Can I order drone documentation for a property in Panama City after Hurricane Isaias?

Yes. Order online at lossmap.io/order or call (214) 493-1515, for property in Panama City, Panama City Beach, Lynn Haven, and Mexico Beach. Every job is reviewed and quoted, and that review confirms whether and when a pilot can fly the property. Nothing is charged when you order.

Do I need a permit to repair or replace a roof in Panama City?

Unincorporated Bay County: Bay County Building Safety requires a roofing permit for any replacement or repair of more than 100 square feet on a residential project, and for any commercial installation or major repair. We did not find a county page on tarps or emergency storm repairs. If it is safe, have the roof documented before the tarp goes on, then document the tarp once it is on.

How does storm debris pickup work in Panama City?

City of Panama City Beach: Follow city and Bay County instructions for the specific disaster. Place storm debris at the right-of-way only when instructed, separated into vegetative, construction, appliances, electronics, and household hazardous waste, without blocking roads, sidewalks, storm drains, fire hydrants, water meters, mailboxes, power poles, or utilities. Do not mix household garbage with storm debris. Check the official page for current details. Before anything goes to the curb, a drone flight can record where trees and debris came to rest.

Are there local drone rules in Panama City?

State of Florida: Florida reserves drone regulation to the state, so cities and counties may not pass their own ordinances on drone operation, airspace, altitude, or flight paths. State law separately limits flights over critical infrastructure such as power plants, airports, and military installations, and over K-12 schools without written consent. Pilots check local rules for takeoff and landing sites as well as FAA rules. The job review confirms whether and when a flight can happen.

Panama City Drone Documentation After Isaias

Storm facts, as of October 9, 2026, 4:55 PM CDT

The National Hurricane Center's 4 PM CDT advisory on October 9 placed Isaias about 90 miles south of Pensacola with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph, moving north at 17 mph, and forecast landfall on the western Florida Panhandle coast that evening, then a track across Alabama into the Tennessee Valley. National Hurricane Center, Public Advisory 13.
That advisory carried a hurricane warning from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Bay and Gulf county line in Florida, and tropical storm warnings to the west into Louisiana and to the east to the Aucilla River. National Hurricane Center, Public Advisory 13.
Florida: Executive Order 26-211, signed October 7, declares a state of emergency in 27 counties, listed in the order, including Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, and Bay. Executive Office of the Governor of Florida, Executive Order 26-211.

For current warnings and orders in Bay County, follow the National Hurricane Center and Bay County Emergency Management.

Safety first

Do not go back, fly a drone, or climb a roof in Panama City until local officials say it is safe. Stay off the roof: a drone flight is how the roof gets documented without anyone on it. Do what keeps people safe and prevents more damage, even if that means the tarp goes on before anyone flies.

Airspace around Panama City

The FAA decides who may fly where. Here is what FAA airspace data and orders show in and around Bay County, checked October 9, 2026:

Tyndall AFB (Class D airspace from the surface to 2,500 feet MSL, with a Class E surface area). Parts of Callaway, Springfield, and Parker sit inside it from the ground up, so a Part 107 pilot needs FAA authorization before a flight there, and the pilot checks each address. Tyndall is not on the FAA's list of LAANC airports, so that is a manual FAA authorization request. FAA data
Tyndall AFB, Naval Support Activity Panama City, and the Coast Guard station (a national security drone flight restriction from the surface to 400 feet). Drones may not fly over the Tyndall reservation on the peninsula east of Panama City toward Mexico Beach, NSA Panama City on the Thomas Drive side of St. Andrew Bay, or the Coast Guard station and berths. For a home near one, the pilot checks the boundary on the FAA map, and the job review confirms whether and when a flight can happen. FAA data
Tyndall restricted areas R-2905A and R-2905B (restricted areas from the surface to 10,000 feet MSL, active intermittently by NOTAM). They cover the southeast end of the Tyndall peninsula, west of Mexico Beach. When they are active, nobody may fly there without permission. The pilot checks NOTAMs for the day. FAA data
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (Class D airspace from the surface to 2,500 feet MSL). Parts of the West Bay area around the airport, north of Panama City Beach, sit inside it from the ground up, so a flight needs FAA authorization first. The airport is on the FAA's list of LAANC airports. faa.gov
Eglin restricted area R-2914A (a restricted area from the surface up, in continuous use). A small part of far northwest Bay County, at the Walton County line, falls inside it, and drones do not fly there. FAA data
Panama City, Lynn Haven, Panama City Beach, and Mexico Beach (an area where FAA data show no controlled airspace near the ground and no restricted area at the points checked, including St. Andrews, Front Beach Road, Thomas Drive, Laguna Beach, Southport, and Youngstown). The pilot still checks the exact address, since NSA Panama City sits near Thomas Drive, and after the storm the FAA may put a temporary flight restriction over the area. FAA data

For every address in Panama City, the pilot checks the airspace and gets FAA authorization where it is required. The job review confirms whether and when a flight can happen. See the FAA rules for drone roof inspections.

FAA flight restrictions after the storm

The FAA issues temporary flight restrictions for natural disasters such as hurricanes. They are published as NOTAMs and keep aircraft, including drones, from flying in an area without permission for a limited time. Active restrictions over Florida are on the FAA’s TFR list. To fly in one, a pilot coordinates with the controlling agency named in it, and approval is the FAA’s decision. A restricted area can add time to a shoot, and some flights wait until a restriction lifts.

Local drone rules

State of Florida. Florida reserves drone regulation to the state, so cities and counties may not pass their own ordinances on drone operation, airspace, altitude, or flight paths. State law separately limits flights over critical infrastructure such as power plants, airports, and military installations, and over K-12 schools without written consent. In its words: “a political subdivision may not enact or enforce an ordinance or resolution relating to the design, manufacture, testing, maintenance, licensing, registration, certification, or operation of an unmanned aircraft system” leg.state.fl.us
City of Panama City. The city's noise code bars operating powered model vehicles, defined as self-propelled model planes, vessels, or vehicles not designed to carry people, between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. and 10 a.m. on weekends or holidays. It does not name drones. In its words: “The operating of or permitting the operation of powered model vehicles between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays, and 10:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. on weekends or holidays is prohibited.” library.municode.com
City of Panama City Beach. The city's aviation chapter has an older rule against aircraft flying low over the city that does not mention drones. Check with the city before launching on the beach. library.municode.com
Florida state parks. Florida's state park rule bars any aircraft or other aerial apparatus from taking off from or landing in a state park, such as St. Andrews State Park and Camp Helen State Park in Panama City Beach, except in a life-threatening emergency or at a designated landing facility. flrules.org

We did not find a local drone takeoff or landing rule on the official pages of unincorporated Bay County, the City of Lynn Haven, and the City of Mexico Beach. Check with the city or county before launching from a park or beach. Pilots check local rules for takeoff and landing sites as well as FAA rules.

Roof permits and tarping

If it is safe, document the roof before the tarp goes on, then document the tarp once it is on. Before repairs, check what the building department requires.

Unincorporated Bay County. Bay County Building Safety requires a roofing permit for any replacement or repair of more than 100 square feet on a residential project, and for any commercial installation or major repair. We did not find a county page on tarps or emergency storm repairs. baycountyfl.gov
City of Panama City Beach. The city's storm page says to contact the City Building Department before starting structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, roofing, demolition, or substantial repairs, and to follow permit, inspection, floodplain, substantial-damage, and Florida Building Code requirements. pcbfl.gov
City of Panama City. Building Services says a permit is required to construct, alter, or repair a building, including roofing, and that the owner is responsible for having permits issued before work starts. We did not find a city page on tarps or emergency storm repairs. panamacity.gov
City of Lynn Haven. The Building Department's permits page lists a Roof Permit Application and a Roof Inspection Affidavit. We did not find a Lynn Haven page on tarps or emergency storm repairs. cityoflynnhaven.gov

We did not find a storm roof repair rule on the official pages of the City of Mexico Beach. Check with the city or county building department before repairs.

Storm debris pickup

Once debris goes to the curb or is hauled off, the record of where it landed is gone. If it is safe to leave it, fly first, then move it.

City of Panama City Beach. Follow city and Bay County instructions for the specific disaster. Place storm debris at the right-of-way only when instructed, separated into vegetative, construction, appliances, electronics, and household hazardous waste, without blocking roads, sidewalks, storm drains, fire hydrants, water meters, mailboxes, power poles, or utilities. Do not mix household garbage with storm debris. pcbfl.gov

We did not find a storm debris page for unincorporated Bay County, the City of Panama City, the City of Lynn Haven, and the City of Mexico Beach. Check with the city or county for pickup rules.

What gets documented

The roof. Missing and creased shingles and lifted membrane, from straight overhead.
The exterior and site. Every side of the structure, plus fences, outbuildings, and detached structures.
Wind versus water. Water lines, high-water marks, flood extent, and where debris came to rest.
Trees and impact. A tree on a structure before removal, and downed trees across the yard, fences, and vehicles.
Emergency work. Tarps and board-up, documented once they are on.

The gallery comes as a permalink you can send to your adjuster and to every contractor you ask for a bid. Adjusters with many addresses in Bay County can order CAT or volume dispatch.

Order a shoot →

How ordering works

Tell us what happened, the address, and a preferred date, online or at (214) 493-1515.
We review the job and send a quote. That review confirms whether and when a pilot can fly the property. Nothing is charged when you order.
An FAA Part 107 pilot flies the shot list when it is safe and allowed. Flights need safe weather, generally winds under 20 mph and no precipitation.
You get the gallery by link. The delivery timeline comes with the quote.

Housing and trailers in Panama City

lossmap documents the property. If the home is not livable, our parent company covers temporary housing on your lot in Panama City, including the local rules for an RV on residential property. Crews and families who need a travel trailer can see trailers for crews and families in Panama City.

Nearby areas

Drone documentation in Fort Walton Beach and Destin · All Hurricane Isaias areas

What lossmap is not

lossmap provides aerial imagery and visual documentation. It is not a licensed roof inspection, an engineering report, or an insurance determination. Whether a carrier accepts the imagery is the carrier’s decision: see do insurers accept drone roof photos.

Sources

Official pages. Storm facts checked October 9, 2026, 4:55 PM CDT; local facts checked October 9, 2026.

Drone Damage Documentation in Panama City After Hurricane Isaias