New to Coral Gables? Start FPL power and county water, check for gas and septic, get a Florida license within 30 days and file for homestead by March 1.
Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. This page links our detailed guides and adds the start-service steps they do not cover. Sources are linked in each section. City Hall: 305-446-6800.
Welcome to Coral Gables. 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 electricity with FPL and water with Miami-Dade Water and Sewer.
- Sign up for city emergency alerts: text CoralGables to 888-777.
- Note your pickup days on the city’s collection day map.
- Book a Tax Collector appointment for your Florida license and tags.
Our guides for new residents
- Trash and recycling: backyard garbage twice a week, recycling weekly, curbside trash weekly
- Property taxes: rates, due dates and homestead
- Building permits and zoning: before you renovate
- 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, Metrorail and parking
Start your utilities
| Service | Provider | Where to start service |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity | Florida Power & Light | FPL start, stop or move |
| Water | Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department | Start water service online, 305-665-7477 |
| Natural gas, if your home has it | Peoples Gas or Florida City Gas, depending on the address | Peoples Gas start service; Florida City Gas start, stop or transfer |
| Trash and recycling (single-family) | City of Coral Gables | No sign-up; billed through the annual waste assessment. Questions: 305-460-5000 |
| Trash (apartments, condos, duplexes) | Waste Management of Dade County | Through your building; 786-450-5699 |
Water. Miami-Dade Water and Sewer’s contact page lists its customer care center at 305-665-7477. You can apply online through its self-service application.
Sewer or septic. Many Coral Gables homes are not on a central sewer. The city is planning a septic-to-sewer conversion program with 19 proposed new sewer basins, alongside Miami-Dade County’s Connect 2 Protect initiative. Ask your seller or landlord whether your home is on septic.
Natural gas. Not every home has gas. Ask the seller or landlord which company serves the building, then start service with that company.
Internet
Two providers publish service pages for Coral Gables; check your exact address on each:
- Xfinity: Xfinity in Coral Gables
- AT&T: AT&T home internet in Coral Gables, where you can check availability by address
The city says AT&T and Comcast lines are being discussed for undergrounding alongside FPL’s electric conversion.
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.
- Buy Florida car insurance from a Florida-licensed agent, then title and register your vehicle within 10 days of establishing residency.
- Bring the out-of-state title and a VIN inspection form; if a lender holds your title, ask it to send the title to Florida.
In Miami-Dade the Tax Collector issues driver’s licenses and ID cards and handles 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
The city does not run animal services. Miami-Dade County Animal Services issues pet licenses and handles strays and lost pets; call 311. Dogs, cats and ferrets 4 months and older must be vaccinated against rabies and revaccinated 12 months after the first shot, the city’s pet information page says. Leashed dogs are welcome in nearly 30 city parks; see parks and trails.
Stay informed
- City emergency alerts: text CoralGables to 888-777, or sign up for Everbridge.
- City Commission agendas: the city’s Legistar calendar.
- Report problems: the city’s service request portal.
What this means for you
- No sign-up needed for trash at a single-family home; check your days on the map.
- Ask early whether your home is on septic and whether it has gas.
- Thirty days for your license, 10 for your car’s title and registration.
- March 1 is the homestead deadline.
More: Coral Gables home prices and population and growth.
Frequently asked questions
Who provides electricity and water in Coral Gables?
Electricity comes from Florida Power & Light. Water comes from the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department; start service online or at 305-665-7477.
How long do I have to get a Florida driver’s license after moving to Coral Gables?
Florida’s motor vehicle department says new residents must get a Florida license within 30 days of establishing residency, and title and register their vehicles within 10 days. In Miami-Dade, the Tax Collector handles both.
Do I need to sign up for trash pickup in Coral Gables?
Single-family homes get city service paid through an annual waste assessment, so there is nothing to sign up for. Apartments, condos and duplexes use Waste Management; ask your building.
When is the homestead exemption deadline in Coral Gables?
March 1. File with the Property Appraiser of Miami-Dade County online or at 305-375-4712 if the home was your permanent residence on Jan. 1.
Do I need to license my dog in Coral Gables?
Pet licenses are issued by Miami-Dade County Animal Services, not the city. Dogs, cats and ferrets 4 months and older must be vaccinated against rabies.
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