What do I submit for impact fee calculation?

New Construction

• Utility Availability Request
• Construction plans
• Site plans for irrigation meters
• Fixture schedules 

Forms must be submitted to:  waterandsewerimpactfees@pcbfl.gov

Existing Single Residential Homes

• Utility Availability Request
• 10-2024 Customer Self-Report Worksheet Form
• Site plans for irrigation meters

Forms must be submitted to: waterandsewerimpactfees@pcbfl.gov

My residence is currently on septic.  What are the steps to tie into the City sewer system?

1. The customer should submit the Utilities Availability Request form to waterandsewerimpactfees@pcbfl.gov. A city technician will take the request and verify the availability and location of services. Completed Availability Request forms will be emailed to the requestor and the Utilities department.
2. The customer must provide a set of building plans (including a fixture schedule) or the Impact Fee Calculation Worksheet to the Utilities Department. Utilities will calculate and approve the worksheet.  A copy of this approval will be emailed to the customer.
3. The customer will take the approved copy and pay their impact fees at the Utility Billing & Customer Service office (located on the 1^st floor of the Public Services Building).

Where is the closest sewer line to my house?

The customer should submit the Utilities Availability Request form to waterandsewerimpactfees@pcbfl.gov. A city technician will take the request and verify the availability and location of services. Completed Availability Request forms will be emailed to the requestor and the Utilities department.

What is an impact fee?

Under the Florida Constitution, impact fees are enacted to meet infrastructure needs at the local level. Regarding connections to the City of Panama City Beach’s water and sewer systems, an "impact fee" or user charge, is established by City ordinance (Chapter 23, Section 23-23).

The impact fee is based on the costs associated with new or increasing demands to the City's water and sewer systems that contribute to future increased capacity improvements on existing systems.

Impact fees are based on the number of fixtures in the home and vary from home to home.

The various drainage fixture units are defined in the Florida Building Code, Plumbing, Section 709, and their assigned values are used to estimate the total load carried by water and waste pipe and their service systems.

What if I want to pay my impact fees prior to receiving engineering approval? 

If you want to pay impact fees prior to receiving engineering approval, you will be required to pay with a signed affidavit. You will not be allowed to connect to City sewer until the main extension is completed and approved for operation by both the City and the State.

How can I estimate impact fees?

Currently, we are unable to estimate impact fees.  Plans and fixture schedules should be submitted to waterandsewerimpactfees@pcbfl.gov.

What is a long tap and short tap?

• Long vs short: signifies the location of the water or sewer main in relation to your property.
• Long tap: Your service connection must cross to the other side of the road to be able to be connected.
• Short tap: The main is on the same side of the road as your property.

When is a grinder pump needed? 

When connecting to a low-pressure sewer main. Must be 2 HP minimum to be able to pump your wastewater into the system.

Who pays for this process?

The resident or customer.

Who installs sewer extensions?

A contractor would install an extension possibly requiring Engineering Approval and/or FDEP permitting.

When do I need a FDEP permit?

• If the City’s sewer system is not located directly in front of your property and if the length of the extension that would be required to be installed to serve your property meets the criteria set by the FDEP, an engineer must design this extension so that it meets the State’s requirements for wastewater collection/transmission systems. You may reach out to FDEP’s Northwest District Permitting Department to confirm.
• You may reach out to the City’s Utilities Engineering Department to find out if your sewer extension would need to be designed by a licensed engineer.
• All project submittals must be sent in electronic format to the Planning Department (developmentsubmittals@pcbfl.gov) for engineering review.

When can a plumber pull a permit to begin work?

The plumber must show a receipt of paid impact fees.