Emergency: call or text 911. Jacksonville non-emergency: (904) 630-0500.

Back to the handbook

First week

You just got the keys.

Seven jobs, in the order they usually matter. Each one opens the office that actually handles it. The local list of restaurants and shops is a separate page.

1. Learn which city you are in

The beach cities and Baldwin are not consolidated Jacksonville. Clay and St. Johns are different counties. The phones follow that line, not the ZIP code on a shipping label.

2. Register, then find the polling place

Each county has its own supervisor. Type the house number and the street. Duval’s page says not to paste the address.

3. File homestead with the appraiser, pay the bill at the tax collector

Those are two offices. The appraiser sets the value. The collector sends the bill and also handles tags and driver licenses.

4. Read the name on the utility bill

JEA, Beaches Energy, Clay Electric, and FPL all have customers in this area. Trash day is a separate lookup, and the Waste Wizard stops at the Jacksonville city limit.

5. Find the school district for your county

Duval County Public Schools cover Jacksonville and the beach cities. A street address sets the neighborhood school unless the student is in a choice program. Clay and St. Johns run their own districts.

6. Find the people who vote on your street

Council districts and legislative districts follow the street. A ZIP code is the wrong tool.

7. Look up the evacuation zone before a storm is named

Print the fridge sheet while the power is on. Counties announce shelters when a storm is coming.

The local listSomething is already wrong