The Mayor, City Council and City Manager welcome you to the City of Panama City Beach's Government page.

The City has a City Manager form of government, meaning the manager handles the day-to-day business activities of the City. The Mayor and four City Council members set policy and priorities through resolutions, ordinances and the budget process.

Visit the City Council pages for a welcome from the Mayor, information on contacting the City Council, Agendas, a live feed to City Council meetings, a map of the City limits, a calendar of meetings and events, minutes, resolutions and ordinances and more.

Administrative offices for the Mayor, City Council, City Manager and City Clerk can be found inside City Hall at 17007 Panama City Beach Parkway.

We encourage you to be involved in your City government by attending or watching Council meetings, following the City on Facebook, and subscribing to our news updates through e-notify. Should you need any assistance, please contact City Hall at (850) 233-5100.

History of the City of Panama City Beach

The City, as a government, is relatively young. 

Panama City Beach is a City of consolidated communities. Much of the City, as it exists today, was founded in June 1959 as West Panama City Beach, with its first council meeting held July 8, 1959. On August 12, 1970, the former cities of West Panama City Beach, Edgewater Gulf Beach, Long Beach, and Panama City Beach, were consolidated into the City of Panama City Beach. The Panama City Beach City Council's first meeting was in August 1970.

Panama City Beach is a home-rule city with a Council-City Manager form of government. The City Council is made up of five members -- a mayor and four council members, all elected at large, but coming from the four geographical areas of the City -- wards one through four. 

The City has had seven mayors.
The first mayor of Panama City Beach was Dan Russell who served from August 1970-June 1980.
Aaron Bessant served as mayor from 1980-1982.
Philip Griffitts Sr. was the City's longest serving mayor from 1982-2000.
The fourth mayor was Lee Sullivan, who served from 2000 until his resignation in 2006.
Gayle Oberst was appointed as mayor in 2006, and served until 2016.
Mike Thomas served from 2016-2020.
Mark Sheldon served from 2020-2024.
Stuart Tettemer was elected in 2024 and is currently the mayor.