Bay County amends code to address vacant buildings, private driveways and crime‑related property conditions

Bay County commissioners adopted changes to Chapter 17 of the county code Tuesday that expand enforcement options for vacant or problem properties and establish standards for unsafe private driveways and sites with repeated criminal activity.

County Attorney Brian (last name not specified) said the proposed amendments aim to reduce unauthorized access to vacant buildings, allow code enforcement to address unsafe private driveways or parking areas that pose hazards, and require property owners to take remedial steps when a location is associated with multiple specified criminal acts. "When that happens this gives the authority to require that the property owner adopt some various things to address the ongoing criminal activity, be it additional lighting or private security or patrols in the parking lot," the county attorney said.

The changes mirror similar language the county uses to address nuisance properties and to align enforcement options with those used by the City of Panama City Beach. Commissioners asked no substantive questions, and no members of the public spoke on the item. The board approved the ordinance on a roll call vote.

Staff said the amendments will enable code enforcement to require secured access for vacant structures, fix dangerous private driveways that affect county roads, and impose property‑level mitigation (lighting, fencing, private security) where repeated criminal activity is documented. Implementation will require administrative procedures for notice, hearings and remedies under the county code.