Moving to Melbourne: utilities, schools, trash, permits, taxes

New to Melbourne? Start city water online, power with FPL and gas with Florida City Gas; register your car within 10 days and file for homestead by March 1.

Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. An index for new residents: each section links to our full guide or to the official page. Sources include the City of Melbourne Utility Billing pages, Florida Power & Light, Florida City Gas, the Brevard County Tax Collector, Florida Statutes and Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Animal Services.

Welcome to Melbourne, in Brevard County on Florida’s Space Coast. The city runs water, sewer and trash service; power, gas and internet are private companies; and your car, driver’s license and property taxes go through Brevard County offices. Here is the order most people tackle it in.

First calls

City water and sewer: Utility Billing, 321-608-7100

Electricity: FPL, start, stop or move service

Natural gas: Florida City Gas, 800-993-7546

Tag and title, driver’s license: Brevard County Tax Collector, 321-633-2199; Melbourne office, 1515 Sarno Road

City Hall: 321-608-7000

Water and sewer (City of Melbourne)

The city’s Utility Billing office opens accounts. Complete the online Application for Water Service (en español) and attach:

Your full name and the service address
A driver’s license or ID
A lease or proof of purchase

The city says it responds within two working days. Paper applications are in the City Hall lobby, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A deposit and a service initiation fee appear on the first bill; see the city’s rate table. Call 321-608-7100 with questions.

Electricity (FPL)

Melbourne’s electric utility is Florida Power & Light. Start service through FPL’s start, stop or move page. Outages: 1-800-468-8243. More in our power outages guide.

Natural gas (Florida City Gas)

Florida City Gas, a Chesapeake Utilities company, serves Brevard County among eight Florida counties, its About page says. Natural gas is not available at every address. Check and start service on its start, stop or transfer page or call 800-993-7546, the same number for leaks and odors.

Internet

AT&T publishes a Melbourne service page for internet, including fiber where available.
To see every provider that reports service at your address, search the FCC’s National Broadband Map.

Trash and recycling

Waste Management collects curbside under contract with the city: garbage twice a week, recycling on Wednesday. Carts and bulk pickup: 321-723-4455. Full schedule in our trash and recycling guide.

Your car: tag, title and registration

Florida law (s. 320.38) says a new resident who takes a job or enrolls children in public school must register vehicles within 10 days. In Brevard County that is done by the Tax Collector:

Bring proof of Florida insurance from a Florida agent, including personal injury protection coverage.
A vehicle registered in Florida for the first time needs its VIN verified; the Tax Collector does this at registration.
Registrations renew on the owner’s birthday.
The Melbourne office is at 1515 Sarno Road, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays; also Viera, Palm Bay, Merritt Island and Titusville. Make an appointment.

Driver’s license

Under s. 322.031, a new resident who takes a job or enrolls children in public school must get a Florida driver’s license within 30 days. The Brevard County Tax Collector issues licenses at its Melbourne, Viera, Palm Bay, Merritt Island and Titusville branch offices.

Homestead exemption

If you buy a home and live in it as your permanent residence on Jan. 1, file for the homestead exemption with the Brevard County Property Appraiser by March 1. Details in our property taxes guide.

Pets

Brevard County ordinances require all owned dogs, cats and ferrets to be licensed, with the tag on the animal and renewed every year, according to the Sheriff’s Office Animal Services. Tags are sold online through Pet Parent and at participating veterinarians. Inside the city, other animals, reptiles or fowl kept outdoors need a City of Melbourne animal permit from the City Clerk’s Office, 321-608-7220.

Schools, voting and who to call

Schools: Brevard Public Schools; enrollment is online through FOCUS. See our schools guide.
Voter registration: update your address with the Supervisor of Elections. See voting in Brevard County.
Permits for work on a new home: see building permits and zoning.
City departments: see who to call at City Hall.
Hurricane season: know your evacuation zone; see hurricane prep.

What this means for you

Week one: water application, FPL and internet.
Within 10 days of starting a job: register your car. Within 30 days: your Florida license.
Before March 1: homestead, if you bought.

Frequently asked questions

How do I set up water service in Melbourne, Florida?

Submit the City of Melbourne’s online Application for Water Service with your name, service address, driver’s license or ID and a lease or proof of purchase. The city responds within two working days. Utility Billing: 321-608-7100.

Who provides electricity and gas in Melbourne, Florida?

Electricity comes from Florida Power & Light. Natural gas, where available, comes from Florida City Gas, which serves Brevard County; call 800-993-7546 to check an address.

How long do I have to get a Florida driver’s license after moving?

Under Florida law, a new resident who takes a job or enrolls children in public school must get a Florida license within 30 days and register vehicles within 10 days.

Do I need to license my dog in Brevard County?

Yes. Brevard County ordinances require owned dogs, cats and ferrets to be licensed with the tag attached, renewed every year, through the Sheriff’s Office Animal Services.

When is the homestead exemption deadline in Brevard County?

March 1 of the year the exemption applies, for a home you owned and lived in on Jan. 1. File with the Brevard County Property Appraiser, 321-264-6700.