Seawall & dock help·Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach Seawall & Dock
MenuClose
Plan your project(850) 771-7744
Hiring

Choosing a seawall contractor.
Check the license, then the paperwork.

By Panama City Beach SeawallUpdated

To verify a seawall contractor in Panama City Beach, check two layers: the Florida license on DBPR, then local registration where your property sits. Then match the insurance, permits and lien papers to the contract.

About 7 min readOfficial sources linked below

Start with the Florida license

A business tax receipt or an LLC filing is not a contractor license. Bay County's consumer handout says to verify the state license number with DBPR. Bay County hiring handout

Look up both the company and its qualifier, the license holder who answers for the work. The names should match the company on your contract. DBPR guidance DBPR's contact center is (850) 487-1395. DBPR contact

Florida requires the license number on every bid, proposal, contract and ad. Section 489.119(5)(b), F.S. Report suspected unlicensed work to DBPR's hotline at (866) 532-1440. DBPR unlicensed activity program

Match the license to the wall

Florida's contractor statute has no marine or seawall category. Section 489.105(3), F.S. A 2024 board rule created a state-certified marine specialty contractor for docks, seawalls, bulkheads, piers, boatlifts, revetments and related pile driving. Rule 61G4-15.100

License types you may see on a seawall bid
LicenseWhat it coversQuestion to ask
Marine specialty contractor
Construction and repair of docks, seawalls, bulkheads and other marine structures
Does the license cover every item in the scope?
Marine seawall, bulkhead, dock or pile driving specialty
Narrower pieces of marine work Rule 61G4-15.100 subcategories
Who holds the license for the cap, tiebacks and backfill?
General contractor
Unlimited as to type of work Section 489.105(3), F.S.
Who on the crew has built marine walls?
Residential or building contractor
Homes or buildings and their "accessory use structures"
Will the building official accept a seawall under this license?

The old marine rule, 61G4-15.033, was repealed in 2024, though older paperwork may still cite it. Rule 61G4-15.033 history Bay County's plain-language guide lists seawalls and bulkheads within the marine specialty scope. Bay County scope-of-work guide

Then check local registration

Most local offices here also make state-licensed contractors register before they pull permits. Here is what each one says.

Local contractor registration in this area
Where the job isWhat the office requires
Unincorporated Bay County
Registration with the county, with liability and workers' comp certificates naming the county and a copy of the state license. Bay County contractor licensing There is no local business tax receipt there. Bay County licensing FAQ
Panama City Beach
Registration with the Building Department; state-registered contractors need a city competency card and a $5,000 bond Panama City Beach contractor registration Panama City Beach competency card rules
Panama City
Contractor registration through Cloudpermit Panama City Building Services
Lynn Haven
A state license, insurance naming the city and a business tax receipt; registered contractors add a $5,000 bond and county and city competency cards Lynn Haven permit packet
Mexico Beach
Registration with the Building Department and a city Business Occupational License EPCI Mexico Beach page
Port St. Joe
Registration with the Building Department and a city business license, including for out-of-state contractors EPCI Port St. Joe page Port St. Joe business license
Unincorporated Gulf County
Local registration rules were not found online; ask the Building Department Gulf County Building Department

To confirm a contractor in unincorporated Bay County, call Contractor Licensing at (850) 248-8350. Bay County licensing FAQ Port St. Joe confirms business licenses at (850) 229-8261. Port St. Joe business license To find which office covers your parcel, use the permits guide.

Panama City Beach publishes a PDF of active contractors registered to pull permits, with license type and state license number. A missing name may just mean a recent registration. Panama City Beach active contractors list

Out-of-area crews after a storm

After a storm, check every crew before you sign. Contracting without a license during a declared state of emergency is a third-degree felony in Florida. Section 489.127, F.S.

A locally registered contractor from another county is not automatically allowed to work in Bay County. The county's reciprocity form requires a letter from the home county's building official with test scores, and processing takes 7 to 10 working days. Bay County Form L09

A registered contractor may work only where local requirements are met. Section 489.117, F.S. Port St. Joe's business license rule names out-of-state contractors directly. Port St. Joe business license DBPR lists these red flags: DBPR red flags

  • High-pressure "act now" sales, or "free" inspections that find urgent repairs.
  • Large upfront payments, cash only or no written contract.
  • No license number on ads or business cards.
  • "We don't need a permit."

Before any storm repair starts, record the damage. The storm guide lists what to photograph.

Ask for marine insurance, not just a certificate

Certified marine specialty contractors must carry the workers' comp and liability coverage that state and federal law require, including Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act coverage. Rule 61G4-15.100(4)

Whether Longshore applies depends on the job. Bay County's 2026 park seawall bid did not require it because the work was done from shore. Bay County ITB 26-55 addenda Work from a barge raises a different question.

The Florida Attorney General advises verifying insurance yourself and reading the written agreement before signing. Florida Attorney General guidance Call the agent named on the certificate and confirm the named insured and dates.

Look up their permit track record

  • Unincorporated Bay County: the county portal shows permits by address or parcel; searching by contractor name needs a registered portal login. Bay County public portal
  • Panama City Beach: ask the Building Department how to look up a contractor's past permits and inspections.
  • EPCI cities (Callaway, Parker, Springfield, Mexico Beach and Port St. Joe): EPCI lists no online permit search, so ask by phone or email. EPCI Code Administration Services
  • Gulf County: a CitizenServe portal with permit search has been announced for November 9. Gulf County Building Department page

Ask each bidder for three nearby seawall jobs with permit numbers. Then check that those permits closed with passed inspections.

Bay County takes complaints about local contractors on its Uniform Complaint Form by email, but it cannot act on anonymous ones. Bay County complaints page

Check the engineer too

Bay County's dock and seawall form asks for an engineered seawall design. Bay County Form B36 Verify the engineer on MyFloridaLicense, both the person and the firm. Florida Board of Professional Engineers

Florida engineers are not licensed by discipline, so an active license does not prove seawall experience. The board's records line is (850) 521-0500. FBPE verification guidance Ask who assesses the wall, who signs the design and who inspects the piles.

See what a seawall assessment should cover.

Contract, Notice of Commencement and liens

Paperwork to see before and during the job
ItemRuleWhy it matters
Lien law notice
Required in contracts over $2,500 for a one- to four-unit home Section 713.015, F.S.
Unpaid subcontractors and suppliers can lien your home even if you paid the contractor
Recovery fund notice
Required in residential contracts over $2,500 Section 489.1425, F.S.
Tells you about the state's last-resort fund
Deposit over 10%
Permits applied for within 30 days and work started within 90 days of issue Section 489.126, F.S.
Gives you a basis to demand action or a refund
Notice of Commencement
Bay County Form B36 asks for a certified copy over $5,000; Lynn Haven's packet says $2,500 or more Bay County Form B36 Lynn Haven permit packet
Confirm the threshold with your permit office

Search Bay County's Official Records online for documents recorded since 1987, and look for any Notice of Commencement or claim of lien under your name. Official Records: (850) 747-5100. Bay County Clerk official records

The Bay County Clerk offers a free alert when a document is recorded in your name. Bay County Clerk fraud alert The Gulf County Clerk links an alert service too, and its records are searched on myfloridacounty.com. Gulf County Clerk Gulf County Clerk records search

A contractor without the required license cannot enforce the contract or claim a lien. Section 489.128, F.S. The Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund pays only after a judgment against a licensed contractor, and hiring an unlicensed one forfeits it. Section 489.140, F.S.

The lowest bid is not the whole story

On Bay County's 2026 park seawall, 17 priced bids on the same plans ran from $174,350 to about $998,000. Bay County bid tabulation, ITB 26-55 On Panama City's 2026 marina job, staff found two of the three lowest bidders lacked the required five years of similar marine work. Panama City Commission minutes, August 25, 2026

Compare experience, license scope and exclusions before price, and line bids up with the cost guide. If you want help, tell us what your seawall needs and we will help you find a qualified marine contractor through the project planner.

Local paperwork checks by area

Lien and permit paperwork thresholds change at city and county lines. Check the office that issues your permit.

Show sourcesHide sources
  1. Hiring a Licensed ContractorSource reviewed 2026-10-28
  2. Florida DBPR construction business verificationSource reviewed 2026-10-27
  3. Section 489.119(5), Florida Statutes (2026)Source reviewed 2026-10-27
  4. Before You HireSource reviewed 2026-10-27
  5. Section 489.105, Florida Statutes (2026), DefinitionsSource reviewed 2026-10-27
  6. Rule 61G4-15.100, F.A.C., Certified Specialty ContractorsSource reviewed 2026-10-27
  7. Rule 61G4-15.033, F.A.C. (Repealed)Source reviewed 2026-10-27
  8. KNOW YOUR SCOPE OF WORK BY LICENSE TYPESource reviewed 2026-10-28
  9. Contractor LicenseSource reviewed 2026-10-28
  10. FAQs - Building Safety - Contractor LicensingSource reviewed 2026-10-28
  11. Contractor Registration & Trust AccountsSource reviewed 2026-10-28
  12. Certificate of Competency Requirements and Application (v2-24)Source reviewed 2026-10-28
  13. Building ServicesSource reviewed 2026-10-28
  14. Application for Permit (Dock and/or Seawalls)Source reviewed 2026-10-28
  15. Mexico Beach - City InformationSource reviewed 2026-10-28
  16. Port St. Joe - City InformationSource reviewed 2026-10-28
  17. Starting a New Business / Business LicensesSource reviewed 2026-10-28
  18. Building Department - Gulf County, FLSource reviewed 2026-10-28
  19. List of Contractors (Active Contractors PDF)Source reviewed 2026-10-29
  20. Section 489.127, Florida Statutes (2026), Prohibitions; penaltiesSource reviewed 2026-10-27
  21. Form L09 Reciprocity for Registered ContractorsSource reviewed 2026-10-28
  22. Section 489.117, Florida Statutes (2026), Registration; specialty contractorsSource reviewed 2026-10-27
  23. 26-55 Addendum 3 (Aug 31, 2026); also Addendum 1 (DocumentCenter/View/20819), Addendum 2 (View/21001) and ITB (View/20674)Source reviewed 2026-10-28
  24. How to Protect Yourself: ContractorsSource reviewed 2026-10-23
  25. How to search permit information in Unincorporated Bay CountySource reviewed 2026-10-28
  26. EPCI Code Administration ServicesSource reviewed 2026-10-28
  27. ComplaintsSource reviewed 2026-10-28
  28. Dock and Seawall Permit Packet (Forms B36, B03, B05)Source reviewed 2026-10-28
  29. Florida Board of Professional Engineers licensee searchSource reviewed 2026-10-27
  30. Engineering DirectorySource reviewed 2026-10-23
  31. Section 713.015, Florida Statutes (2026), Mandatory provisions for direct contractsSource reviewed 2026-10-27
  32. Section 489.1425, Florida Statutes (2026)Source reviewed 2026-10-27
  33. Section 489.126, Florida Statutes (2026), Moneys received by contractorsSource reviewed 2026-10-27
  34. Search Official RecordsSource reviewed 2026-10-28
  35. Property Fraud AlertsSource reviewed 2026-10-28
  36. Gulf County Clerk of Circuit Court & County Comptroller (home)Source reviewed 2026-10-28
  37. Records SearchSource reviewed 2026-10-28
  38. Section 489.128, Florida Statutes (2026), Contracts entered into by unlicensed contractors unenforceableSource reviewed 2026-10-27
  39. Sections 489.140-489.141, Florida Statutes (2026)Source reviewed 2026-10-27
  40. 26-55 Solicitation TabulationSource reviewed 2026-10-28
  41. City Commission Meeting Minutes, August 25, 2026, item 12.aSource reviewed 2026-10-28
  42. Letter: Suggested Scope of Work and Qualifications of Bidders for Panama City Marina Re-bid of ITB PC26-021Source reviewed 2026-10-28
  43. Building PermitsSource reviewed 2026-10-28

Get help with your seawall.

Tell us where your property is and what your seawall or dock needs.

Built on Bay and Gulf County permit rules, public records and storm data.

Plan your project(850) 771-7744
Plan your project(850) 771-7744