New to Chattanooga? Start power and internet with EPB, water with Tennessee American Water, transfer your license within 30 days and license your pets.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. This page is an index for new residents. It links to our full guides and to each provider’s own start-service page; it lists no prices. Facts come from EPB, Tennessee American Water, Chattanooga Gas, the Hamilton County Clerk, the Tennessee Department of Safety’s new residents page and McKamey Animal Center.
Moving to Chattanooga means setting up four utilities, two county errands and a few city registrations. Power and internet come from EPB, water from Tennessee American Water, sewer from the City of Chattanooga, and natural gas from Chattanooga Gas. You have 30 days to get a Tennessee driver’s license and to register your car. Questions about city services: 311 at 423-643-6311.
Your first-week checklist
- [ ] Start EPB power (and internet if you want it)
- [ ] Start water with Tennessee American Water
- [ ] Start gas if your home has it
- [ ] Find your trash and recycling day and order a free recycling cart
- [ ] Check your school zone
- [ ] Within 30 days: Tennessee driver’s license and car registration
- [ ] Register to vote at your new address
- [ ] License your dog or cat
Utilities
| Service | Provider | Start service | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | EPB | Start service | 423-648-1372 |
| Internet, TV, phone | EPB fiber (one option) | Start service | 423-648-1372 |
| Drinking water | Tennessee American Water | Start or stop service | 866-736-6420 |
| Sewer | City of Chattanooga | Sewer billing | 423-643-5877 |
| Natural gas | Chattanooga Gas | Start service | 866-643-4170 (leaks) |
Internet: the city says EPB has built a fiber-to-the-home network. To see every provider that reports service at your address, search the FCC’s National Broadband Map.
Trash and recycling are City of Chattanooga services. See our trash and recycling guide for your pickup day and the free recycling cart.
Driver’s license and car
- Driver’s license: new residents with an out-of-state license must get a Tennessee license within 30 days of establishing residency, at a full-service Driver Services Center, where every newcomer takes a vision screening. You can have documents pre-approved online first; allow up to five business days. Drivers moving from some states must also bring a motor vehicle record issued within 30 days; check the state’s current list.
- Car title and tags: register within 30 days of moving, at the Hamilton County Clerk, downtown in the courthouse at 625 Georgia Ave. or at the branch at 6135 Heritage Park Drive off Bonny Oaks Drive, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Bring a photo ID, two proofs of local residence and your original title, or your out-of-state registration and lienholder details if you still owe on the car. Call 423-209-6525 about fees. New resident checklist.
Property taxes and help for homeowners
Two programs cut property taxes for qualifying owners: state tax relief for older, disabled and veteran homeowners, and the city’s tax freeze for owners 65 and older, both due April 5 each year. Details, rates and due dates are in our property taxes guide.
Pets
All cats and dogs living in the City of Chattanooga must be licensed with McKamey Animal Center and have a current rabies vaccination. License online, at a Monday vaccine clinic or at the MAC admissions desk, 4500 N. Access Road, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. Owners 65 and older license up to three spayed or neutered pets free. City licenses.
Everything else
- Schools: zones, registration documents and the calendar are in our schools guide.
- Voting: register at GoVoteTN; see our voting guide.
- Permits: new homes, ADUs and work that changes a home’s footprint need a city building permit; see building permits and zoning.
- Power outages: report and track them as in our power outages guide.
- City phone numbers: who to call at City Hall.
- Getting around: roads, CARTA buses and the airport in our getting around guide.
What this means for you
- Put the two 30-day deadlines, license and car tags, on your calendar the day you move.
- Bring two proofs of address to the county clerk and to school registration; the schools accept an electric, water, gas or cable bill.
Frequently asked questions
How do I set up electricity in Chattanooga?
Start service online with EPB, which supplies power in Chattanooga and also sells fiber internet, TV and phone. EPB’s number is 423-648-1372.
How long do I have to get a Tennessee driver’s license after moving to Chattanooga?
Thirty days after you establish residency. Visit a full-service Driver Services Center for a vision screening; drivers from some states must also bring a motor vehicle record from their old state.
Where do I register my car in Chattanooga?
At the Hamilton County Clerk’s office in the downtown courthouse, 625 Georgia Ave., or the branch at 6135 Heritage Park Drive off Bonny Oaks Drive. Bring your out-of-state title or registration, a photo ID and two proofs of local residence. Call 423-209-6525.
Do I have to license my dog or cat in Chattanooga?
Yes. All cats and dogs in the City of Chattanooga must be licensed with McKamey Animal Center and have a current rabies vaccination. Licensing is free for up to three altered pets for owners 65 and older.
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