Davenport City Hall and New Resident Resource Guide
Utilities, homestead, HOAs, permits, and the numbers to call, for buyers under contract and new Davenport residents.
Getting Settled in Davenport
Buyers under contract in Davenport and new residents getting settled run into the same practical questions quickly: who handles my water, when is the homestead deadline, and where do I go for permits. The first thing to know is whether your address is inside Davenport city limits, in unincorporated Polk County, or across the line in Osceola County, because that decides who provides your water, trash, permits, and even your property appraiser.
Confirm and Set Up Utilities
Inside city limits, the City of Davenport provides water and sewer, and garbage collection runs through the city’s contract with Republic Services. Call City Hall at (863) 419-3300 to start service and to find your trash and recycling pickup days. For after-hours water emergencies, call (863) 419-3306.
Many homes with a Davenport address sit outside city limits. In unincorporated Polk County, water and sewer often come from Polk County Utilities at (863) 298-4100. In Osceola County communities such as ChampionsGate, water comes from Toho Water Authority at (407) 944-5000. Confirm your provider with the seller or title company before closing.
Duke Energy Florida provides electricity across most of the area at (800) 700-8744.
Review HOA and CDD Documents
Most newer Davenport neighborhoods are HOA-governed, and the rules vary widely. Resort communities built for vacation homes often allow short-term rentals and bundle amenities into higher fees, while full-time neighborhoods may restrict or ban rentals entirely. Many newer master-planned communities also carry CDD assessments, which appear as a separate line on your property tax bill and are easy to miss if you only read the HOA documents.
Before you commit, review the CC&Rs, bylaws, rental rules, and the most recent financial statements. For sellers, any pending special assessments should be disclosed early, and the HOA estoppel certificate, which Florida law caps at $299 for a standard request, confirms what is owed at closing.
File for Your Homestead Exemption
Florida’s homestead exemption reduces your property’s taxable assessed value by up to $51,411 for 2026. The first $25,000 applies to all property taxes, including school district taxes. The second portion, up to $26,411 and adjusted each year for inflation, applies to assessed value over $50,000 and only to non-school taxes.
The Save Our Homes cap limits annual increases in your assessed value to 3% or the change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower, and that cap compounds into real savings over time.
To qualify, you must own and occupy the home as your primary residence on January 1 and file by March 1. Most Davenport homes file with the Polk County Property Appraiser at polkflpa.gov. Homes on the Osceola side, including ChampionsGate, file with the Osceola County Property Appraiser at (407) 742-5000. If you are selling a Florida homestead and buying in Davenport, ask about portability and file form DR-501T with your new application. If school zones matter to your search, the Davenport schools guide covers the details.
On the November 3, 2026 ballot: Amendment 3 would raise the non-school homestead exemption to up to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. It needs 60% of the vote to pass. Save Our Homes and portability stay the same, and people who become Florida residents on or after January 1, 2027 would start at $50,000. We will update this section after the election.
Permits, Licenses, and Registration
Davenport City Hall at 1 S Allapaha Ave is open Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, and handles utility accounts and general city questions.
Inside city limits, building permits and business licenses go through the city’s Building & Planning office at 201 W Magnolia St. Outside city limits, permits come from the Polk County Building Division, or from Osceola County for Osceola-side homes. Check before starting a pool, fence, roof, or addition, because the wrong office means a delay.
For vehicle registration, driver licenses, and property tax payments, the Polk County Tax Collector runs a Davenport Service Center at 2000 Deer Creek Commerce Ln. Driver license services require an appointment.
Know Who to Call
The Davenport Police Department covers the city, and the city runs its own fire department with two stations. Outside city limits, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office handles law enforcement at (863) 298-6200. For any emergency, call 911.
Frequently Asked Questions
Inside city limits, call Davenport City Hall at (863) 419-3300 for water, sewer, and garbage. Outside city limits, water often comes from Polk County Utilities at (863) 298-4100, or from Toho Water Authority at (407) 944-5000 for Osceola-side communities like ChampionsGate. Duke Energy Florida handles electricity.
You must own the home and live in it as your primary residence on January 1, then file by March 1. Polk County homes file with the Polk County Property Appraiser at (863) 534-4777; Osceola-side homes file with the Osceola County Property Appraiser. For 2026 the exemption is worth up to $51,411 off your assessed value.
Not always. A Davenport mailing address covers a large area, including unincorporated Polk County and parts of Osceola County such as ChampionsGate. Check your property record on the county property appraiser’s website, or ask us and we will confirm it before you make an offer.
Inside city limits, permits come from the City of Davenport Building & Planning office at 201 W Magnolia St, (863) 419-3300 ext. 128. Outside city limits, contact the Polk County Building Division at (863) 534-6080, or Osceola County for Osceola-side homes.
Davenport, Florida Resource Directory
Community Resources
Davenport does not have its own public library. The closest branch is Haines City Public Library at 111 N 6th St, part of the Polk County Library Cooperative, at (863) 421-3633. The Tom Fellows Community Center at 207 North Blvd W hosts programs and rentals; call (863) 588-1130.
Wilson Park on State Street has a splash pad and playground, and Lake Play has fishing, a playground, shaded pavilions, and a quarter-mile walking trail. Citrus Connection runs public buses across Polk County at (855) 765-5287.
We Handle the Details That Catch People Off Guard
The Erica Diaz Team handles the details that catch people off guard, from confirming who provides your water to checking a community’s rental rules before you write an offer. Talk to a Davenport real estate agent.
