Moving to Downtown Miami? 7 Things You Need To Do Immediately!

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Gearing Up For A New Way Of Life: Setting Up The Core Of Your Downtown Miami Home

Gear up for Downtown Miami's fast-paced lifestyle by equipping your home with essentials!

If you haven't sorted out your utilities yet, you'll be happy to know you can have everything set up with a flick of a finger, or in this case, the click of a mouse!

To set up your electricity, create or log in to your existing account at the Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) website and apply for service at your new Downtown Miami address. 

If you're a new customer, you'll need to submit your Social Security, Driver's License, Social Insurance, or Tax ID number, the new service address, and the connection date, but if you're already an existing FPL customer,  the disconnection date (old address), re-connection date,  and complete service address will suffice.

A deposit of $25 (minimum) and other initial set-up fees may be charged upfront, whether you're a new or existing customer.

Meanwhile, for natural gas service, check with TECO Peoples Gas or Florida City Gas (FCG) — once you've confirmed availability, just submit the necessary IDs and connection date (new customer) or advise disconnection date, the complete address of your new home, and your preferred service transfer date (existing customer).

Note that deposit fees may be based on your home's square footage or equal to twice the average monthly bill, and you may need to settle a connection fee before service connection.

Lastly, check for water and sewer availability at your new address on the Miami-Dade Water & Sewer website.

Once confirmed, new customers must create an online account and deposit $50 for water, $50 for sewer, and a non-refundable $45 connection fee, and existing owners must also settle any outstanding balance before service transfer.

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Commuting In Style: Your "All-Access Pass" To The Great Florida Roads

Celebrate your BIG move to Downtown Miami by getting a Florida driver's license!

Aside from being one of the quickest IDs to secure, your Florida driver's license is a REQUIREMENT within 30 days of establishing residency, and your "All-Access" pass if you want to drive around Florida without breaking the law!

To apply, visit the nearest Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) or any local office offering driver's license services and submit the necessary documents. 

Click on the applicable residency status to know which documents to have on hand when you apply:

• U.S Citizen 
• Immigrant 
• Non-Immigrant
• Canadian

The initial Florida Class E license, including a learner's permit, is $48.00, a commercial driver's license (Class A) is $75.00, and an ID Card fee is $25.00.

For a complete list of driver's license fees, click here. 

Drivers with current or previous driver's licenses from another state, country, or jurisdiction may be allowed to forego mandatory Drug and Alcohol courses, the Class E Knowledge exam, and the Florida Driving test, but the Vision and Hearing test is still a MUST.

If you already have an existing Florida driver's license, notify the DMV of your new address to get an updated driver's license and avoid any trouble while on the road!

And don't forget to get insurance to title and register your vehicle(s) within ten (10) days of establishing residency!

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Strengthening The Pulse Of The City: Getting A Voter Registration In Downtown Miami

Are you over 18, a United States citizen who meets all the requirements, and wants a voice that matters within your new community, but an unregistered voter?

Let's take care of that, shall we?

If you're moving to Downtown Miami and are looking to be a registered voter, submit your application with the proper IDs and documents through the Florida Department of State or the Miami-Dade County Elections Department online, by mail, or in person at the Elections Department or any Elections Branch office!

Any current and valid identification with a photograph and signature (e.g., Florida Driver's License, United States passport, etc.) should be enough to approve your registration!

For other legal forms of identification and supplementary requirements, Click here.

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An Ever-Evolving City: Soaking Up The Beauty Of Downtown Miami

Have you taken the time to explore your new city yet?

Sure, there are still things to put away, boxes to open, and suitcases to unpack, but after all the stressing and phone calls, you DESERVE this breather!

So, put your most comfortable shoes on and start your leisurely stroll around your new HOME, the famed Downtown Miami, and experience EVERYTHING it offers, from parks to its buzzing nightlife!

Visit Bayfront Park and bask in its natural allure, discover the wonders of Science at the Philip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science, immerse yourself in Miami's history at the HistoryMiami Museum, feast on 20th and 21st Century artworks at The Perez Art Museum, and shop 'til you drop at the Bayside Marketplace — all these are just the beginning! 

To know more about Downtown Miami, read our blog, Explore Downtown Miami, and find yourself falling in love over and over again with your fantastic city!

You're welcome!