New in Boca Raton? Start FPL power and city water (561-393-7750), get a Florida license and tag within 30 days, and file for homestead by March 1.

Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. This page links our detailed guides and adds what they lack. Every fact comes from the agency or company named and linked.

Welcome to Boca Raton. Here is the order most new residents tackle things in, with the real sign-up pages. One thing to check first: a Boca Raton mailing address does not always mean you live inside the city limits. Parts of “Boca Raton” are unincorporated Palm Beach County, which changes who picks up your trash and who you call. Check your address on the city’s city limits map.

First-week checklist

Power

Florida Power & Light serves Boca Raton. Start service on FPL’s start, stop and move page. You will need your Social Security or tax ID number, the service address and the start date. FPL says orders received by noon, Monday through Saturday, are usually connected the same day. For outages, see our power outage guide.

Water and sewer

The City of Boca Raton provides water, sewer and reclaimed water. Its Customer Care Team sets up service at 561-393-7750, 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., and its online customer portal handles bills 24 hours a day. The city says service goes in the owner’s or occupant’s name unless a landlord says otherwise. The city serves about 6,500 residents outside the city limits too; check the Utility Services service area map (PDF) if you live in unincorporated Boca Raton.

Natural gas

Florida Public Utilities runs natural gas lines in Boca Raton; it lists start, stop and transfer service on fpuc.com.

Internet and TV

The city’s emergency information channel is carried on Xfinity (Comcast) channel 20 inside the city limits, AT&T U-verse channel 99 and Hotwire channel 395, according to the city’s evacuation page. To see every provider that reports service at your exact address, use the FCC’s National Broadband Map, then sign up on the provider’s site: Xfinity, AT&T or Hotwire Communications.

Trash, recycling and permits

City trash pickup is charged on the water bill. Garbage goes twice a week and recycling once, by collection area; call 561-416-3367 for recycling bins. Details: our trash and recycling guide. Planning a renovation? Start with our building permits and zoning guide.

Driver’s license and vehicle

From the Palm Beach County Tax Collector:

  • Get a Florida driver’s license within 30 days of taking a job, starting a trade or enrolling a child in public school in Florida. Bring your current license and the REAL ID documents on the tax collector’s checklist. Licenses from listed states and countries skip the knowledge and road tests.
  • Title and register your vehicle within 30 days of the same triggers, or of registering to vote. Bring your out-of-state title; if the car is financed, ask the lender for it first. You need Florida insurance with at least $10,000 in personal injury protection and $10,000 in property damage liability, according to the registration page.
  • In-person service needs a reservation. The closest office is South County, 501 S. Congress Ave., Delray Beach. Book at pbctax.gov/reservations.

Property taxes and homestead

If you bought a home you live in, file for the homestead exemption by March 1. It takes $25,000 off your assessed value for all taxes and up to $25,722 more for non-school taxes (2025 figure), and caps future increases. See our property tax guide for rates, due dates and the discount for paying in November.

Schools

Find your zoned school with the district’s Find My School map. Registration steps and the school calendar are in our schools guide.

Voting

Register or update your address at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov. The next elections are Nov. 3, 2026 (county, state and federal) and March 9, 2027 (city). See our voting guide.

Pets

Palm Beach County requires dogs and cats 4 months and older to be current on rabies vaccines and a county license tag, according to Animal Care and Control. Tag questions: 1-888-782-6057. Off-leash areas need city permits; see our parks guide.

Who to call

For everything else, our who to call at City Hall page lists the council, the city manager, police and code enforcement. Storm season runs to Nov. 30; read the hurricane prep guide before your first one.

Frequently asked questions

How do I set up water service? Call the Customer Care Team at 561-393-7750.

Who provides electricity? FPL; start service at FPL.com.

How long do I have to get a Florida driver’s license? 30 days after taking a job or enrolling a child in school; vehicles have 30 days too.

When is the homestead deadline? March 1.

Do I need to register my dog? Yes, with a county license tag and current rabies vaccine.