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TELEPHONE SERVICE

The Area Code of St. Johns County is "904."

Most of St. Johns County receives telephone service from AT&T. New residential connections can be arranged by calling 888-757-6500 (toll free for Florida callers) or 800-753-2909 (toll free number for out of state callers). Arrangements for new business connections can be made by calling 800-753-0155 (toll free for Florida callers) or 866-620-6000 (toll free number for out of state callers).

Residents of the Hastings area are serviced by Windstream Communications. Call 800-347-1991 for more information.

Additional numbers and information can be found in the Real Yellow Pages AT&T phonebook, available from the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, located at One Riberia Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084.

WATER & SEWER

Within the St. Augustine city limits, water and sewer service may be arranged through City of St. Augustine Water & Sewer by calling 825-1037. Service to a new structure may be arranged by calling the City Building Department at 825-1060.

Many areas of the county outside the city limits are serviced by private companies. Areas of St. Augustine Beach southward along the coast, as well as specific areas of the mainland south of the city limits, are serviced by St. Johns County Utility Department. A map of all utility service areas can be found on the county's website, www.co.st-johns.fl.us. For service call 471-2161. For billing questions, please call 825-1034.

In the Ponte Vedra area east of A1A and west of A1A call Jacksonville Electric Authority at 665-6000. Hastings area residents please call Hastings Water and Waste Water at 877-692-1420.

GARBAGE COLLECTION & RECYCLABLE MATERIALS 

The City of St. Augustine provides trash and recycling pickup. Call 825-1040 for City of St. Augustine collection schedules or 471-2122 for City of St. Augustine Beach collection schedules. For billing questions, please call 825-1034.

County residents must contract with a private refuse service. Advanced Disposal provides service to residents in the southern half of St. Johns County (south of the St. Johns River following CR 208 and south of SR 16 to the ocean).  Call 827-1005 for information.  Seaboard Waste Systems provides service to residents in the northern half of St. Johns County (north of the St. Johns River following CR 208 and north of SR 16 to the ocean).  Call 825-0991 for information. 

Additional locations accepting recyclable materials: Butler Park on State Road A1A and Prime 1 Outlets (to the right and behind the building).

UTILITIES

Florida Power and Light provides electrical service for most of St. Johns County. New connections can be arranged by calling customer service at 800-226-3545. Connections to previously serviced locations require 24 hours notice (not including weekends), while locations with no previous connections may take up to three days after approved inspection.

Residential and business deposits are based on a two month average of usage from the previous tenant. Residential deposits may be waived upon verification of credit.

Jacksonville Electrical Authority services the northern part of the county. Call 632-5200 for more information. Ponte Vedra residents should call the City of Jacksonville Beaches Energy at 247-6241.

NEWSPAPER

With a circulation of 23,000, the St. Augustine Record is the local daily newspaper serving St. Johns County. Call 819-3430 for circulation and subscription information. Other newspapers serving parts of St. Johns county include: St. Johns Recorder, 285-8831; St. Johns Sun, 287-0618; Jacksonville Business Journal, 396-3502; and Flagler Palm Coast News-Tribune, 386-586-5055.

CABLE TELEVISION

Comcast Cable services most of St. Johns County. Offices are located at 2200 U.S. 1 North. Call 824-2813 or 888-898-6329 for rate/service information.

INTERNET PROVIDERS

St. Johns County is served by both local and international internet service providers. See "Internet Service Providers" in the directory.

MARRIAGE LICENSES

Marriage licenses may be obtained at the office of the Clerk of Courts in the St. Johns County Judicial Center, located on Lewis Speedway. Call 819-3600 for information.

Florida residents are required to have a 3-day waiting period before obtaining a license or must attend counseling. Counseling is held at certain church facilities. There is no waiting period for out-of-state residents. The cost is $93.50 for out-of-state or those choosing the 3-day waiting period. For those who choose to attend counseling, the cost is $61.00.

Along with payment, both parties need to apply together and present picture ID, Social Security number, and if previously married, must show a final decree or a death certificate.

DRIVERS LICENSES

New residents have 30 days to obtain a Florida drivers license after accepting employment in Florida, enrolling children in a Florida public school, or applying for the Florida Homestead Exemption provision.

Out-of-state applicants must pass a vision test only, as long as they have a valid drivers license from another state (bring all vehicle registrations and two forms of valid identification to the examination station).

The examination station is located at the Tax Collector's Office at 4030 Lewis Speedway in St. Augustine. Branch offices are located in Ponte Vedra Beach at 5430 Palm Valley Road, in Julington Creek at 725 Flora Branch Blvd., and in Hastings at 6195 South Main Street, Suite E. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (at the St. Augustine office only, hours are extended until 6:00 p.m. on Fridays).

Handbooks on Florida driving laws are available at no charge. Driving tests are offered until 4:30 p.m. Call 209-2250 for more information.

http://www.co.st-johns.fl.us/Const-Officers/Tax-Collector/dl1.html

VEHICLE & VESSEL REGISTRATION

New residents of St. Johns County must register all motor vehicles immediately upon moving to the area. For additional information and requirements, contact 209-2250.

Fees are based on vehicle weight. Applicants must bring the vehicle itself, title, all owners or powers of attorney, and proof of Florida required personal injury protection and property damage liability insurance.

Vessels with a motor are required to be registered. Fees are based on length. Applicants must bring original title and picture identification.

Vehicle and Vessel registration may be obtained at the Tax Collector's Office at 4030 Lewis Speedway in St. Augustine. Branch offices are located in Ponte Vedra Beach at 5430 Palm Valley Road, in Julington Creek at 725 Flora Branch Blvd., and in Hastings at 6195 South Main Street, Suite E. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (at the St. Augustine office only, hours are extended until 6:00 p.m. on Fridays).

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

St. Johns County's Public Transit Service offers six different routes available, all covering different areas including: A1A, US1, Moultrie Shopping Center, Downtown St. Augustine, St. Johns County Government Center & Courthouse Areas, West St. Augustine, and SR 16 Outlet Malls & the Avenues Mall Areas. Routes begin between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m. and run until sometime between 5:15 and 7:05 p.m., depending on the location. Fare of $1.00 per one way trip must be paid upon entering the bus. (Seniors 60+, children 6 years old and under, persons with disabilities and anyone with a Medicare Card may ride for $0.50 per one way trip.) Riders must use exact change on busses... no change is available from drivers. A $25.00 non-transferable monthly pass is available for unlimited use, call the office or ask drivers for details. Transfers are free. Connections to JTA transit system can be made at the Avenues Mall in Jacksonville. Riders may board or exit the bus at any street corner along the bus route. Please click here or call 904-209-3716 for additional information and route schedules, which are subject to change. Office Hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

TAXES

The state of Florida does not impose a personal income tax. Property taxes fall under the Homestead Exemption Provision. Occupational license fees are collected from most businesses, professionals, and enterprises. The state sales tax is six percent.

In addition to the county tax structure, each municipality may also levy taxes and require occupational fees and licenses.

OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES

Procedures for obtaining an occupational license in the county differ according to location and type of business. Locations within the corporate limits of St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach, and Hastings must first get a license from that city. Contact the appropriate office needed, according to business location, for zoning approval and occupational license:

St. Augustine: 825-1065
St. Augustine Beach: 471-2122
Hastings: 692-1420

After the city license is obtained, it must be taken to the St. Johns County Tax Collectors office, where the county license will be issued. Call 209-2250 for additional information.

Locations outside the three corporate limits must receive approval from the County Zoning Department located in the County Administrative building on Lewis Speedway. Professional and state regulated businesses must first obtain a state license, while contractors must obtain a county authorized license from the Building Department. Contact the County Zoning Department at 823-2470 for additional information.

http://www.co.st-johns.fl.us/Const-Officers/Tax-Collector/occupational1.html

SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Businesses already in operation and people contemplating starting a business of their own may find valuable help through individual management assistance offered by the University of North Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Workshop topics include sales, customer service, advertising, and many more areas of operating a business.

The St. Augustine and St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, serving as a satellite office to the SBDC, offers its facilities as a place to schedule meetings where business owners or those who wish to start a business may meet with a workshop instructor to discuss topics of interest. Call Cathy Hagan at 800-450-4624 to schedule an appointment.

HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION

Due to the proposed property tax reform in the state of Florida, please contact the Property Appraiser's Office at 827-5560 for information regarding homestead exemption.

VOTING

New residents may register to vote in local, state, and national elections immediately upon arriving in St. Johns County. Registration must be completed 29 days prior to an election. Persons 17 years old may pre-register and may vote if they turn 18 on or before election day. Registration applications are available at many locations including the Supervisor of Elections Office, Driver's License Office, public libraries, and Public Assistance agencies. Photo identification must be presented at the polls on election day. Call the Elections Office at 823-2238 for more information.

HEALTH CLINICS

The St. Johns County Health Department is located in Suite 100 of the St. Johns County Health and Human Services Center, 1955 U.S. 1 South, St. Augustine, FL 32086. The clinic provides free immunization to all children and dental care for indigents. Venereal disease treatment and family planning services are available on a sliding fee scale. Additionally, a prenatal clinic in cooperation with the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services is offered. Call 825-5055 for information.

An ambulatory primary care facility offering non-emergency aid to low income families is also available.

RESCUE SERVICES

St. Johns County utilizes a 911 computerized emergency system. Simply dialing 911 places the caller in touch with fire, rescue and police aid. Without a spoken word, the computer can locate the exact location that the call is coming from. St. Johns County Fire Rescue provides countywide public safety services to the citizens and visitors of the County. The Department provides coverage to 608 square miles, excluding primary fire protection within the City of St. Augustine (EMS and automatic aid for structure fires is included).

St. Johns County Rescue Service features specially equipped vehicles, manned with fully trained paramedics. Emergency helicopter service is also available to transport critically ill or injured patients to regional medical facilities.

http://www.co.st-johns.fl.us/BCC/emgcymngmt/index.html

ANIMAL REGULATIONS

All dogs and cats must be licensed by the City of St. Augustine, 825-1037, or the City of St. Augustine Beach, 471-2122. All dogs and cats four months and older are required to be inoculated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian. The inoculation certificate must be shown when purchasing a city license for pets.

A county-wide leash law for dogs and cats is enforced. To report unleashed, stray, or possible rabid animals within the City of St. Augustine or St. Augustine Beach, call the St. Augustine Humane Society at 829-2737. To report County violations, call Animal Control at 209-0746.

FISHING & HUNTING

Licenses are required for fishing and hunting. Regulations and licenses are available from the St. Johns County Tax Collectors Office, 209-2250. Proper identification is required.

Complete information on hunting and fishing regulations is available from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 850-488-4676.