New Resident Guide · St. Augustine, Florida
St. Johns CountyUtilities & Services
Just bought or moving within St. Johns County? Here is every office and utility you'll need to get settled across St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra, Nocatee, and the rest of the county — power and water, 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
St. Johns 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
St. Johns County Tax Collector
Pay property taxes, register your vehicles and get Florida license plates, and handle driver license and road-test services. New residents must get a Florida license within 30 days.
Supervisor of Elections
St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections
Register to vote or update your voter registration with your new address.
Public Schools
St. Johns County School District
Find the schools your new address is zoned for and enroll your children.
School zone locator →Official Records / Deeds
St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
Records and provides copies of your deed and other official property documents; also marriage licenses and court records.
Building & Permitting
St. Johns County Building Department
Permits and inspections in unincorporated St. Johns County. St. Augustine and St. Augustine Beach issue their own.
Sheriff (Non-Emergency)
St. Johns 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
FPL covers most of the county; the far north is JEA and Ponte Vedra Beach is Beaches Energy. Confirm by address.
Florida Power & Light (FPL)
Serves: Most of St. Johns County — St. Augustine area, Nocatee, World Golf corridor.
Water & Sewer
Inside St. Augustine, use the city. Elsewhere, the county (or a private/community system).
St. Johns County Utility Department
Serves: Most unincorporated areas on county water/sewer.
City of St. Augustine Utilities
Serves: City of St. Augustine (water & sewer; no electric).
Natural Gas
TECO Peoples Gas serves gas neighborhoods; many homes are all-electric.
TECO Peoples Gas
Serves: Gas-served neighborhoods including parts of St. Augustine.
Trash & Recycling
Inside St. Augustine, the city handles trash; elsewhere, the county.
St. Johns County Solid Waste
Serves: Unincorporated county weekly curbside (county-arranged hauler by zone).
City of St. Augustine
Serves: City of St. Augustine (billed on the city utility account).
Internet & TV
Availability varies block to block — check your address on each provider's site.
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.
St. Johns County Setup — Common Questions
Who provides electricity in St. Johns County, FL?
FPL covers most of the county (the St. Augustine area, Nocatee, and World Golf corridor). The far north is served by JEA, and Ponte Vedra Beach/Palm Valley by Beaches Energy Services. Confirm by address; note the City of St. Augustine does not sell electricity — it's still FPL inside the city.
How do I set up water service in St. Johns County?
Inside the City of St. Augustine, use the city at (904) 825-1037. In most unincorporated areas it's the St. Johns County Utility Department at (904) 209-2700 (some areas use JEA or a community system).
How do I file for the Florida homestead exemption in St. Johns County?
File with the St. Johns County Property Appraiser at sjcpa.gov or (904) 827-5500. 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 St. Johns County?
The St. Johns County Tax Collector (sjctax.us, (904) 209-2250) handles vehicle registration, license plates, and driver license/road-test services. 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 St. Johns County?
Register or update your address through the St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections at votesjc.gov or (904) 823-2238. You can also update your registration when you get your Florida driver license.
Helpful next reads
Take it with you
Print this St. Johns 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 St. Johns 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.