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Electricity
Electric service is provided by Progress Energy.
Telephone
Pinellas County is served by Verizon of Florida No deposit is required for new customers, but there is an installation fee. To order telephone service in Pinellas county, call 1-800-483-4200.
If your new home has been wired for phone service, Verizon can usually have you connected within a couple of days. If your home has not been wired, it can be done by the phone company or an outside contractor. You can rent or buy telephone equipment from a number of different sources, including the phone company.
Bright House Networks is a provider for phone service.
Knology can also provide telephone services, please call (800)-483-8433 for information.
Water and Sewer and Garbage
Pinellas County pipes the majority of its water supply from the Pasco and Hillsborough County wells. Billing is handled independently by the city, so for information on deposit and service fees, you should call the city utilities customer service line at (727)942-5609. If you find you will be living in an unincorporated area of the county, contact the County information number, (727)464-4000. The city also provides garbage pick up. Fees and service information can be obtained from the utilities customer service line at (727)942-5609.
Cable Television Service
For Tarpon Springs residents, network channels HBO, ESPN, and other television services are available through:
Bright House Networks - 727-329-5020
Knology (800)-483-8433
Registering Your Children for School
Only new students - kindergartners, children not previously enrolled in a Pinellas County school or those who are changing schools because they've moved - need to register. Schools are open for registration during regular hours. Call your zoned school for information. Call (727)588-6210 to find out the zoned school from your address.
The following items are needed for registration in Pinellas County:
Declaration of domicile. This is required of parents/guardians who have not lived in Florida for at least a year before enrolling their child, are not in the military or have not purchased a residence in Pinellas County. The declaration costs $13 and is available at:
Clearwater Courthouse
315 Court St.
(727)464-3204
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Pinellas County
Court Services
29582 US Hwy. 19 North
Clearwater
(727)464-4924
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St. Petersburg Courthouse
545 First Ave. North
(727)582-7771
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Birth certificate or other proof of date of birth. A child must be five years old on or before Sept. 1 for kindergarten.
Florida certification of immunization.
Physical examination certificate signed by a licensed examiner within the 12 months before enrollment/registration.
Proof of residency. A utility bill (Florida Power, GTE, water) or rental lease.
Child's social security number.
Child's most recent report card, including the school's address/phone number.
Automobile Registration
Newcomers to Pinellas County must acquire a Florida tag with 10 days of reporting for work, registering children in school, or registering to vote.
To register your vehicle, you will need:
Verification of your vehicle's identification number and odometer reading.
Title to the vehicle (or name and address of lien holder).
Vehicle registration; Proof of insurance (Personal Injury Protection and Property Damage insurance).
Vehicle registration fees average $180.00
For more information, contact:
North County
Tax Collectors Office
29399 U.S. 19 North
Clearwater, FL 34615
(727)464-8720
Drivers License
New residents from other states must secure a driver's license within 30 days of establishing residency. With a valid license from another state, you need only pass a vision test, give your Social Security number and pay a small fee. Other qualifications apply for first-time applicants and first-time applicants under age 18. The license is subject to a $19 fee for first-time drivers ($15 for renewals) and expires at midnight every four years on the driver's birth date.
Pinellas County
License Office
743 S. Pinellas Ave.
Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
(727)562-3262
Automobile Insurance
Under Florida's no-fault law, if anyone is injured in an accident, your insurance company pays your expenses, regardless of who is charged with the accident. Other laws worth noting:
Full headlights must be turned on during the rain, fog or other distortions of vision.
Seat belts must be worn at all times by all front-seat passengers.
All children under age four must be in a child-restraint seat.
Right turns are allowed (unless specifically prohibited) after coming to a complete stop at stop lights.
Left turns from one-way streets to one-way streets are allowed unless specifically prohibited.
Bicyclists must abide by the same rules of the road as drivers of motor vehicles.
Title Certificate
Because Florida is a title state, you must obtain a Florida title Certificate for vehicles and boats. The County Tax Collector's office submits and application to the State for a Florida title when you apply for your vehicle tags or boat registration. The Florida Title Certificate is then mailed to you once the title information has been processed. Any liens or chattel mortgages on vehicles and boats are noted on the certificate.
Taxes
The state of Florida does not impose a personal income tax. Property taxes fall under the Homestead Exemption provision. In Tarpon Springs, occupational license fees are collected from most businesses, professionals and enterprises.
Homestead Exemption
Florida property owners who reside in their homes are entitled to a homestead exemption of up to $25,000 on that property's assessment. The 1999 application filing period goes through March 1, 1999. Residents must file in person. The most convenient filing location for Tarpon Springs is:
Property Appraiser's Office
North County Branch Office
29269 U.S. 19 North,
Clearwater, FL 34621,
(727)464-8780.
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