Guide to moving into a house in Miami-Dade: water, electricity, garbage, internet, mail and procedures

Moving to an independent home (single-family, duplex or similar) in Miami-Dade County involves more than carrying boxes: you have to activate or transfer services that in an apartment the landlord sometimes manages. This guide includes the official steps for electricity, water, garbage and recycling, internet, postal mail and Florida residence procedures, with links to the county and common providers. It does not replace the sales contract or legal advice.

1. Before you move: recommended calendar

Coordinate the registrations so that electricity and water work on the day you receive the keys (or the night before if the closing is in the afternoon). In summer, without air conditioning on, a closed house in Miami heats up in hours.

• 2–3 weeks before: confirm closing date or handover of keys; Check GIS Community Services if your address is in the county's garbage service area.
• 1–2 weeks before: FPL and WASD program with start date; request USPS reshipment or change of address.
• 1 week before: make an appointment for internet installation (there is usually a wait of several days).
• Moving day: check breakers, air, taps and that containers are in the property or request them if they are missing.
• First week: write garbage/recycling days on the calendar; Start Florida license procedures if you come from another state.

2. County or incorporated city?

Miami-Dade is not a single homogeneous entity. There are unincorporated areas (they are served directly by the county) and municipalities with their own mayor's office: Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Hialeah, Doral, etc. This mainly affects garbage collection and, in some cases, local permits.

The county's Department of Solid Waste Management (DSWM) serves unincorporated areas and cities such as Aventura, Cutler Bay, Doral, Miami Gardens, Miami Lakes, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest and others listed at miamidade.gov/solidwaste. If your address is in City of Miami, Miami Beach or Coral Gables, your trash may be handled by the city or a different contractor — confirm this on the city website or GIS.

Water: The county's Water and Sewer Department supplies more than 400,000 direct customers and wholesale municipalities — in practice, almost every single-family home in the metropolitan area uses WASD or a derived municipal utility; The registration remains with WASD or the city depending on the address.

Electricity: in Miami-Dade it is almost always FPL. Check your address on the FPL coverage map before assuming another provider.

3. Electricity (Florida Power & Light — FPL)

FPL is the dominant electric company in South Florida. For a new home for you (purchase or rent with an account in your name):

1. Enter fpl.com or Start, Stop & Move.
2. Choose Start service (new address) or Transfer if you are already a customer and moving within the FPL area.
3. Have on hand: exact address, desired ignition date, SSN or driver's license (or other verifiable ID).
4. If you are a new customer with no history in Florida, FPL may ask for a deposit (often $200–400, depending on credit).
5. Confirm that the meter is active on the day of closing; If the house has been empty, check that the air and water heater are responding.

Miami Tip: Set your thermostat to 76–78°F before your summer move-in. The first bill for July–August in a house without good insulation can easily exceed $200–250/month.

4. Water and Sewer (Miami-Dade WASD)

Drinking water and sewer in most of the county are managed by the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD). To open a new account in a house:

1. Visit Start Water Service (SSA) or create an account at My Account.
2. Common documents: Photo ID, service address, mailing address, deed or signed lease contract.
3. Indicate if you are an owner or tenant and the start date of the service.
4. County indicates 2–5 business days processing; Deposits and connection charges usually appear on the first invoice.
5. Phone: 305-665-7477 (Mon–Fri 8:00–19:00).

If you already had a WASD account and you move within the department area, use Transfer Water Service: you can keep two active addresses up to 30 daysduring the transition, according to the county.

When leaving a home, request stop service to stop paying for water from the previous address.

5. Garbage, recycling and containers (tanks)

In many single-family homes in the area served by the county, garbage service is not “contracted out” separately: the annual fee appears as a non-ad valorem charge on the property tax bill (approx. DSWM rates).

What you should do when moving

• Confirm collection days at GIS Community Services (garbage is usually 2 times a week; recycling every two weeks, week A or B).
• Green container (garbage): If the house does not have one, call 311 (county residents) or 305-468-5900 to request one (Request a waste cart).
• Blue container (recycling): same procedure if missing; only clean paper, cardboard, cans, plastics and jugs — no bags or mixed trash.
• Placement: curbside before 7:00 a.m. m.in your day; wheels towards the house; lid closed.
• Bulk trash: up to 2 pickups per year (25 cubic yards each) — schedule online in the solid waste portal.

If you come from another state: in Miami-Dade there is usually no separate “organic” container in single-family homes in the county; the green accepts garden waste mixed with household waste according to the DSWM service guide.

6. Internet, TV and telephone

Unlike electricity or water, there is no single public provider. In Miami-Dade they mainly compete:

• AT&T Fiber — att.com/internet (availability by address).
• Xfinity (Comcast) — xfinity.com/local/fl/miami.
• Others depending on area: T-Mobile Home Internet, Frontier, Hotwire in some developments.

Practical steps:

1. Check coverage on each operator's website with your exact address (not just zip code).
2. Ask for installation at least 5–7 days in advance; In new buildings sometimes the cable is not pulled yet.
3. If the house has only coax or only old fiber, ask if they include a router and if there is a charge for “new customer”.
4. For teleworking, prioritize symmetric fiber or cable with stable upload; Homemade 5G is a backup, not a reliable substitute for fiber in all neighborhoods.

7. Natural gas (if applicable)

Not all homes in Miami-Dade have gas. Many stoves and dryers are electric. If your property has a gas stove, heater or gas dryer, the usual supplier is Florida City Gas (a subsidiary of TECO). Look for the meter outside or ask the seller or inspector.

If there is gas: open an account with the supplier before using gas appliances; Inspection or appointment may be required to turn the stopcock back on.

8. Postal Mail (USPS)

The US Postal Service does not automatically fill in your new address. You must:

• Permanent address change or temporary forwarding at USPS.com/move (also at the post office with form).
• Schedule it at least 7 days before the move so that forwarding starts on time.
• Update address in banks, cards, employer, IRS, Social Security and subscriptions.
• Install a mailbox with a visible number and, if applicable, name on the mailbox — the mailman needs to identify the home.

The USPS change is not a substitute for updating your Florida license or vehicle registration.

9. License, vehicle and residence in Florida

If you settle in Florida (live here most of the year or have a domicile here), the DHSMV requires:

• Florida driver's license within 30 days (processed in person if you come from another state).
• Florida auto insurance and vehicle registration within 10 days of establishing residency.
• If you already had a Florida license and only change your address within the state: update in MyDMV Portal or in the office (change of address, also 30 days).

Typical documents for a new resident: license from previous state, proof of identity, SSN, two proofs of Florida residency (contract, electricity/water bill, etc.).

10. Taxes, homestead and insurance

As a homeowner in Miami-Dade, from the first year you agree:

• Apply for the Homestead exemption in Property Appraiser if it is your primary residence — guide in Miami-Dade Property Search.
• Know the property tax cycle and the portal county-taxes.net.
• Contract homeowners insurance — mandatory with mortgage.
• Assess flood insurance: much of the county is in the FEMA zone; Many areas require a separate policy from the homeowners.
• File Declaration of Domicile with the County Clerk if you want to document legal residency in Florida (useful for state taxes, not the Appraiser's homestead).

11. Services summary table

12. Final checklist the day you enter your house

• ☐ Light on (FPL active)
• ☐ Hot and cold water in taps (WASD active; check main stopcock)
• ☐ Air conditioning operational
• ☐ Green and blue container on the property or request made to 311
• ☐ Garbage and recycling days noted (GIS)
• ☐ Internet with confirmed appointment or temporary hotspot
• ☐ USPS scheduled change/resend
• ☐ Florida home and auto insurance in process
• ☐ DHSMV appointment for license if you are a new resident

If you bought the home, keep a copy of the closing disclosure, the title policy and the HOA contacts (if there is a community of owners) — some neighborhoods require moving or container placement procedures on specific days.