The Bay County Planning Commission on Oct. 21, 2025, voted to forward staff-proposed amendments to Chapters 13, 18 and 29 of the Bay County Land Development Regulations to the Board of County Commissioners.

Planning staff said the proposed Chapter 13 language would allow fences up to eight feet in height within 10 feet of the front property line for industrial and commercial uses. Chapter 18 changes clarify development-review timeframes and mirror recent state changes; staff said one omitted but relevant addition addresses new state requirements for recordation and review of subdivisions. Chapter 29 adds language for small-subdivision development and includes a provision — provided by the county attorney, staff said — prohibiting a developer, owner or agent from selling or transferring any interest in land in a subdivision prior to plat recording except as the cited section allows.

Wayne Porter, planning staff, told the commission that the proposed timeframe language aligns with Senate Bill 1080, which took effect in July and adjusts the period for planning officials to approve or deny certain applications. He said the change is intended to clear up confusion in the previous wording rather than to slow review. A commission member raised questions about the increase from previously cited 30-day review windows to language that references up to 120 days; staff said the revision mirrors the state statute and clarifies review steps, including resubmittal handling.

The commission voted to forward the packet as revised that day (the staff noted last-minute revisions were provided and highlighted in the revised packet) to the Board of County Commissioners for consideration.