By Sal DiBenedetto, Licensed Real Estate Broker · The DiBe Group, brokered by eXp Realty · Updated October 2026

Living in Southwest Florida means dealing with several layers of local government. Your property taxes, car tags, building permits, trash pickup, flood maps and voter registration may each be handled by a different office, and the right office depends on whether you live in a city, a village or unincorporated county land. For newcomers, figuring out who does what can be one of the most confusing parts of a move.

This page gathers the official websites residents use most often for Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties and for the Village of Estero and the cities of Fort Myers, Naples and Cape Coral. Each section explains what the offices do and when you are likely to need them. Bookmark it and come back whenever you need to pay a tax bill, look up a property, pull a permit or check your trash day.

Who Handles What: A Quick Guide

Village of Estero

The Village of Estero incorporated at the end of 2014 and now handles its own planning, zoning, building permits, code enforcement and many local services. If your property is inside village limits, go to the village first for permits, zoning questions and local ordinances. Property appraisal, tax collection and court records are still handled by Lee County offices.

• Village Hall: 9401 Corkscrew Palms Circle, Estero; 239-221-5035.
• Community Development: 239-221-5036.
• Building inspections line: 239-319-2817; email permitting@estero-fl.gov.
• Flood information portal: esterofl.withforerunner.com.
• Fire service: Estero Fire Rescue (239-390-8000) and San Carlos Fire (239-267-7525), depending on location.
• Law enforcement: Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

Learn more about how permitting and land use work in the village in our Estero zoning code guide.

Lee County

Lee County covers Estero, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach and large unincorporated areas such as Lehigh Acres and San Carlos Park. The county government handles services for unincorporated areas, and county-wide constitutional officers such as the property appraiser, tax collector and clerk serve all residents, including those in cities and villages.

• AlertLee emergency notifications: Sign up to receive alerts about hurricanes, boil water notices and other emergencies; 239-477-1228. The LeePrepares app has evacuation zones and shelter information.
• LeeTran bus service: 239-533-8726.
• Lee County Domestic Animal Services: Pet licenses and adoptions; 239-533-9215.
• Lee County Utilities: Water and sewer for many areas, including northern Estero; 239-533-8845.
• Bonita Springs Utilities: Water and sewer for areas south of Williams Road; 239-992-0711.

City of Fort Myers

Fort Myers is the county seat of Lee County and home to the historic River District, the Edison & Ford Winter Estates and many government offices. The city handles its own permits, utilities and solid waste. Many residents with a Fort Myers mailing address actually live in unincorporated Lee County, so check your property record before calling the city.

City of Cape Coral

Cape Coral is the largest city in Southwest Florida by population and is known for its hundreds of miles of canals. The city runs its own permitting system, utilities and trash schedules. Our Cape Coral flat fee listing page covers selling in the city.

Collier County

Collier County covers Naples, Marco Island, Everglades City, Immokalee and large unincorporated areas such as North Naples, Golden Gate Estates and Ave Maria. Most residents with a Naples address live in unincorporated Collier County and use county services for permits and trash.

City of Naples

The City of Naples is a small, historic city along the Gulf with its own government, permitting and utilities. Only a small share of Collier County residents live inside city limits. Learn more in our Naples, Florida overview.

Charlotte County

Charlotte County, north of Lee County, includes Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, Englewood and Babcock Ranch. Punta Gorda is the only incorporated city, so most residents use county services. See our Punta Gorda overview for more about the area.

What Each Office Does

Property Appraiser

The property appraiser determines the assessed and taxable value of every property in the county and administers exemptions such as homestead. Their website is one of the most useful tools for buyers and owners: you can look up ownership, sales history, building details, lot size, flood information and tax estimates. The property appraiser does not send tax bills or collect taxes.

Tax Collector

The tax collector sends and collects property tax bills and also handles driver licenses, vehicle registration, titles, boat registration, hunting and fishing licenses and business tax receipts. In Lee County, offices include locations in Bonita Springs at 25987 South Tamiami Trail and in South Fort Myers at 15680 Pine Ridge Road. Property tax bills are mailed in November, with discounts for paying early: 4% in November, declining each month until the March 31 deadline.

Clerk of Court

The clerk of court keeps official records, including deeds, mortgages, liens and court filings. The clerk also manages jury service, marriage licenses and some payments. Title companies and real estate attorneys rely on the clerk’s official records, and homeowners can search them to check what is recorded against a property.

Permitting Office

Permitting offices review plans and issue permits for construction, roofs, pools, windows, electrical, plumbing and other work. Which office you use depends on where the property is: Estero, Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Naples run their own building departments, while unincorporated areas use the county. Always confirm permit history before you buy, and close out open permits before you sell.

Solid Waste

Solid waste departments set trash, recycling and yard waste schedules. In Estero, collection is provided by Waste Pro under the Lee County franchise system (239-337-0800). Pickup is usually on the same day each week, and carts should be at the curb by 5:30 a.m. Bulk items and hurricane debris have separate rules, so check before putting large items out.

New Resident Checklist

1. Get a Florida driver license within 30 days of establishing residency at a tax collector office.
2. Register and title your vehicle in Florida. Out-of-state vehicles need a VIN verification, and new registrations carry an initial registration fee of $225.
3. Carry Florida insurance: Florida requires $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 in property damage liability.
4. File for homestead with the property appraiser by March 1 if you live in your home full time.
5. Register to vote with your county supervisor of elections.
6. Sign up for emergency alerts such as AlertLee in Lee County.
7. Learn your evacuation zone and make a hurricane plan before June 1.
8. Set up utilities: FPL for electricity in much of the area; water and sewer from your local utility; Peoples Gas (877-832-6747) where natural gas is available.
9. License your pet with county animal services.
10. Register your boat within 30 days if you bring one.

Our Estero newcomer hub walks through each of these steps in more detail.

Homestead Exemption Basics

Florida’s homestead exemption can save full-time residents a significant amount on property taxes. If you own and live in your home as your permanent residence on January 1, you can apply by March 1 with your county property appraiser. The exemption reduces the taxable value of your home by $25,000, plus an additional exemption of up to $26,411 on non-school taxes. Once homesteaded, the Save Our Homes cap limits annual increases in your assessed value to 3% or the change in CPI, whichever is lower. If you move within Florida, portability lets you transfer up to $500,000 of your accumulated Save Our Homes benefit to a new homestead.

Exemption amounts are set by state law and can change. Confirm current figures with your county property appraiser.

Florida Property Tax Calendar

If you disagree with your assessed value after receiving a TRIM notice, you can talk with the property appraiser’s office and, if needed, file a petition with the county Value Adjustment Board by the deadline printed on the notice.

Researching a Property Before You Buy

The official links on this page are some of the best due diligence tools available to homebuyers. Before making an offer, look up the property on the property appraiser site to confirm the owner, lot size, year built and tax history. Search the clerk’s official records for recorded liens or documents. Check the permitting portal for open or expired permits, and look up the flood zone. Your agent and title company will also review these items, but knowing how to find them yourself helps you ask better questions. If you are selling, the same research helps you spot problems before a buyer does.

Emergency and Hurricane Resources

Southwest Florida residents should keep a short list of emergency resources handy, especially during hurricane season, from June 1 through November 30.

• County emergency management: Evacuation zones, shelters and storm updates for Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties.
• AlertLee and LeePrepares: Lee County’s alert system and app.
• National Hurricane Center: Official forecasts and advisories.
• Flood insurance: NFIP policies generally have a 30-day waiting period, so do not wait until a storm is coming.
• Our hurricane center: Preparation checklists, supply lists and recovery tips at our Southwest Florida hurricane center.

Utilities and Services in Estero

Many gated communities have bulk internet and TV agreements with a specific provider, so ask the HOA before you set up service.

When you buy a home, transfer utilities into your name as close to closing day as possible so service is not interrupted. Water and sewer accounts often require a deposit for new customers. If you are buying in a community with a CDD (community development district), part of your water, sewer or infrastructure costs may appear as a non-ad valorem assessment on your property tax bill rather than on a monthly utility bill.

How to Tell Which Jurisdiction You Live In

Mailing addresses in Southwest Florida can be misleading. A home with a Fort Myers address may be in unincorporated Lee County, and a home with an Estero or Naples address may sit outside the village or city limits. Because permits, code enforcement, some fees and some taxes depend on your actual jurisdiction, it is worth checking.

1. Look up your parcel on the county property appraiser website.
2. Check the taxing district or municipality listed on the record. If it shows a city or village, that government handles your permits and local services.
3. Review your most recent tax bill, which lists each taxing authority, including any city or village millage.
4. When in doubt, call the city or village planning office with your address and they can confirm.

Schools

Public schools in Southwest Florida are run by county school districts: the School District of Lee County, Collier County Public Schools and Charlotte County Public Schools. Each district has its own assignment rules, calendars and school choice options. Lee County uses a school choice system for many students, while Collier and Charlotte assign schools primarily by address. Families should confirm current school assignments directly with the district for any home they are considering. Florida Gulf Coast University and Florida SouthWestern State College serve the region for higher education. See our FGCU overview.

Healthcare Resources

• Lee Health: The largest healthcare system in Lee County. Lee Health Coconut Point in Estero, at 23450 Via Coconut Point, includes a freestanding emergency department; 239-468-0000.
• NCH: The main healthcare system in Naples and Collier County, with two hospitals.
• Charlotte County hospitals: Several hospitals serve Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte.
• Emergencies: Always call 911 in an emergency.

Business and Community Resources

If you are starting or relocating a business, you may need a county business tax receipt from the tax collector and, depending on location, a local business tax receipt from your city. Zoning determines whether a business use is allowed at a given property, including home-based businesses. The Estero Chamber of Commerce (239-390-1137) connects local businesses through networking events and community programs, and our local business directory lists Estero-area businesses by category.

Voting and Civic Life

Each county has a Supervisor of Elections that handles voter registration, vote-by-mail requests and polling locations. After moving, update your voter registration with your new address, and request vote-by-mail ballots if you split the year between Florida and another home. Jury duty notices come from the clerk of court, and jurors who are not paid by their employer generally receive $15 per day for the first three days of service. Local government meetings, including Village of Estero Council and Planning, Zoning & Design Board meetings, are open to the public, with agendas posted online.

More Estero SWFL Resources

Local Links FAQ

More Estero Resources

• Estero trash pickup and recycling schedule
• Churches in Estero
• Barbershops in Estero
• Trusted cleaning companies in Estero
• Occupational therapists in Estero
• Notary services
• Ask the Estero AI chatbot

Links point to official government and utility websites and may change. If a link does not work, search the agency name or let us know so we can update it.