New Resident Guide · Dade City, Florida
Pasco CountyUtilities & Services
Just bought or moving within Pasco County? Here is every office and utility you'll need to get settled across New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Land O' Lakes, Zephyrhills, Dade City, and the rest of the county — turn on the power and water, set up trash, file your homestead exemption, register to vote, and find 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
Pasco 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
Pasco 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
Pasco County Supervisor of Elections
Register to vote or update your voter registration with your new address.
Public Schools
Pasco County Schools
Find the schools your new address is zoned for and enroll your children.
School boundary locator →Official Records / Deeds
Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller
Records and provides copies of your deed and other official property documents (Recording: (727) 847-8086); also marriage licenses and court records.
Building & Permitting
Pasco County Building Construction Services
Permits and inspections for remodels, additions, pools, and fences in unincorporated Pasco County. If your home is inside a city, permit through that city instead.
Sheriff (Non-Emergency)
Pasco County Sheriff's Office
Non-emergency police matters and reports for unincorporated areas; cities may have their own police department. 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
Three providers split Pasco, parcel by parcel — confirm by exact address. Dade City is largely Duke even though the WREC co-op surrounds it.
Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative (WREC)
Serves: North and central Pasco (the co-op's core territory), excluding the Dade City area.
Tampa Electric (TECO)
Serves: Parts of south/southeast Pasco near the Hillsborough line.
Water & Sewer
Inside a city, use the city. In unincorporated areas (incl. Land O' Lakes, Wesley Chapel), it's Pasco County Utilities or a community/CDD system.
Pasco County Utilities
Serves: Unincorporated Pasco County (water & sewer).
City of New Port Richey
Serves: City of New Port Richey (note: separate from the City of Port Richey).
Natural Gas
Two gas providers depending on location; many homes are all-electric.
Clearwater Gas System (CGS Energy)
Serves: Western and central Pasco County.
Trash & Recycling
Pasco County does NOT collect residential garbage in unincorporated areas — residents hire a private hauler. Cities run their own.
Pasco County Solid Waste
Serves: Unincorporated Pasco (info, disposal; private-hauler curbside).
Internet & TV
Availability varies block to block — check your address on each provider's site.
Spectrum (Charter)
Serves: Cable internet and TV across much of the county.
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.
Pasco County Setup — Common Questions
Who provides electricity in Pasco County, FL?
Three utilities split Pasco by address: Duke Energy (southwest Pasco and the Zephyrhills area), Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative (WREC) (north and central Pasco, except Dade City), and Tampa Electric/TECO (parts of south/southeast Pasco). Service is parcel-specific — confirm by exact address.
How do I set up water service in Pasco County?
If your home is inside New Port Richey, Zephyrhills, or Dade City, use that city. In unincorporated areas — including Land O' Lakes and Wesley Chapel — it's Pasco County Utilities at (727) 847-8131 (or a community/CDD system).
How do I file for the Florida homestead exemption in Pasco County?
File with the Pasco County Property Appraiser at pascopa.com or (727) 847-8151. 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 Pasco County?
The Pasco County Tax Collector (pascotaxes.com, (727) 847-8032) handles vehicle registration, license plates, and driver license services, with offices in New Port Richey, Land O' Lakes, and Dade City. 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 Pasco County?
Register or update your address through the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections at pascovotes.gov or (800) 851-8754. You can also update your registration when you get your Florida driver license.
Helpful next reads
Take it with you
Print this Pasco 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 Pasco 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.