New Resident Guide
Your Mount Dora move-in checklist
The practical first-month list: utilities, paperwork, and the local quirks worth knowing, with links straight to the official sources.
Home/New Resident Guide
Set up electric service
Mount Dora owns and operates its own municipal electric utility; addresses inside the city sign up with the City of Mount Dora, not Duke Energy, which is the default provider across most of the rest of Lake County. Start with City of Mount Dora Electric Utility (352-735-7108).
Water & trash
Water: Lake County Utilities or a city/private system, depending on address. Trash and recycling: County franchise hauler (city service inside city limits). Your closing or lease paperwork usually names the exact providers; when in doubt, ask Lake County Government.
Internet
Spectrum and AT&T Fiber are the most common providers. Availability is address-specific, so run each provider's address check before scheduling installation.
Florida driver license & vehicle registration
New residents have 30 days to get a Florida driver license and 10 days to register vehicles once employed or enrolled. Start at FLHSMV; local service is through the Lake County Tax Collector.
Register to vote
Update your registration at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov.
File for the homestead exemption
Florida's homestead exemption can reduce your home's taxable value by up to $50,000. File with the county property appraiser by March 1. File with the Lake County Property Appraiser. More on the cost-of-living page.
Verify your schools
Assignments can differ street by street. Verify any address with Lake County Schools before you commit. More on the schools page.
Get storm ready
Florida living includes hurricane season. Start with the Storm Ready page — live alerts, the kit, shelters, and pets.
Good to know
Mount Dora questions
What is the Florida homestead exemption and when do I file?
Florida's homestead exemption can reduce your home's taxable value by up to $50,000. File with the county property appraiser by March 1. In Lake County you file with the Lake County Property Appraiser.
How do I find out which schools serve my address?
School assignments are set by Lake County Schools and can differ street by street, so never rely on a listing or hearsay. Use the district's official address-lookup tools to verify before you commit to a home.
Which electric company will I have?
Mount Dora owns and operates its own municipal electric utility; addresses inside the city sign up with the City of Mount Dora, not Duke Energy, which is the default provider across most of the rest of Lake County.
What county is Mount Dora in?
Mount Dora is in Lake County, Florida, an inland county. The county determines your property taxes, school district, and most local services — the Lake County Property Appraiser is the authoritative source for any specific parcel.
Will my home have an HOA or CDD?
It depends on the community: many newer neighborhoods carry an HOA, a CDD, or both, while older areas may have neither, and the costs differ meaningfully. Our HOA & CDD guide explains how to check any property before you buy.
How worried should I be about hurricanes?
Hurricane season runs June through November and preparation is a normal part of Florida life. Lake County is inland with no storm-surge evacuation zones; wind, rain, and power outages are the main planning points. Our Storm Ready page keeps live alerts and the checklist in one place.
Does Mount Dora really have a lighthouse?
Yes. The 35-foot lighthouse at Grantham Point, built in 1988, marks the entrance to the Port of Mount Dora on Lake Dora and is one of the few inland freshwater lighthouses in Florida. It sits in a small city park on the lakefront a short walk from downtown.
What are Mount Dora's biggest festivals?
The Mount Dora Arts Festival, run by the Mount Dora Center for the Arts each February, and the annual fall Mount Dora Craft Fair are the two largest, drawing vendors and visitors from across the Southeast. The city's special events calendar fills the rest of the year with downtown markets, parades, and seasonal events.
Is Mount Dora actually hilly?
By Florida standards, yes. The town rises from the Lake Dora shoreline to roughly 180 feet above sea level at its higher points, so the historic downtown grid has noticeably sloped streets, which is rare in peninsular Florida.
Take it with you
Email me the move-in essentials
One email with the guide, the printable one-pager, and Storm Ready. Occasional Mount Dora updates after that — unsubscribe anytime.