New Resident Guide
Your Riverview 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
TECO serves nearly all of the county. Start with Tampa Electric (TECO) ((888) 223-0800).
Water & trash
Water: City of Tampa Water inside the city; Hillsborough County Public Utilities elsewhere. Trash and recycling: City or county service depending on address. Your closing or lease paperwork usually names the exact providers; when in doubt, ask Hillsborough County Government.
Internet
Frontier Fiber, 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 Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough County Property Appraiser. More on the cost-of-living page.
Verify your schools
Assignments can differ street by street. Verify any address with Hillsborough 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
Riverview 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 Hillsborough County you file with the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser.
How do I find out which schools serve my address?
School assignments are set by Hillsborough 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?
TECO serves nearly all of the county.
What county is Riverview in?
Riverview is in Hillsborough County, Florida. The county determines your property taxes, school district, and most local services — the Hillsborough 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. Hillsborough County has storm-surge evacuation zones — know yours before a storm is on the map. Our Storm Ready page keeps live alerts and the checklist in one place.
Is Riverview its own city?
No. Riverview is an unincorporated census-designated place, so Hillsborough County provides local services — parks, water and sewer, planning and zoning, and the sheriff's office — rather than a city hall.
Where can I get out on the Alafia River?
Alafia Scrub Nature Preserve in Riverview has loop trails and a scenic overlook on the river, and Alafia River State Park upstream in Lithia adds paddling, hiking, and some of Florida's best-known mountain-bike trails. The USGS gauge at Lithia publishes real-time river levels before you go.
What are Riverview's main commute routes?
I-75 (with interchanges at Gibsonton Drive and Big Bend Road) and U.S. 301 are the backbone north-south corridors toward Tampa and Brandon, with Big Bend Road and Boyette/Bloomingdale the main east-west connectors.
Take it with you
Email me the move-in essentials
One email with the guide, the printable one-pager, and Storm Ready. Occasional Riverview updates after that — unsubscribe anytime.