floor height against the base flood elevation, and the storm-surge evacuation zone.
In your report: the Storm surge sheet · Guide: How to read a Florida flood zone
Rules that apply in every Florida county, from the building code and wind-mitigation discounts to flood insurance, seller flood disclosure and sinkhole coverage: Florida rules for buyers and owners.
Hurricanes near Bay County
28 hurricanes have come within 30 miles of Bay County since 1851; the busiest decade was the 1890s, with 4. The 12 most recent are listed, with the strength NOAA recorded as each passed.2
| Year | Storm | Strength nearby | Closest approach | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Michael | Category 5 | inside the county | Landfall here |
| 1998 | Earl | Category 1 | inside the county | Landfall here |
| 1995 | Erin | Category 1 | 22 mi | |
| 1985 | Kate | Category 2 | inside the county | Landfall here |
| 1985 | Elena | Category 3 | 21 mi | |
| 1975 | Eloise | Category 3 | 19 mi | |
| 1972 | Agnes | Category 1 | inside the county | Landfall here |
| 1956 | Flossy | Category 1 | 10 mi | |
| 1953 | Florence | Category 1 | 11 mi | |
| 1939 | Unnamed | Category 1 | inside the county | |
| 1936 | Unnamed | Category 2 | 28 mi | |
| 1929 | Unnamed | Category 1 | inside the county | Landfall here |
Federal disaster declarations
49 federal declarations have included Bay County since 1975, 31 of them major disasters. By type: 26 hurricane, 8 severe storm, 5 fire, 4 flood, 4 tropical storm and 2 biological.3
Most recent
- 2024, Hurricane Helene (major disaster)
- 2024, Tropical Storm Helene (emergency)
- 2024, Hurricane Debby (major disaster)
- 2024, Tropical Storm Debby (emergency)
- 2023, Hurricane Idalia (major disaster)
- 2023, Tropical Storm Idalia (emergency)
All FEMA hazards for Bay County
Every hazard FEMA scores here, costliest for buildings first.1
| Hazard | FEMA risk rating | Risk score (0-100) | Expected building loss a year | Rank in the state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricanes | Very High | 98.7 | $112.3 million | 12 of 67 |
| Inland flooding | Relatively Moderate | 74.7 | $15.8 million | 34 of 67 |
| Tornadoes | Relatively High | 94.1 | $2.8 million | 21 of 67 |
| Coastal flooding and storm surge | Relatively Moderate | 77.2 | $1.6 million | 19 of 67 |
| Strong wind | Relatively Moderate | 67.1 | $418,000 | 31 of 67 |
| Earthquakes | Very Low | 54.9 | $267,000 | 16 of 67 |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | 75.7 | $247,000 | 50 of 67 |
| Lightning | Very High | 97.8 | $133,000 | 17 of 67 |
| Winter weather | Relatively Low | 32.6 | $20,000 | 3 of 67 |
| Hail | Very Low | 20.4 | $18,000 | 29 of 67 |
| Cold waves | Relatively Moderate | 79.3 | $14,000 | 34 of 67 |
| Landslides | Very Low | 33.4 | $420 | 25 of 67 |
| Heat waves | Relatively Moderate | 84.3 | $160 | 14 of 67 |
| Drought | Very Low | 17.1 | $0 | n/a |
Local property economy
Bay County had about 199,718 residents in 2024. Its largest groups of self-employed businesses are administrative and support and waste management (3,728), real estate and rental and leasing (2,953) and transportation and warehousing (2,644). The table counts businesses with no employees, the sole proprietors behind much of the local real estate and building trade.4
| Businesses with no employees | Bay | Per 1,000 residents | Florida per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All self-employed businesses | 21,441 | 107.4 | 146.6 |
| Real estate, rental and leasing | 2,953 | 14.8 | 15.4 |
| Real estate (agents, brokers, landlords, managers) | 2,802 | 14.0 | 14.8 |
| Construction | 2,610 | 13.1 | 14.5 |
| Residential building construction | 899 | 4.5 | 4.7 |
Area profile
Census figures for Bay County next to Florida and the U.S. (ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; ± is the margin of error). Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (opens in a new tab).
| Measure | Bay County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 186,393 | 22,416,077 | 334,922,499 |
| Median household income | $73,533 ±$2,046 | $74,568 | $80,734 |
| Per-capita income | $40,782 ±$1,336 | $42,609 | $44,673 |
| People below the poverty level | 11.9% ±0.9% | 12.6% | 12.5% |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher | 29.6% ±1.4% | 34.1% | 35.7% |
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $310,500 ±$6,825 | $359,000 | $332,700 |
| Median gross rent | $1,484 ±$39 | $1,669 | $1,413 |
| Homes that are owner-occupied | 66.8% ±1.5% | 67.6% | 65.2% |
| Housing units vacant | 27.3% ±1.1% | 14.7% | 10.1% |
| Median year built | 1993 ±1 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Median age | 41 ±0.3 | 42.6 | 38.9 |
| Average household size | 2.3 ±0.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Mean travel time to work (minutes) | 23.9 ±0.8 | 28 | 26.4 |
Race and Hispanic origin (Census table B03002)
| Group | Bay County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not Hispanic or Latino: White alone | 72.7% | 50.4% | 57.4% |
| Not Hispanic or Latino: Black or African American alone | 9.8% | 14.6% | 11.9% |
| Not Hispanic or Latino: American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.5% |
| Not Hispanic or Latino: Asian alone | 2.0% | 2.9% | 5.9% |
| Not Hispanic or Latino: Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Not Hispanic or Latino: Some other race alone | 0.5% | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Not Hispanic or Latino: Two or more races | 5.6% | 3.8% | 4.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 9.2% | 27.4% | 19.3% |
These figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau. OnlineRecords.US doesn't rate, rank or recommend areas by who lives there, and none of these figures are used in any ranking on this page. This product uses Census Bureau data but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Official offices for Bay County property records
The official word on any Bay County parcel.5
Property appraiser
- Bay County Property Appraiser (opens in a new tab) Ownership, values, exemptions and parcel maps.
Clerk / official records
- Bay County Clerk of Court and Comptroller (opens in a new tab) Recorder of deeds, mortgages, liens and lis pendens.
- Official records search (opens in a new tab) Accept the site's disclaimer, then search
Tax collector
- Bay County Tax Collector (opens in a new tab) Current and delinquent property tax bills.
Building department
- Bay County Builders Services (opens in a new tab) Online permit search.
What our free report covers in Bay County
Statewide data works for every Bay County address: (verified on test reports ). Parcel, owner and legal description, assessed and just values, FEMA flood zone and ground elevation, evacuation zone and FEMA hazard ratings, storm history and estimated wind, storm surge and high-water marks, earthquakes, faults and sinkhole reports, environmental sites nearby and condo and HOA records link to the official source for now. For the county's own records, the report links to each office's search; none is automated and verified here yet unless marked.6
| County records | Status | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Recorded deeds, mortgages and liens (clerk) | Link to the official source | Official records search (opens in a new tab) |
| Property tax bill (tax collector) | Link to the official source | Bay County Tax Collector (opens in a new tab) |
| Building permits | Link to the official source | Link-out to Bay County Builders Services (county public portal (free registration)). Bay County Builders Services (opens in a new tab) |
Neighboring counties
Bay County borders Calhoun County, Gulf County, Jackson County, Walton County and Washington County. Bay County has the highest expected hurricanes losses to buildings among its neighbors.7
| County | Costliest hazard for buildings | Overall FEMA rating | Expected building loss a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calhoun County | Hurricanes | Relatively Low | $7.8 million |
| Gulf County | Hurricanes | Relatively Low | $15.0 million |
| Jackson County | Hurricanes | Relatively Low | $19.8 million |
| Walton County | Hurricanes | Relatively Moderate | $58.5 million |
| Washington County | Hurricanes | Relatively Low | $14.6 million |
Sources of information
- FEMA National Risk Index (county level) (opens in a new tab). release: December 2025; retrieved 2026-10-05.
- NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic) (opens in a new tab). storms through 2025; track within 30 miles of the county boundary while at tropical-storm strength or stronger; landfall points within 6 miles assigned to the nearest county; retrieved 2026-10-05.
- OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (opens in a new tab). retrieved 2026-10-05.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Nonemployer Statistics and Vintage 2024 population estimates (opens in a new tab). retrieved 2026-10-05.
- onlinerecords.us county registry (official office links). retrieved 2026-10-05.
- onlinerecords.us coverage checks on test reports. retrieved 2026-10-05.
- U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file (2024) (opens in a new tab). retrieved 2026-10-05.
Figures describe the county as a whole, not any one property. A free report shows the parcel's own flood zone, elevation, storm history and records.