New Resident Guide
Your Horizon West 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
Duke Energy serves most unincorporated Orange County; OUC serves the City of Orlando and parts of southeast Orange, so confirm the provider for your exact address. Start with Duke Energy Florida (800-700-8744).
Water & trash
Water: Orange County Utilities or the City of Orlando, depending on address. Trash and recycling: Orange County Utilities (unincorporated) or city service. Your closing or lease paperwork usually names the exact providers; when in doubt, ask Orange 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 Orange 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 Orange County Property Appraiser. More on the cost-of-living page.
Verify your schools
Assignments can differ street by street. Verify any address with Orange County Public 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
Horizon West 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 Orange County you file with the Orange County Property Appraiser.
How do I find out which schools serve my address?
School assignments are set by Orange County Public 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?
Duke Energy serves most unincorporated Orange County; OUC serves the City of Orlando and parts of southeast Orange, so confirm the provider for your exact address.
What county is Horizon West in?
Horizon West is in Orange County, Florida, an inland county. The county determines your property taxes, school district, and most local services — the Orange 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. Orange 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.
Is Horizon West a city?
No. Horizon West is unincorporated Orange County, planned and governed by the county under the Horizon West Special Planning Area adopted in 1995. There is no city hall or municipal government — law enforcement is the Orange County Sheriff's Office, and county departments handle planning, parks, and utilities.
What are the villages of Horizon West?
The adopted plan lays out five mixed-use villages — Bridgewater, Lakeside Village, Hickory Nut, Seidel, and Ovation — plus a Town Center, each surrounded by greenbelts. Hamlin is the developer name for the Town Center district, and large neighborhoods such as Waterleigh and Independence carry their own names inside the villages.
Why do Horizon West homes have Winter Garden addresses?
The U.S. Postal Service assigns most of Horizon West to the 34787 ZIP code, whose preferred city name is Winter Garden. Mail reads 'Winter Garden, FL' even though the community sits outside Winter Garden's city limits in unincorporated Orange County.
Take it with you
Email me the move-in essentials
One email with the guide, the printable one-pager, and Storm Ready. Occasional Horizon West updates after that — unsubscribe anytime.