Moving to Fort Lauderdale comes with a list of official deadlines that are easy to miss in the chaos of boxes, school forms and house hunting. Some start the day you become a Florida resident: 10 days for your car, 30 days for your driver license. Others depend on a single date on the calendar, like January 1 for the homestead exemption.
We put this checklist together from the questions newcomers ask us most. Every deadline below is taken from the official state, county or city source linked in the text and at the bottom. This is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always confirm your own situation with the agency.
Key takeaways
- Within 10 days of becoming a Florida resident: get Florida car insurance, then title and register your vehicle (FLHSMV).
- Within 30 days: get a Florida driver license, in person (FLHSMV).
- City water and sewer: since March 1, 2026, only property owners can open new utility accounts with the City of Fort Lauderdale. Renters receive bills "in care of" the owner.
- Homestead exemption: you must live in the home as your permanent residence on January 1. For 2027, file by March 1, 2027 (Broward County Property Appraiser).
- School: Broward schools need proof of address, proof of age, a medical exam from the last 12 months and a Florida immunization form (DH 680). Staff may not ask for immigration documents.
Floranada Park in northeast Fort Lauderdale (photo: Cardoso Luxury Stays).
What is the timeline for your first 30 days in Fort Lauderdale?
Print this table or save it to your phone. "Day 0" is the day you establish Florida residency.
| When | Task | Official source | Done |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before you move | Find your assigned school with Broward's "Find My School" tool and gather school records, birth certificate and immunization records | Broward County Public Schools | ☐ |
| Before you move | Line up housing for the first weeks (owner or lease) — you will need it as proof of address | — | ☐ |
| Week 1 | Electricity: set up service with the provider for your address | Your utility | ☐ |
| Week 1 | Water, sewer and sanitation: owners open the City account; renters confirm bills "in care of" the owner | City of Fort Lauderdale | ☐ |
| By day 10 | Buy Florida car insurance from a Florida-licensed agent | FLHSMV | ☐ |
| By day 10 | Title and register your vehicle in Florida (VIN verification required) | FLHSMV | ☐ |
| By day 30 | Get your Florida driver license, in person | FLHSMV | ☐ |
| As soon as you have an address | Enroll children in school | Broward County Public Schools | ☐ |
| By January 1 | If you bought a home, make it your permanent residence | Broward County Property Appraiser | ☐ |
| By March 1 | File your homestead exemption | Broward County Property Appraiser | ☐ |
How do you get a Florida driver license and register your car?
The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles department (FLHSMV) says new residents must get a valid Florida driver license within 30 days of establishing residency, and must apply in person at a local office that offers driver license services.
For vehicles, the rule is tighter: within 10 days of establishing residency, you need Florida insurance from a Florida-licensed agent to title and register your vehicles. For a vehicle without a lien, FLHSMV lists:
- Proof of identity for all owners
- Proof of Florida insurance
- The original out-of-state title
- Form HSMV 82040 (Application for Certificate of Title With/Without Registration), signed by all owners
- VIN verification on HSMV 82040 or HSMV 82042. The VIN must be physically inspected by a law enforcement officer, a licensed Florida dealer, or a tax collector or FLHSMV employee.
If a lender holds your out-of-state title, contact them to request the transfer to Florida. FLHSMV lists an initial Class E license fee of $48, and most local tax collector offices add a $6.25 service fee.
How do you set up water, sewer and electricity?
Water, sewer and sanitation (City of Fort Lauderdale). Starting March 1, 2026, only property owners can open new utility billing accounts in the City of Fort Lauderdale. Tenants can receive bills "in care of" the owner, and property managers can receive them with a management agreement, but the account stays in the owner's name. Owners need a signed Utility Service Application, a government photo ID, a settlement statement or deed (unless the Property Appraiser already shows the new owner) and a deposit, which depends on meter size and services. Processing takes three to five business days.
Electricity. Most homes in Fort Lauderdale are served by Florida Power & Light (FPL), but confirm the provider for your exact address before you call. Utility deposits vary.
If you live outside Fort Lauderdale city limits, water and sanitation are handled by your own city or by Broward County, so check with them.
Downtown Fort Lauderdale's Riverwalk (photo: Cardoso Luxury Stays).
How do you enroll your children in Broward County schools?
Broward County Public Schools asks families to contact the assigned school directly (use the district's "Find My School" tool with your street address and grade). Bring:
- Proof of residence: one document from Column A (for example a property tax bill, deed or notarized lease) and one from Column B (for example a utility bill, Florida driver license or two consecutive bank statements). Families in shared housing complete a notarized Affidavit of Shared Residence.
- Proof of age: an official birth certificate is first on the district's list; a passport is also accepted.
- Medical exam: first-time Florida public school students need proof of a medical exam completed within the 12 months before enrollment.
- Immunizations: the Florida Certification of Immunization (Form DH 680), unless an exemption applies.
- School records: the latest report card or transcript.
The district says staff may not request a passport, visa or other documents to verify a student's immigration status. Registration forms are available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole and Portuguese.
What is the Florida homestead exemption, and when do you file?
If you buy a home and make it your permanent residence, the homestead exemption lowers your property taxes. The Broward County Property Appraiser explains that January 1 is the date on which permanent residence is determined each year. For the 2027 tax year, the timely filing period runs from March 3, 2026 to March 1, 2027, with late filing allowed until September 20, 2027.
The exemption applies to the first and third $25,000 of assessed value (the second $25,000 does not apply to school taxes). According to the Property Appraiser, the basic exemption saved homeowners between $659 and $1,009 a year in 2025, depending on the city. You will need proof of ownership and proof of Florida residence, such as a Florida driver license plus a Florida voter registration or a power or water bill for the property in an owner's name. Non-U.S. citizens have additional documentation requirements listed on the Property Appraiser's page.
From our family: Cardoso Realty
Buying or renting your first home in South Florida?
The first 30 days go faster when the housing decision is right. Our family also operates Cardoso Realty, a Fort Lauderdale real estate brokerage led by broker Martius Cardoso. We help newcomers compare neighborhoods and schools, understand flood zones and insurance before they make an offer, and time a purchase around the January 1 homestead date.
What are the most common mistakes newcomers make?
- Counting 30 days for the car. The driver license has 30 days, but Florida insurance, title and registration have 10 days.
- Arriving at the DMV office without the VIN verification. The VIN must be physically inspected by an authorized person; bring form HSMV 82042 or have it done on HSMV 82040.
- Expecting to open the water account as a renter. Since March 1, 2026, the City of Fort Lauderdale only opens new accounts for owners.
- Missing proof of address for school. Broward asks for two documents from two different columns, all showing the enrollment address. A lease alone is not enough.
- Closing on a home on January 2. For the homestead exemption, residence is determined on January 1. Closing a few days later can mean waiting another year.
- Forgetting the medical exam. First-time Florida public school students need an exam from the last 12 months, plus Form DH 680.
What else should you do in your first month?
- Hurricane basics: learn your evacuation zone and how the season works with our hurricane season guide.
- Voter registration: if you are a U.S. citizen, update your registration with the Broward County Supervisor of Elections. A Florida voter registration is also one of the documents the Property Appraiser accepts for homestead.
- Get to know the neighborhoods: read our Floranada, Coral Ridge and Victoria Park guide.
- Weekends with the kids: start with our parks and playgrounds guide and beach guide.
Neighborhood parks are where newcomers meet other families (photo: Cardoso Luxury Stays).
If you need a furnished place for one to six months while you settle in, our canal home in northeast Fort Lauderdale accepts stays of 30 nights or longer and sleeps up to 12.
A furnished home while you settle in
Weekly and monthly stays, booked directly with the owners.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to get a Florida driver license after moving?
FLHSMV says new residents must get a valid Florida driver license within 30 days of establishing residency.
How long do I have to register my car in Florida?
Within 10 days of establishing residency, you need Florida insurance to title and register your vehicle, according to FLHSMV.
Can a renter open a water account with the City of Fort Lauderdale?
Since March 1, 2026, only property owners can open new utility accounts with the City. Renters can receive bills "in care of" the owner.
When is the homestead exemption deadline in Broward?
For the 2027 tax year, file by March 1, 2027. You must have made the home your permanent residence by January 1.
What do I need to enroll my child in a Broward public school?
Proof of residence, proof of age, a medical exam from the last 12 months, the Florida immunization form DH 680 and recent school records.
Is this legal or immigration advice?
No. This is general information from official sources. Confirm your own situation with the agency or a licensed professional.
Sources
Last checked November 2, 2026.
- Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, New Florida Residents: flhsmv.gov/new-resident
- City of Fort Lauderdale, Establish New Utility Service: fortlauderdale.gov
- Broward County Property Appraiser, Homestead Exemption: bcpa.net/homestead.asp
- Broward County Public Schools, Enrollment Requirements: browardschools.com