FloodMaps
Map of FEMA flood zones in Bay CountyTap the map to explore

County · Flood risk

Check any address in Bay County

Quick facts

Homes on the tax roll

97,752

Residential parcels on the Florida Department of Revenue roll

FEMA flood map in effect

Oct 2024

First flood map 1981

Flood insurance discount

25% off

Bay County, Community Rating System Class 5

Most flood claims in one storm

2,131

Hurricane Michael 2018, 1,249 paid

Homes with water, FEMA aid

1,067

Aid registrations reporting water inside, Hurricane Michael 2018

Sinkhole reports

2

Florida Geological Survey, mostly unverified

Past storms in Bay County

National Flood Insurance Program claims and FEMA aid registrations that reported water inside the home, for the whole county.

Flood claims and FEMA aid by storm in Bay County
StormClaimsPaidAid, water inside
Hurricane Michael 20182,1311,2491,067
Hurricane Sally 2020296231241
Hurricane Helene 2024133–

Frequently asked questions

Do I need flood insurance in Bay County?

Lenders require flood insurance on a federally backed mortgage when the building is in one of FEMA's high-risk zones, the ones starting with A or V. The map that sets those zones in Bay County took effect on October 24, 2024. Outside those zones insurance is optional, but claims come from moderate- and low-risk zones too, so it's worth checking the zone and the floor height of the exact home.

When was the FEMA flood map for Bay County last updated?

The flood map in effect for Bay County took effect on October 24, 2024. The county's first flood map dates to July 2, 1981.

Is there a flood insurance discount in Bay County?

Bay County is in FEMA's Community Rating System at Class 5, which takes 25% off National Flood Insurance Program premiums for policies inside the high-risk flood zone. Classes run from 10 to 1, and each step down adds 5% off.

Which storms flooded Bay County the most?

By National Flood Insurance Program claims across Bay County, the worst recent storms were Hurricane Michael 2018 (2,131 claims, 1,249 paid), Hurricane Sally 2020 (296 claims, 231 paid), and Hurricane Helene 2024 (13 claims, 3 paid). After Hurricane Michael 2018, 1,067 FEMA aid registrations in the county reported water inside the home. Claims only count insured homes, so the real number of flooded homes is higher.

What causes flooding in Bay County?

On the Gulf coast, the worst floods come from hurricane storm surge pushed into bays, canals, and river mouths, and from heavy rain that can't drain while the tide is high. The storms we track for the Panhandle are Hurricane Hermine 2016, Hurricane Irma 2017, Hurricane Michael 2018, Hurricane Sally 2020, and Hurricane Helene 2024. Bay County has about 97,800 homes on the state tax roll.

Bay County includes Panama City and Panama City Beach on St. Andrew Bay; Hurricane Michael came ashore at Mexico Beach in 2018.

Bay County has about 97,800 homes on the state tax roll. The FEMA flood map in effect for Bay County took effect on October 24, 2024; the county's first flood map dates to 1981. The storm that left the most flood insurance claims in the county was Hurricane Michael 2018, with 2,131, followed by Hurricane Sally 2020 with 296. Bay County is in FEMA's Community Rating System at Class 5, which takes 25% off National Flood Insurance Program premiums for policies inside the high-risk flood zone.

On the Gulf coast, the worst floods come from hurricane storm surge pushed into bays, canals, and river mouths, and from heavy rain that can't drain while the tide is high. The storms we track for the Panhandle are Hurricane Hermine 2016, Hurricane Irma 2017, Hurricane Michael 2018, Hurricane Sally 2020, and Hurricane Helene 2024.

Search any address in Bay County for a free report: its FEMA flood zone and whether insurance is required, its risk level, and its floor height against the flood line. The full report adds a 0 to 100 risk score, the flood insurance cost, the home's record in each storm we track, and a PDF to share.

Compiled by FloodMaps from FEMA, state, and county records. Data dates: 2026 county tax roll (preliminary values); flood claims and FEMA aid for storms from 2016 through Hurricane Milton (October 2024); FEMA map dates and insurance discounts as of October 8, 2026.

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