Moving to Fort Myers: A New Resident Guide (2026)

A palm-lined street in downtown Fort Myers on a sunny day

Welcome to Fort Myers. Whether you drove down with a trailer or finally made the winter place your full time address, there is a short list of things worth handling in your first month. Lee County’s own new resident page has not been updated since 2020, so here is a current one.

Work down this list and you will be set up before season starts.

1. Turn on the water

If you are in unincorporated Lee County, your water and sewer come from Lee County Utilities. You can start, stop or transfer service through their website rather than standing in a line.

A few things to know. Your monthly bill is not one flat number. It is a service charge, an administrative fee, a wellfield conservation surcharge if your address has one, and then user charges based on how much water you actually use. The county approved a series of yearly rate adjustments back in 2023, and new rates and service charges took effect July 1, 2026. The current rate schedule is posted on the Lee County Utilities site.

One warning worth repeating. Utility scams are common here, especially with new residents. Lee County Utilities posts a scam alert on its homepage. If someone calls demanding immediate payment over the phone to avoid a shutoff, hang up and call the county directly.

If you live inside Fort Myers, Cape Coral or Bonita Springs city limits, check with the city instead. Utility providers change from block to block here.

2. Sort out the trash

Lee County Solid Waste handles residential garbage, recycling and yard waste for most of the county.

Phone: 239-533-8000
Email: [email protected]
Customer service office: 6421 Topaz Court, Fort Myers, FL 33966, open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, closed holidays

Do one extra thing while you are on their site: sign up to be a Solid Waste Insider. It is a free email list that sends schedule changes, holiday pickup shifts and, importantly, disaster debris information. After a storm, that list tells you when and how to put your pile at the curb. That is worth knowing before you need it.

3. Get a library card

The Lee County Library System card is free and it is one of the better deals in the county. Beyond books, you get digital content, and most branches have study rooms you can reserve for a group project, an online class or quiet work.

Reserve a study room or ask a question: 239-479-4636 (telephone reference)
Text a librarian: 239-204-5321
Account login help: 239-485-8585
Library Administration: 2201 Second St., Suite 400, Fort Myers, FL 33901, 239-533-4800

Mark your calendar for Fandom Fest on Saturday, December 12, 2026. It is the library system’s big annual event and it fills the parking lot.

4. Handle the driver license, tags and property tax

All three run through the Lee County Tax Collector at leetc.com. New Florida residents generally need to move their driver license and vehicle registration over within a set window, so do not sit on this one. Appointments make the visit much shorter.

5. Sign up for AlertLee

This is the five minute task that matters most. AlertLee is the county’s emergency notification system. It is how you get evacuation orders, boil water notices and storm warnings for your specific address. Sign up at leegov.com.

While you are at it, download the county’s Hurricane Preparation Guide, also on leegov.com. It tells you your evacuation zone, which is not the same as your flood zone, and a lot of new residents mix those two up. Know your zone before June.

6. Learn how the buses and the beach trolley work

LeeTran runs public transportation in Lee County. Worth knowing up front: there is no service on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day.

The piece most new residents end up using is the Beach Park & Ride. You park free at the lot and take the trolley to Fort Myers Beach rather than circling for a space. With several beach park lots closed for Hurricane Ian repairs right now, this is the easiest way to get to the sand.

If you or a family member needs paratransit, LeeTran Passport lets you book ADA and Transportation Disadvantaged trips up to 14 days ahead through an app or a computer, track the vehicle in real time and cancel with a couple of taps.

7. Buy the beach parking pass

Lee County Parks and Recreation sells an annual parking pass that covers many county beach parks, including Bowman’s Beach and Turner Beach on Sanibel and Bunche Beach in Fort Myers. Beach parking runs $2 to $5 per hour depending on the location. If you plan to go more than a handful of times a year, the annual pass pays for itself quickly.

8. Register to vote

The Lee County Supervisor of Elections handles registration, vote by mail requests and early voting locations. Changing your address matters here, because your precinct and your local races change with it.

A few local habits worth picking up

Check the water quality before a beach day. Lee County posts beach water quality online. It takes ten seconds.

Know the beach rules. No alcohol, no glass bottles, no jet ski launching and no hammocks tied to plants at county beach parks. Some parks allow dogs and some do not.

Watch the afternoon sky in summer. Storms roll in fast between June and September. Morning is the safe half of the day for anything outdoors.

Learn the difference between season and off season. From roughly November through April the traffic, the restaurant waits and the beach crowds all change. Locals plan errands around it.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to get a Florida driver license after moving here?

Florida sets a deadline for new residents to transfer their license and register their vehicles. The Lee County Tax Collector at leetc.com lists the current requirements and what documents to bring. Make an appointment rather than walking in.

Who provides my water in Fort Myers?

It depends on your address. Lee County Utilities serves much of the unincorporated county. The City of Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Bonita Springs run their own systems. Check with the county first and they will point you the right way.

What is AlertLee and do I need it?

AlertLee is Lee County’s emergency alert system. It sends evacuation orders, boil water notices and storm warnings to your phone and email based on your address. Yes, you need it.

Is a Lee County library card free?

Yes, for residents. It covers books, digital content, and access to study rooms at most branches.

Do I need a car in Fort Myers?

For most of the county, yes. LeeTran covers the main corridors and runs the beach trolley, but Lee County is spread out and most errands assume a car.

When does hurricane season start?

June 1 through November 30, with the peak in late August and September. Sign up for AlertLee, find your evacuation zone and read the county’s Hurricane Preparation Guide before the season opens, not during it.