New Resident Guide · Orlando, Florida
Orange CountyUtilities & Services
Just bought or moving within Orange County? Here is every office and utility you'll need to get settled — who to call to turn on the power, set up water and trash, file your homestead exemption, register to vote, and find your zoned schools. Print this list 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
Orange County Property Appraiser
File your homestead exemption (deadline March 1), check your assessed value, and look up property records. Filing homestead is the single most valuable thing a new Florida homeowner can do.
Tax Collector
Orange County Tax Collector
Pay your property taxes, register your vehicles and get Florida license plates, and renew your driver license. New residents must get a Florida license within 30 days.
Supervisor of Elections
Orange County Supervisor of Elections
Register to vote or update your voter registration with your new address.
Public Schools
Orange County Public Schools (OCPS)
Find the schools your new address is zoned for and enroll your children.
Find My School locator →Official Records / Deeds
Orange County Comptroller — Official Records
Get a copy of your recorded deed and other official property documents. In Orange County, deeds are recorded by the Comptroller (not the Clerk).
Clerk of Courts
Orange County Clerk of Courts
Marriage licenses, passport applications, and court records.
Building & Permitting
Orange County Division of Building Safety
Permits and inspections for remodels, additions, pools, water heaters, and fences in unincorporated Orange County. If your home is inside a city, permit through that city instead.
Sheriff (Non-Emergency)
Orange County Sheriff's Office
Non-emergency police matters and reports for unincorporated areas. Cities such as Orlando, Winter Park, and Apopka run their own police departments. 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
Orange County has no single electric company — your provider depends on your address. There is no FPL service here.
Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC)
Serves: City of Orlando and parts of unincorporated Orange County. OUC also provides water in its territory.
Duke Energy Florida
Serves: Most of unincorporated Orange County, plus Winter Garden, Apopka, and Ocoee.
City of Winter Park Electric
Serves: Most of the City of Winter Park (municipal electric).
Water & Sewer
If you're inside a city, you set up water through the city. In unincorporated areas, it's Orange County Utilities.
Orange County Utilities
Serves: Unincorporated Orange County (water & sewer).
OUC — Water (City of Orlando)
Serves: City of Orlando — OUC provides both water and electric.
Natural Gas
Not every home has gas — many Central Florida homes are all-electric.
Lake Apopka Natural Gas District
Serves: West Orange County — Apopka, Winter Garden, and Ocoee (also South Lake / Clermont).
Trash & Recycling
In a city, trash is usually billed through your city utility account. In unincorporated areas, set it up with the county.
Orange County Solid Waste
Serves: Curbside garbage, recycling, and yard waste in unincorporated Orange County.
City of Orlando Solid Waste
Serves: City of Orlando. Other cities (Winter Garden, Apopka, Ocoee, Winter Park) bill trash through their city utility office.
Internet & TV
Availability varies block to block — check your address on each provider's site.
Spectrum (Charter)
Serves: Cable internet and TV, available across most of the county.
AT&T Fiber
Serves: Fiber internet in many neighborhoods — check availability by address.
Frontier
Serves: Fiber in parts of the county — check availability by address.
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.
Orange County Setup — Common Questions
Who provides electricity in Orange County, FL?
It depends on your address. OUC (Orlando Utilities Commission) serves the City of Orlando and parts of unincorporated Orange County; Duke Energy Florida serves most unincorporated areas plus Winter Garden, Apopka, and Ocoee; and the City of Winter Park runs its own municipal electric utility. There is no FPL service in Orange County.
How do I set up water service in Orange County?
If your home is inside a city — Orlando, Winter Garden, Winter Park, Apopka, or Ocoee — set up water through that city's utility-billing office. In unincorporated areas, call Orange County Utilities at (407) 836-5515. In the City of Orlando, water is provided by OUC.
How do I file for the Florida homestead exemption in Orange County?
File with the Orange County Property Appraiser at ocpafl.org or (407) 836-5044. The deadline is March 1, and you must own and occupy the home as your permanent residence as of January 1 of that year. It is the single most valuable thing a new Florida homeowner can do.
Where do I register my car and get a Florida driver license after moving to Orange County?
The Orange County Tax Collector (octaxcol.com, (407) 434-0312) handles vehicle registration, license plates, and driver license services. New residents generally must get a Florida driver 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 Orange County?
Register or update your address through the Orange County Supervisor of Elections at voteorangefl.gov or (407) 836-2070. You can also update your voter registration when you get your Florida driver license.
Helpful next reads
Take it with you
Print this Orange 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 Orange 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.