Moving to St. Augustine, FL: Costs, Deadlines, Checklist

Monthly housing costs in St. Augustine

Cost	Monthly	Basis
Typical rent	$2,034	Zillow Observed Rent Index, August 2026
Mortgage, 10% down	$2,577	Principal and interest on $386,200, 30 years at 7.03%
Mortgage, 20% down	$2,291	Principal and interest on $343,300, 30 years at 7.03%

Typical home value $429,100 (Zillow, August 2026). Rate: Freddie Mac 30-year average, week of September 24, 2026. Taxes, insurance and HOA/CDD fees are extra and covered below.

What a move to St. Augustine costs

The price of the move itself depends on distance, volume and timing, so the only number worth using is a written quote based on a survey of your belongings. Collect at least three.

Hiring a Florida mover

Any company moving goods within Florida must register with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services every two years. Registered movers carry at least $10,000 of liability cover per shipment, or a $50,000 bond or certificate of deposit if they run fewer than two trucks, and their adverts must show a "Fla. Mover Reg. No." or "Fla. IM No." Look the number up with FDACS before paying a deposit. For a move from another state, ask for the company's federal registration and check it too.

Set-up fees to budget for

City water and sewer: a $125 deposit per unit and a $30 activation fee inside the City of St. Augustine.
County water and sewer: a deposit set by account type plus a $30 new service charge on the first bill.
Vehicles: a one-time $225 fee on the first Florida registration of each car or truck, plus the usual title and plate fees.
Cards: the tax collector adds 2.3% to card payments.

Rent while you look

Zillow's typical St. Augustine rent was $2,034 a month in August 2026, up 0.8% on the year, and $2,184 in Ponte Vedra. MIT's living wage model budgets $1,646 a month for housing for one adult in St. Johns County. Renting for a few months lets you test the drive, the summer and the flood history of an area before you buy.

Your St. Augustine moving timeline, step by step

Eight to twelve weeks out

Shortlist addresses and check each one three ways: the FEMA flood zone, St. Johns County's evacuation zone, and whether it is inside the City of St. Augustine, since that decides your water provider and tax rate. Start homeowners and flood insurance quotes, and look up the zoned schools with the district's attendance zone locator.

Four to six weeks out

Book the mover and any storage. Arrange water with the city or the county, and ask the seller or landlord which electric company serves the home. Book a school-entry health exam if your child's last one will be more than a year old by enrollment.

The week of the move

Apply for water before noon on a weekday for same-day service with either the city or the county. Keep identity documents, proof of address and vehicle titles with you rather than in the truck, since you will need them at the tax collector's office.

Within 10 days of starting work or school

Buy Florida auto insurance and register your vehicles with the St. Johns County Tax Collector.

Within 30 days

Get your Florida driver license, register to vote at your new address and sign up for Alert St. Johns.

By March 1 of the next year

File for homestead if you owned and lived in the home on January 1. In 2026 the deadline moved to March 2 because March 1 fell on a weekend.

Utilities in St. Augustine, provider by provider

Who supplies your water and trash service depends on whether the parcel is inside the City of St. Augustine. Electricity depends on where in the county you live. Check the parcel on the property appraiser's site first.

Water and sewer inside the city: City of St. Augustine

The city's water plant serves more than 13,000 potable water customers. To open a residential account, apply in person at the Financial Services Department, 50 Bridge Street, or by email or fax, with a completed application, a photo ID, the $125 deposit per unit and the $30 activation fee. The deposit can be waived in some cases, such as a credit score of at least 650 or a letter of credit from another utility. Accounts set up before noon get same-day service. Customer service is on 904-825-1037.

Water and sewer elsewhere: St. Johns County Utility Department

Apply by calling 904-209-2700 (option 4) or in person at 1205 State Road 16, St. Augustine. A deposit is due when you apply, and a $30 new service charge is added to the first bill. Accounts opened before noon are turned on the same day. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, and the after-hours emergency line is 904-209-2745. Some parts of the county are served by JEA instead, so confirm the provider for the parcel.

Electricity: FPL, JEA or Beaches Energy

Florida Power & Light has a St. Augustine service center at 303 Old Hastings Road (800-226-3545). JEA also serves customers in St. Johns County, and Beaches Energy Services supplies Ponte Vedra and Palm Valley. Ask the seller or landlord for a recent bill to see which one serves the home, then ask that utility about deposits when you start service.

Trash and recycling

In unincorporated St. Johns County, FCC Environmental Services collects garbage, recycling and yard waste once a week, paid through a solid waste assessment on your property tax bill rather than a monthly invoice. The county's Recycle Coach app shows your collection days, or call 904-827-6980. Inside the city, solid waste and recycling are run by the city's Public Works Department and billed with your utility account.

Internet and phone

Providers and speeds vary from street to street. Check which services reach the exact address before you sign a lease or contract, and ask the current occupant what they use.

Driver license, vehicle registration and voting in St. Johns County

Florida driver license: 30 days

Section 322.031 of the Florida Statutes requires a new resident who takes a job or enrolls children in Florida public schools to get a Florida license within 30 days if they drive here. The St. Johns County Tax Collector is a full-service driver license agent. The main office at 4030 Lewis Speedway handles road tests, by appointment only; branch offices handle original licenses, renewals and replacements. Use the state's online checklist to see which identity, Social Security and address documents to bring.

Vehicle registration: 10 days

Under section 320.38, the same new residents must register their vehicles in Florida within 10 days of starting work or school. The tax collector will not issue a registration without proof of Florida insurance, so buy the policy first. The one-time $225 initial registration fee in section 320.072 applies to most vehicles not previously registered in Florida.

Where to go

Besides the main office, the tax collector has branches at the Dupont Center (6658 US 1 South), Julington Creek (725 Flora Branch Blvd) and Ponte Vedra (151 Sawgrass Corners Drive). Branches are open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the main office until 5 p.m.

Registering to vote

Register or change your address through RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov or with the St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections at 4455 Avenue A, Suite 101, St. Augustine (904-823-2238). Doing it early means your voter record already shows the new address when you file for homestead.

Homestead filing in St. Johns County

If the home you buy is your permanent residence, homestead is the biggest property tax saving available. File with the St. Johns County Property Appraiser, online or in person (904-827-5500).

Eligibility and deadline

You must own the home and live in it as your permanent residence on January 1, and you cannot hold a residency-based exemption in another state. The deadline is March 1, moved to the next business day when it falls on a weekend. Buy during 2026 and you file by March 1, 2027.

What to have ready

A Florida driver license or ID card showing the homestead address, your Social Security number (required to file online), a permanent resident card if you are not a US citizen, and, if the home is in a trust, the trust documents. If you are leaving another Florida homestead, have that address or parcel number too.

What it is worth in 2026

Up to $51,411 comes off your assessed value: $25,000 against all taxes and $26,411 against non-school taxes. After the first year, annual increases in assessed value are capped at 3% or CPI, which the Department of Revenue set at 2.7% for 2026. The St. Johns County property tax guide works through a full bill.

Portability and late filing

If you sold a Florida homestead in the last three tax years, you may carry up to $500,000 of its capped benefit to the new home; apply with your homestead application. The appraiser accepts late applications for just cause through the end of the TRIM period, usually August or September.

Hurricane prep for new St. Augustine residents

Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Set these up in your first month, whenever you arrive.

Know your evacuation zone

Enter your address in St. Johns County's My Evacuation Zone locator. Evacuation zones are about storm surge and are separate from FEMA flood zones. If you live on Anastasia Island or at Vilano Beach, plan your route to the mainland in advance.

Sign up for Alert St. Johns

The county's emergency notification system, Alert St. Johns, is how the county sends critical information during emergencies. Sign up through the county's emergency management page and add every address you care about, including a relative's or your workplace. The county's shelter list is posted on its hurricane evacuation shelters page, and the emergency operations center is on 904-824-5550.

Read the county's 2026 guide

St. Johns County publishes a 2026 Hurricane Preparedness Guide covering kits, plans and what to do before, during and after a storm. Download it and keep a paper copy.

Check your insurance before a storm

Know your hurricane deductible and whether you have flood cover, since flood damage needs its own policy. Buy it well before a storm is forecast. Hurricane Matthew in 2016 put water up to 4 feet above ground in parts of the city. The Florida hurricane insurance guide explains deductibles.

Enrolling in St. Johns County schools

Find the zoned school

All public schools are run by the St. Johns County School District, which serves 52,595 students in 53 schools. Use the district's 2026-2027 Attendance Zone Locator for the exact address; zones do not follow ZIP codes or community names. Two new K-8 schools, in SilverLeaf and Nocatee, moved boundaries for 2026-27 for students at Wards Creek Elementary, Liberty Pines, Mill Creek, Pine Island and Trout Creek academies and Pacetti Bay Middle.

Health exam and immunizations

Florida law requires a child enrolling for the first time to present a school-entry health exam done within one year before enrollment and a certificate of immunization. Schools may allow up to 30 days to hand in the paperwork. Book the appointment before you move if you can.

Choice programs and academies

The district's school choice and high school academy programs have their own application windows. Check the dates as soon as you know your move date; the Jacksonville-area schools guide explains how Florida school grades work.

Getting around in your first weeks

Sunshine Bus

St. Johns County's Sunshine Bus runs a deviated fixed-route service in the St. Augustine area. A one-way ride is $2.00, a day pass $4.00 and a monthly pass $30.00, with half-price fares for riders 60 and over, people with disabilities, Medicare or Medicaid card holders and students. Children under 6 ride free.

Driving and flights

Most residents drive, and 26.7% of county workers work from home. For flights, Jacksonville International handled 7,573,168 passengers in fiscal 2024/25. Northeast Florida Regional Airport, 4 miles north of downtown St. Augustine, serves general aviation.

First-month checklist for a move to St. Augustine

Confirm whether your address is inside city limits, then start water and sewer with the city or the county.
Find your electric provider (FPL, JEA or Beaches Energy) and set up the account.
Download Recycle Coach or check your city collection day.
Insure and register every vehicle within 10 days of starting work or school.
Get Florida driver licenses within 30 days, with an appointment if you need a road test.
Register to vote at your new address.
Look up your evacuation zone and sign up for Alert St. Johns.
Save your policy numbers, hurricane deductible and flood cover details where you can reach them offline.
Enroll children with their health exam and immunization certificates.
Put March 1 in your calendar for homestead, and keep your closing documents together.

For the lifestyle side of the move, read is St. Augustine a good place to live. To find a home, start with the St. Augustine real estate guide and new construction in St. Augustine.

Common questions

How long do I have to get a Florida driver license after moving to St. Augustine?+

Florida law gives a new resident who takes a job or enrolls children in public school 30 days to get a Florida driver license, and 10 days to register vehicles. The St. Johns County Tax Collector issues licenses at its Lewis Speedway main office and its branches, with road tests by appointment at the main office.

Who provides water in St. Augustine?+

Inside city limits, the City of St. Augustine supplies water and sewer; a new residential account needs a $125 deposit per unit, a $30 activation fee and photo ID. Outside the city, the St. Johns County Utility Department serves most areas, charging a deposit and a $30 new service charge, and JEA serves some parts of the county.

Who provides electricity in St. Augustine?+

Florida Power & Light serves the St. Augustine area and has a service center at 303 Old Hastings Road. JEA also serves parts of St. Johns County, and Beaches Energy Services supplies Ponte Vedra and Palm Valley. Ask the seller or landlord for a recent bill to confirm which utility serves the address.

When do I file for homestead in St. Johns County?+

File with the St. Johns County Property Appraiser by March 1 of the year after you buy, or the next business day if March 1 falls on a weekend, as it did in 2026. You must own and live in the home on January 1. Bring a Florida license or ID showing the address and your Social Security number.

How do I find my hurricane evacuation zone in St. Augustine?+

Enter your address in St. Johns County's My Evacuation Zone locator on the county's emergency management site. Evacuation zones measure storm surge risk and are different from FEMA flood zones. Then sign up for Alert St. Johns and download the county's 2026 Hurricane Preparedness Guide.

What does it cost to move to St. Augustine?+

Moving costs depend on distance and volume, so get three written quotes from registered movers. Budget too for a $125 city water deposit and $30 activation fee, or the county's deposit and $30 charge, the $225 Florida registration fee per vehicle and rent near Zillow's typical $2,034 a month while you look for a home.

Moving to St. Augustine, FL: costs, utilities, deadlines and a first-month checklist

Plan your St. Augustine home search.