Panama City Warns Applicants About Fake Emails Seeking Extra Planning and Zoning Fees
The city says all Planning and Zoning fees are paid once, at filing, and it does not send last-minute invoices or payment links.
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The City of Panama City is warning permit applicants about fraudulent emails that appear to come from city staff and ask for additional fees. The warning is an item on the agenda for the Planning Board’s Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, meeting at 4 p.m. in City Hall, 501 Harrison Avenue, Lower Level, Room 010, in Panama City, in Bay County, Florida.
The agenda item is titled ‘Fraudulent Planning & Zoning Fee Scam Emails – Applicants Take Notice.’ It says the Planning and Zoning Division, part of the Development Services Department, is alerting applicants to a scam involving emails that request additional fees.
What applicants should know about fees
According to the agenda, all Planning and Zoning fees are paid once, at the time an application is submitted. The city does not send last-minute invoices or payment links.
Who to call with questions
Applicants with questions about the status of an application or about fees should call the Planning and Zoning Division at (850) 691-4595, the agenda says.
What the agenda does not say
The agenda does not say when the emails started, how many applicants received them, or whether the city has referred them to another agency.
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Questions and answers
- What should Panama City permit applicants do if they get an email asking for extra Planning and Zoning fees?
- The city says all Planning and Zoning fees are paid once, at the time the application is submitted, and it does not send last-minute invoices or payment links. Applicants with questions about fees or application status should call the Planning and Zoning Division at (850) 691-4595, according to the Planning Board agenda for Nov. 9, 2026.
- What is the phone number for Panama City Planning and Zoning?
- The Planning and Zoning Division of Panama City's Development Services Department can be reached at (850) 691-4595 about application status or fees, according to the Planning Board agenda for Nov. 9, 2026.
