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Emergency Board Up in Panama City, FL

We board up broken windows, forced doors and storm-damaged openings at homes and businesses across Panama City, in Bay County. Hurricane Michael came ashore near Tyndall Air Force Base on October 10, 2018 as a Category 5[1], and a year later the city began sending code notices to owners of untouched damaged buildings[2]. More than half of the city's homes were built before 1980[3], so many have no impact glass or shutter anchors. Send the address and what is open for a free estimate.

Panama City at a glance

Open damaged building
A nuisance under sec. 12-19
An unsafe structure left open can become a city code case against the owner[4].
Time to comply
10 to 120 days
A city notice on an unsafe structure must allow at least 10 and at most 120 days[4].
City storm advice
5/8-inch marine plywood, pre-cut
The city names this the second option after permanent shutters, and says tape does not stop glass breaking[5].
Plywood as code protection
7/16-inch panels, permanent anchors
Bay County's Form B23 allows it on low-rise homes within one mile of the mean high-water line[6].
Window replacement
Permit still needed
Bay County treats exterior windows and doors as structural, outside the 2026 HB 803 exemption[7].
Typical cost
$180 to $910
Covers boarding one to a few broken windows or a door with plywood at a Panama City home or shop.

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Emergency Board Up in Panama City, FL

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  1. We read what broke and where.
  2. We call you to confirm the details and the price, before any boards go up.
  3. A technician from our own crew secures the openings and photographs each one.

How Much Does Emergency Board Up Cost in Panama City?

Emergency board up in Panama City typically costs $180 to $910 to cover one to a few broken windows or a door with plywood.

The median Panama City home was built in 1976[3], and older openings rarely match a stock sheet, so each panel is cut to fit. A pre-storm job near the water done to Bay County's Form B23 costs more than an emergency sheet, because it needs predrilled panels and permanent anchors[6].

Our cost page covers the rest.

What Can Panama City Do if a Damaged Building Stays Open?

Sec. 12-19 of the city code lists any unfit or unsafe dwelling or structure as a nuisance[4]. Under sec. 12-22 an inspector's notice can order it vacated, repaired or demolished, with 10 to 120 days to comply[4].

An uncorrected case goes before a magistrate, and fines left unpaid for 30 days let the city place a lien on the owner's other property[8]. If the order is ignored, sec. 12-27 lets the city abate the nuisance with its own crews or the lowest and best bidder[4]. That bill, plus administrative, legal, postal and publication expenses, becomes a lien superior to all others except taxes[4].

Hearings start at 9 a.m. in Room 010 at City Hall[8].

What Hurricane Michael and Later Storms Did to Panama City

At least 90 percent of Panama City's structures were damaged in Michael[2], and power was out for weeks in places[1]. An empty, dark house with an open window is exposed to rain and theft.

EventDateWhat was recorded
Michael landfall near Tyndall AFBOctober 10, 2018161 mph winds, 139 mph gust before the sensor failed[1]
Michael in Bay CountyOctober 2018More than 45,000 structures damaged, more than 1,500 destroyed[9]
Michael surgeOctober 20184 to 6 feet around St. Andrew Bay[9]
EF-3 tornado from Lower Grand LagoonJanuary 2024Crossed the bay, EF-1 damage in the city past West 23rd Street[10]
Bay County storm reportsTen years to 2025160 thunderstorm wind reports, 22 tornadoes[11]

Wind and tornadoes break windows here outside hurricane season too.

Is Plywood Allowed as Hurricane Protection on a Panama City Home?

Yes, in some cases. Bay County's 2023 wind map shows design wind speed lines of 130 and 140 mph crossing the county and marks a debris region within one mile of the mean high-water line[12]. Its Form B23 lets an R-3 or R-4 home with a mean roof height of 33 feet or less in that strip use wood panels as its required opening protection[6]:

  • panels at least 7/16 inch thick, with a 44-inch span between fastener lines[6]
  • cut to extend at least 2 inches past the fastener lines, and predrilled[6]
  • corrosion-resistant hardware permanently installed on the building, rated for at least 300 pounds of withdrawal[6]
  • on block walls, fasteners at least 1.5 inches from the edge of the opening[6]

Distance from the bay is no guarantee. A state study found Michael's debris struck more than three miles inland from St. Andrew Bay in Panama City[13]. The state-wide panel rules are on our Florida board-up rules page.

Boarding Up Older Homes, Rentals and Storefronts in St. Andrews and Downtown

About 55 percent of Panama City homes were built before 1980[3], so older, out-of-square frames are common and we measure each opening. About 44 percent of occupied homes are rented[3], so a landlord or manager usually approves the work.

About 11 percent of housing units are vacant[3], and an empty unit with a broken window is what the nuisance code reaches.

The St. Andrews Historic Treatment Zone runs south of Highway 98 and north of St. Andrews Bay, between Liddon and Frankford Avenues[15]. On older buildings there we fasten through the opening where we can, to spare the trim. Downtown, the zoning code says shopfront windows may not be made opaque by window treatments[15], so a shop will want its glass back soon.

Panama City Neighborhoods and Nearby Towns We Cover

We work across the city, from St. Andrews and Millville on the bay to Downtown, Downtown North and Glenwood, and in the Cove, Venetian Villa, SweetBay, Lake Huntington, Forest Park, Candlewick and Liberty[16]. We also take jobs in Lynn Haven, Callaway, Panama City Beach, Mexico Beach, Southport and West Bay, and along the Panhandle in Pensacola.

ZIP codes: 32401, 32404, 32405

Panama City Questions

Will Panama City Let Me Repair a Badly Damaged House Instead of Demolishing It?

No, not always. Sec. 12-22 says the city will not order repair where the cost would exceed 50 percent of the structure's value after repair[4]. Boarding what can be saved buys time to get estimates.

Do I Need a Permit to Replace the Window After It Is Boarded?

Yes. Panama City requires a permit before repair work begins[14], and Bay County says exterior windows and doors are structural, so the 2026 HB 803 exemption does not cover them[7].

Can an Unlicensed Crew Board Up Homes After a Hurricane Here?

No. Bay County warns that unlicensed contracting during a declared state of emergency is a third-degree felony under s. 489.127(2)(c)[7]. Check a license and insurance at (850) 248-8350[17].

Who Takes a Break-In Report in Panama City Before You Board Up?

Panama City Police, at (850) 872-3100. Records, for the copy your insurer wants, answers at (850) 872-3103 on weekdays[18]. Outside city limits, call the Bay County Sheriff at (850) 747-4700[19].

Which Office Handles an Open Building in Southport or West Bay?

Bay County Code Enforcement, at (850) 248-8290. It covers only unincorporated Bay County[20]. Inside city limits, Panama City Code Compliance handles it.

Can I Report a Neighbor's Open, Storm-Damaged House Without Giving My Name?

No. Since July 1, 2021, Florida law requires a name and address to report a possible code violation, and Panama City follows it[8].

What Should I Photograph Before You Board Up for My Insurer?

The damage before any work, then the openings after. Florida's Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights says to document emergency repairs, keep receipts and photograph before and after[21]. On policies issued on or after January 1, 2023, the claim cannot be assigned to us[22].

Can a Newer Panama City House Still Lose Windows in a Hurricane?

Yes. A state study shows a Panama City house built in 2005 that lost glazed openings in Michael at an estimated 128 mph, below its 133 mph design speed[13].

Near Panama City

We also cover Tallahassee, Pensacola in the The Panhandle area. See all areas, the price table and Florida rules.

Sources

  1. NWS Tallahassee, Hurricane Michael 2018
  2. WFSU/WLRN, Hurricane Michael a year later (Oct. 4, 2019)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 (5-year)
  4. Panama City Code of Ordinances, Chapter 12, secs. 12-19, 12-22, 12-27 and 12-28
  5. City of Panama City, Hurricane Information
  6. Bay County Form B23, Wind-Borne Debris Protection Affidavit and Notice
  7. Bay County Building Safety Division (HB 803 FAQ and s. 489.127(2)(c) notice)
  8. City of Panama City, Code Compliance
  9. National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report, Hurricane Michael
  10. NWS Tallahassee, January 2024 Tornado Outbreak
  11. NOAA Storm Events Database, 2016-2025
  12. Bay County Wind-Borne Debris Map, 2023 Florida Building Code, 8th Edition
  13. Florida Building Commission / University of Florida, Investigation of the Wind-borne Debris Regions in ASCE 7-22 (2024)
  14. City of Panama City, Permits, Inspections and Certificates
  15. Panama City Unified Land Development Code, secs. 104-33 and 104-64
  16. City of Panama City, Golf Cart Operations FAQ
  17. Bay County, Tips on Choosing a Contractor
  18. Panama City Police Department, Reports and Records Requests
  19. Bay County Sheriff's Office
  20. Bay County Code Enforcement
  21. Florida Statutes, s. 627.7142 (Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights)
  22. Florida Statutes, s. 627.7152(13)

Checked November 2026. Rules change: confirm with the office named before you rely on one.

Request a free estimate

Emergency Board Up in Panama City, FL

By sending this request you agree that Florida Board Up Kings may call, text or email you about it at the number and email you gave. See our Privacy Policy.

  1. We read what broke and where.
  2. We call you to confirm the details and the price, before any boards go up.
  3. A technician from our own crew secures the openings and photographs each one.