Public Beach Access
All of the beaches in Bay County are public. Bay County maintains 96 public access points stretching from the East end of Thomas Dr. to the west end of Front Beach Road. Visitors should not park in areas marked by no parking signs or on private properly without permission of the owner. There are 4 easy to use public parking areas with beach access; Pier Park/Russell-Fields City Pier (16101 Front Beach Road), MB Miller County Pier (12213 Front Beach Road), Rick Seltzer Park (7419 Thomas Drive), and St. Andrews Stale Park on the East End of Thomas Drive (4607 State Park Lane)

Beach Flags
Bay County and Panama City Beach maintain a flag warning system which alerts swimmers when water conditions have become dangerous. Red flags are used to indicate a high hazard which means rip currents are strong and can present significant danger to swimmers. When red flags are flying swimmers are urged to use extreme caution when entering the water. When double red flags are raised, the Gulf of Mexico is closed to the public. Local officials constantly monitor water conditions. Once it has been determined that water conditions have become safe for swimmers, the flags will be changed accordingly. If you’d like text alerts when the flags change you can sign up by texting “PCB FLAGS” to 888777.

Where to Swim During Beach Closure
Bay County and Panama City Beach maintain a flag warning system which alerts swimmers when water conditions have become dangerous. Red flags are used to indicate a high hazard which means rip currents are strong and can present significant danger to swimmers. When red flags are flying swimmers are urged to use extreme caution when entering the water. When double red flags are raised, the Gulf of Mexico is closed to the public. Local officials constantly monitor water conditions. Once it has been determined that water conditions have become safe for swimmers, the flags will be changed accordingly.

Tents on the Beach
Tents are welcome on our beach. However, tents and any other personal items that are left unattended between the hours 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. are subject to removal by the authorized beach services contractor under the Leave No Trace Ordinance. Read through our Leave No Trace Ordinance for more information on how to protect our beaches.

Alcohol on the Beach
Persons 21 or older are allowed to consume alcoholic beverages on the beach 11 months out of the year. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted on the sandy beach during the month of March. Glass bottles are strictly prohibited year-­round on the beach.

Cookout, Grill, or Bonfires
To have a cookout, grill, or bonfire on the beach, you need to hire a company that offers this service. They will pull the proper permits and set everything up for you.

Fishing License
A fishing license is required to fish in all the waters in the Panama City Beach area unless fishing from a licensed fishing pier or charter boat operated by a licensed captain. A 3-day out of state license can be purchased for $17 at all area Walmarts, most bait and tackle shops, and the Bay County Tax Collectors Office located al 17109 Panama City Beach Parkway. For more information on Fishing Regulations please visit http://myhvc.com.

Best Place to Shell
Shells can be found all along Bay County beaches both on the shore and in the water. Early mornings are the most productive shelling times because the beaches are less crowded. Particularly popular shelling sites include the jetties at St. Andrews State Park, Shell Island, and Crooked Beach located between the Eastern end of Tyndall Air Force Base.