New to Miami Beach? Start water with the city at 305-673-7440 and power with FPL at 305-442-8770, get a Florida license within 30 days and file homestead by March 1.
Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. This page links our detailed guides and adds the start-service steps they do not cover. Utility numbers come from the City of Miami Beach Resident Guide; other sources are linked in each section. City Hall: 305-673-7400.
Welcome to Miami Beach. Most of what you need is covered in our other guides; this page puts it in order and adds the pieces they leave out: starting your utilities, internet, your Florida license and tags, and your pets.
First week checklist
- Start water and sewer with the city (305-673-7440) and electricity with FPL (305-442-8770).
- Sign up for city emergency alerts: text MBAlert to 888777.
- Find your garbage days by street number in our trash guide; recycling is Wednesdays.
- Book a Miami-Dade Tax Collector appointment for your Florida license and tags.
Our guides for new residents
- Trash and recycling: garbage twice a week by street number, recycling Wednesdays, bulk pickup by appointment
- Property taxes: rates, due dates and homestead
- Building permits and zoning: before you renovate, especially in a historic district
- Schools: Miami-Dade County Public Schools and enrollment
- Voting: register and find your polling place
- Power outages and hurricane prep
- Who to call at City Hall
- Getting around: trolley, Freebee, buses and parking
Start your utilities
| Service | Provider | How to start |
|---|---|---|
| Water and sewer | City of Miami Beach Utilities Services | Call 305-673-7440; pay on the city’s utility billing portal |
| Electricity | Florida Power & Light | Call 305-442-8770 (TTY 800-432-6554) or use FPL start, stop or move |
| Natural gas, if your building has it | TECO Peoples Gas | 305-940-0139 or 1-877-832-6747; start service |
| Trash (single-family and buildings of eight units or less) | City contract with Waste Connections of Florida | Questions to the Sanitation Division, 305-673-7616 |
| Trash (buildings of nine units or more) | Your building’s private hauler | Ask building management |
Water and sewer at a Miami Beach address are set up with the city’s Utilities Services, according to the city’s Resident Guide.
Internet
Two providers publish service pages for Miami Beach; check your exact address on each:
- Xfinity: Xfinity in Miami Beach
- AT&T: AT&T home internet in Miami Beach, where you can check availability by address
Driver’s license and car tags
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ new resident page says:
- Get a Florida driver’s license within 30 days of establishing residency. Apply in person; you will take a vision test, and you may not need a written or road test.
- Buy Florida car insurance from a Florida-licensed agent, then title and register your vehicle within 10 days of establishing residency.
In Miami-Dade the Tax Collector handles driver’s licenses, ID cards, tags and titles. Book an appointment or see its locations. Phone: 305-375-5448.
Homestead exemption
If you own the home and it was your permanent residence on Jan. 1, file for the homestead exemption with the Property Appraiser of Miami-Dade County by March 1. It takes up to about $50,000 off your taxable value and caps yearly increases in assessed value. Apply online or call 305-375-4712. Details in our property tax guide.
Pets
From the city’s animal care and control page:
- Dog license tags are mandatory. Miami-Dade County handles pet licenses and tags; call 305-884-1101.
- Dogs must be leashed at all times, and owners must clean up after them.
- A household may keep up to 10 domestic pets, including no more than four dogs.
- Dogs are not allowed on city beaches except at designated bark beaches.
The city also has 11 fenced bark parks, all free; see parks and trails. Strays and lost pets: Miami-Dade Animal Services, 311.
Parking at home
The city runs residential parking permit programs through its Parking Department; call parking customer service at 305-673-7505 or see the city’s parking page. More in our getting around guide.
Stay informed
- City emergency alerts: text MBAlert to 888777, or sign up at mbalerts.com.
- City Commission agendas and meeting dates: the clerk’s meetings and agendas page.
- Report problems: the city’s service request system or the Customer Service Center, 305-673-7420.
What this means for you
- Call the city, not the county, to start water at a Miami Beach address.
- Ask early whether your building has gas and which trash hauler serves it.
- Thirty days for your license, 10 for your car’s title and registration.
- March 1 is the homestead deadline.
More: Miami Beach home prices and population and growth.
Frequently asked questions
How do I set up water service in Miami Beach?
Water and sewer in Miami Beach are billed by the city. Call City of Miami Beach Utilities Services at 305-673-7440 to activate service at your new address; bills can be paid on the city’s utility billing portal.
Who provides electricity and gas in Miami Beach?
Florida Power & Light supplies electricity; call 305-442-8770 to start service. Natural gas, where a building has it, comes from TECO Peoples Gas at 305-940-0139 or 1-877-832-6747.
How long do I have to get a Florida driver’s license after moving to Miami Beach?
Thirty days from establishing residency. You must title and register your vehicle within 10 days, after buying insurance from a Florida-licensed agent, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
When is the homestead exemption deadline in Miami-Dade?
March 1. If you owned and lived in your Miami Beach home on Jan. 1, apply with the Property Appraiser of Miami-Dade County online or at 305-375-4712.
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