New Resident Guide · Key West, Florida
Monroe CountyUtilities & Services
Just bought or moving to the Florida Keys (Monroe County)? Here is every office and utility you'll need to get settled from Key West to Key Largo — power, water, trash, homestead exemption, voter registration, and your zoned schools. The Keys have no piped natural gas (homes are all-electric or use propane). 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
Monroe 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
Monroe County Tax Collector
Pay property taxes, register your vehicles and vessels and get Florida plates, and handle driver license services. New residents must get a Florida license within 30 days.
Supervisor of Elections
Monroe County Supervisor of Elections
Register to vote or update your voter registration with your new address.
Public Schools
Monroe County School District
Find the schools your new address is zoned for and enroll your children (call the office for attendance-zone questions).
Official Records / Deeds
Monroe County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
Records and provides copies of your deed and other official property documents (Recording: (305) 292-3540); also court records.
Building & Permitting
Monroe County Building & Permitting
Permits and inspections for unincorporated Monroe County (offices in Marathon and Key Largo). Cities permit their own.
Sheriff (Non-Emergency)
Monroe County Sheriff's Office
Non-emergency police matters and reports across the Keys. 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
Electric is split at roughly the 7-Mile Bridge.
Keys Energy Services (KEYS)
Serves: Key West and the Lower Keys up to the 7-Mile Bridge.
Florida Keys Electric Cooperative (FKEC)
Serves: Upper and Middle Keys — from the 7-Mile Bridge to the county line (Marathon, Islamorada, Key Largo).
Water & Sewer
One water provider for the whole island chain; sewer is a patchwork of districts — confirm yours by address.
Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority (FKAA)
Serves: Water for the entire Keys (Key West to Key Largo); wastewater in select areas.
Trash & Recycling
The county coordinates franchise haulers by region — your hauler changes by mile-marker; incorporated cities run their own.
Monroe County Solid Waste
Serves: Coordinates unincorporated Keys collection (confirm your hauler by location).
Waste Management
Serves: Stock Island to the 7-Mile Bridge and the City of Key West.
Internet & TV
Availability varies by address — check each provider's site.
Hotwire Communications
Serves: Fiber in select HOA/condo communities.
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.
Monroe County Setup — Common Questions
Who provides electricity in the Florida Keys (Monroe County)?
Electric is split at roughly the 7-Mile Bridge: Keys Energy Services (KEYS, (305) 295-1000) serves Key West and the Lower Keys; Florida Keys Electric Cooperative (FKEC, (305) 852-2431) serves the Upper and Middle Keys (Marathon, Islamorada, Key Largo).
How do I set up water service in Monroe County?
The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority (FKAA, (305) 296-2454) provides water for the entire island chain. Sewer is a patchwork of districts (FKAA, the Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District, and city systems) — confirm yours by address.
Is there natural gas in the Florida Keys?
No — there are no piped natural-gas lines anywhere in the Keys. Homes are all-electric or use propane (LP) delivered by private suppliers, so budget for propane or an all-electric home.
Where do I register my car and get a Florida driver license after moving to Monroe County?
The Monroe County Tax Collector (monroetaxcollector.com, (305) 295-5000) handles property-tax payment, vehicle and vessel registration, 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 Monroe County?
Register or update your address through the Monroe County Supervisor of Elections at keys-elections.org or (305) 292-3416. You can also update your registration when you get your Florida driver license.
Helpful next reads
Take it with you
Print this Monroe 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 Monroe 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.