New Resident Guide · Pensacola, Florida
Escambia CountyUtilities & Services
Just bought or moving within Escambia County? Here is every office and utility you'll need to get settled across Pensacola, Century, and the rest of the county — power, water, gas, trash, homestead exemption, voter registration, and your zoned schools. Print it and keep it on the fridge.
Step 1
County Offices
The government offices every new homeowner needs — for your homestead exemption, taxes, license plates, schools, and voter registration.
Property Appraiser
Escambia County Property Appraiser
File your homestead exemption (deadline March 1), check your assessed value, and look up property records. Filing homestead is the most valuable thing a new Florida homeowner can do.
Tax Collector
Escambia County Tax Collector
Pay property taxes, register your vehicles and get Florida license plates, and handle driver license services. New residents must get a Florida license within 30 days.
Supervisor of Elections
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections
Register to vote or update your voter registration with your new address.
Public Schools
Escambia County Public Schools
Find the schools your new address is zoned for and enroll your children.
School zone locator →Official Records / Deeds
Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
Records and provides copies of your deed and other official property documents (Official Records: (850) 595-4149); also court records.
Building & Permitting
Escambia County Building Services
Permits and inspections for unincorporated Escambia County.
Sheriff (Non-Emergency)
Escambia County Sheriff's Office
Non-emergency police matters and reports. For emergencies, always call 911.
Step 2
Set Up Your Utilities
Call ahead of your move-in date so the power and water are on when you arrive. Electric and water depend on your exact address — see the note under each.
Electric
Gulf Power is now FPL after the 2022 merger — same utility, new branding. The rural north county is a co-op.
Florida Power & Light (FPL) — Northwest
Serves: Pensacola metro and most of Escambia County (formerly Gulf Power).
Escambia River Electric Cooperative (EREC)
Serves: North Escambia County — Jay, Walnut Hill, and the Century area.
Water & Sewer
ECUA is the single authority for water, sewer, AND trash in the Pensacola area.
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA)
Serves: Water and wastewater for Pensacola and Escambia County.
Natural Gas
Pensacola Energy is a city-run municipal gas utility; outlying homes may have no piped gas.
Pensacola Energy
Serves: City of Pensacola and much of urban Escambia County (municipal gas).
Trash & Recycling
The same authority (ECUA) that does water and sewer also handles garbage and recycling — one call.
ECUA Sanitation
Serves: Garbage, recycling, and yard-waste collection for Escambia County and Pensacola.
Internet & TV
Availability varies block to block — check your address on each provider's site.
Cox Communications
Serves: Pensacola metro/urban Escambia (dominant cable provider).
Not sure who serves your exact address?
Electric, water, and trash can change street by street. The fastest ways to confirm: check the seller's most recent utility bill, ask your closing agent or title company, or call the city utility office for the city your home is in. If your home is in an unincorporated area, it's handled by the county. Your MaxLife agent is happy to help you pin this down before closing.
Escambia County Setup — Common Questions
Who provides electricity in Escambia County, FL?
The Pensacola metro and most of the county are served by FPL — the former Gulf Power, fully rebranded to FPL after the 2022 merger (old Gulf Power accounts still map to FPL). The rural north county (Jay, Walnut Hill, Century) is the Escambia River Electric Cooperative. Confirm by address.
How do I set up water service in Escambia County?
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA, (850) 476-0480) provides water and sewer — and also garbage/recycling — for Pensacola and Escambia County, so it's one call for all three.
How do I file for the Florida homestead exemption in Escambia County?
File with the Escambia County Property Appraiser at escpa.org or (850) 434-2735. The deadline is March 1, and you must own and occupy the home as your permanent residence as of January 1 of that year.
Where do I register my car and get a Florida driver license after moving to Escambia County?
The Escambia County Tax Collector (escambiataxcollector.com, (850) 438-6500) handles property-tax payment, vehicle registration/tags, and driver licenses. New residents generally must get a Florida license within 30 days and register their vehicles within 10 days of starting work or enrolling children in school.
How do I register to vote in Escambia County?
Register or update your address through the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections at escambiavotes.gov or (850) 595-3900. You can also update your registration when you get your Florida driver license.
Helpful next reads
Take it with you
Print this Escambia County contact sheet as a clean one-pager — perfect to keep on the fridge or hand to a client at closing.
Buying or selling in Escambia County? Talk to Ryan Solberg at MaxLife Realty.
Contact details verified June 2026against each agency's and provider's official website. Government offices and utilities occasionally change phone numbers, websites, and service areas — please confirm before relying on a number for a deadline or time-sensitive matter. MaxLife Realty is not affiliated with any office or utility listed here. For emergencies, call 911.