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TELEPHONE SERVICE
The Area Code of St. Johns County is 904
St. Johns County receives telephone service from the following carriers: Alltel Communications: Serving the Residents of Hastings 800-347-1991. Auglink Communications: Commercial and Residential Service 904-824-1660 local or 877-284-5465 toll-free.
BellSouth: Residential toll-free 780-2355 in Florida or 800-753-2909 from out of state. Commercial toll-free 780-2800 in Florida or 800-753-0115 from out of state.
Additional numbers and information can be found in the current BellSouth phone book, The Complete Phone Book and the Verizon phone book, available from the Chamber of Commerce, 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 at 825-1037. Service to a new structure may be arranged by calling the City Building Department, also in City Hall at 825-1060.
Many areas of the county outside the city limits are serviced by private companies. The Anastasia Sanitary District covers St. Augustine Beach southward along the coast and specific areas of the mainland south of the city limits. For service call 471-2161, or visit the St. Johns County Utility Department office on Anastasia Island at 2175 Mizell Road.
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 692-1420.
For questions on water bills, please call 825-1034.
GARBAGE COLLECTION & WASTE
The City of St. Augustine provides trash and recycling pickup. Call 825-1040 in St. Augustine for specific schedules; 471-2122 for St. Augustine Beach schedules.
County residents must contract with a private refuse service. Call Advanced Disposal 827- 1005; St. Johns County Solid Waste Department 824-9720, or Seaboard Sanitation for the Ponte Vedra area, 825-0991.
For questions on garbage collection bills, please call 825-1034.
UTILITIES
Florida Power & Light and Jacksonville Electrical Authority serve all St. Johns County utility needs. To reach FPL call, 800-226-3545 and JEA is 904-632-5200.
NEWSPAPER
With a circulation of 19,000, the St. Augustine Record is the local daily newspaper serving St. Johns County. Call 829-6562 for circulation and subscription information.
CABLE TELEVISION
Time Warner Cable services St. Johns County. Offices are located at 2200 U.S. 1 North. Call 888-TW-TODAY(888-898-6329).
Comcast services the northern parts of the county, such as Ponte Vedra, Switzerland & Fruit Cove, call (904)380-6273.
COMMUNICATIONS
www.timewarnercable.com/staugustine
www.bellsouth.com
www.alltel.com
www.aug.com
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.
As of January 1, 1999, 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 $88.50 for out-of-state or those choosing the 3-day waiting period. Those who choose to attend school, the cost is $56.00.
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 must obtain a Florida drivers license 30 days after accepting employment in Florida, enrolling children in a Florida public school, or applying for the Florida Homestead Exemption provision. You must bring all vehicle registrations to the drivers license office.
Out-of-state applicants must pass a vision only test at this time as long as they have a valid drivers license from another state. Handbooks on Florida driving laws are available at no charge at the examination station. New residents must show two forms of valid identification.
The examination station is located at the Tax Collector's Office at 4030 Lewis Speedway. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Call 209-2250.
Driving tests are offered until 4:30 p.m.
http://www.co.st-johns.fl.us/Const-Officers/Tax-Collector/dl1.html
VEHICLE 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, and proof of Florida required personal injury protection and property damage liability insurance.
Vehicle registration may be obtained at the Tax Collector's Office. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 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 S. Main Street, Suite E.
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. That license is then taken to the St. Johns County Tax Collectors office, where the county license will be issued. Call 209-2250.
County Zoning at (904) 823-2470. If it is located in St. Augustine City limits, St. Augustine Beach City limits, or the town of Hastings limits, contact the appropriate office needed, according to business location, for zoning approval and occupational license.
St. Augustine, (904) 825-1065
Beach Hastings, (904) 692-1420
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. 823-2470.
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 serves as a satellite office to the SBDC, and appointments are available twice each month. Call Cathy Hagan at 904-620-2477 or 1-800-450-4624 to schedule an appointment.
HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION
Florida homeowners are entitled to an ad valorem tax exemption of the first $25,000 of the assessed valuation if they owned and occupied the home as of December 31st of the prior year. The owner must apply by March 1st of the tax roll year for which the exemption is sought. The owner must apply to the Property Appraiser's Office and must present a copy of the recorded deed, a valid driver's license with the correct homestead address, voter's registration or Declaration of Domicile, social security numbers of all owners, and vehicle registration or tag number showing the vehicle is registered in the State of Florida. The exemption is automatically renewed for subsequent years unless you no longer qualify.
Call the Property Appraiser's Office at 827-5560 for information.
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 823-2353 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 So., St. Augustine, FL 32086. Telephone number is 904-825-5055. The health department director is Dawn C. Allicock, M.D., M.P.H.
The clinic provides free immunization to all children and dental care for indigents. Venereal disease treatment is available, and family planning services are available on a sliding fee scale.
Also, a prenatal clinic in cooperation with the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services is offered.
An ambulatory, primary care facility offering non-emergency aid to low income families is also available. Call 825-5055 for information.
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 from which the call is coming.
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 823-4465.
FISHING & HUNTING
Licenses for fishing are required. 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 Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, (850) 488-4676.
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