Home > Relocation Information > Residency

Establishing Residency

To become a legal resident of Florida, please refer to one of the following.            See these sections of the Florida Statutes http://www.leg.state.fl.us                    Section 222.17 (homestead exemption)                                                            Section 1009.21 (residency requirements for tuition and state financial aid for education)                                                                                                        Section 196.015                                                                                                Section 372.57

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs has information on Florida residency in the "Retirement" section of their website: http://elderaffairs.state.fl.us/doea/english/retire.html 

The Florida Department of Revenue has information in the "new residents" section of their website: http://sun6.dms.state.fl.us/dor/taxes/nes.html

See also information from Florida county elections supervisors: http://election.dos.state.fl.us/county/index.shtml

See also information from Florida county property appraisers: http://sun6.dms.state.fl.us/dor/property/appraisers.html                                    

Driver’s Licenses
A Florida driver’s license is required within 30 days for any driver who becomes a resident of Florida, is employed in Florida, or registers a child in a Florida public school. To obtain a driver’s license Florida law requires identification, proof of date of birth, proof of residential address and proof of social security number.

New residents who have a current driver’s license from another state are required to pass only the vision portion of the examination. First-time applicants must take vision, written and road tests. Applicants should make an appointment to take the drivers examination.

The cost of a first time Florida license is $27. The license is valid for eight years. License renewal is $20 and a replacement license is $10.

Driver’s License Offices
237 W. 15th Street
Panama City
850-747-5751

104 S. Arnold Road
Panama City Beach
(No road tests)
850-233-5035

Automobile Tags and Registration
New residents must register their vehicles and obtain a Florida license tag within 10 days of establishing legal residency or prior to beginning work or registering children in the public school system.  Military personnel and students are exempt.  Proof of Florida insurance, a copy of your out-of-state title or registration, and a completed Florida State Form 82042 which verifies the vehicle’s identity number and odometer readings is required. Please visit the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle's web site at www.flhsmc.gov for more information or the Bay County Tax Collector web site at http://tc.co.bay.fl.us.

Bay County Tax Collector’s Offices
648 Mulberry Avenue
Panama City
850-784-4090

104 S. Arnold Road
Panama City Beach
850-233-5035

801 Florida Ave.
Lynn Haven
850-271-8850

5416 N. Lakewood Drive
Parker
850-872-4654

Services

Voter Registration
Voter registration may be done at the Bay County Registration and Elections office, local libraries, driver’s license offices or by mail. Florida voters must be a legal resident of Florida and the appropriate county, be 18 years old by Election Day and have no felony record. Voter registration must be completed 29 days prior to the election. The Supervisor of Elections office is located at 205 Mosley Drive Lynn Haven, FL 32444. The phone number is 850-784-6100.

Recycling
Bay County residents may use drop centers or take materials to a buy-back or other recycling center. For information on the recycling centers or programs contact the Recycling Hotline at 850-784-6127.

Fishing
Whether you are fishing for dinner or for a prized trophy, we promise you’ll find it swimming in the waters surrounding Bay County. Charter a boat to take you deep-sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, fish from one of our piers or bridges or, if you prefer freshwater fishing, cast your line into Deer Point Lake. A deep-sea catch might include snapper, grouper, tuna, or marlin while a freshwater catch could be a large-mouth bass or bluegill.

Freshwater and saltwater fishing fishing requires a license. Some ages are exempt from licensing. Call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at (850) 265-3676 for more information or visit www.floridaconservation.org. Licenses are available from the Bay County Tax Collectors offices or substations; call (850) 784-4090. Licenses are renewable and cost varies.

Transportation Highway Network
Bay County highways are complemented by U.S. Highways 98 and 231, and Florida Routes 20, 22, 77 and 79. Interstate Highway 10 is located 13 miles from the northern portion of Bay County and 38 miles from the center of Panama City.

Utilities
Electric, gas, telephone and water companies require deposits for first time service in the area. Deposits vary in each municipality.

Electricity
Gulf Power Company
800-225-5797

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative
850-265-3631

Natural Gas
TECO Peoples Gas
1-877-832-6747

Telephone
BellSouth Residential: 850-757-6500
Business: 850-620-6000

Knology (phone, cable and internet)
850-215-1000

Comcast Cable (phone, cable and internet)
(850) 769-0392