New to Tuscaloosa? Start water and garbage with the city (205-248-5500), transfer your car tag within 30 days and claim the homestead exemption.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. This is an index for new residents. It links our full guides instead of repeating them and adds the start-service steps they do not cover. Facts come from the City of Tuscaloosa, the Tuscaloosa County License Commission, Alabama Power and the agencies linked.
Welcome to Tuscaloosa. The first jobs for a new household are water and garbage (both from the city), power (Alabama Power), your car tag (30 days) and your driver’s license. If you bought a home, record the deed and claim the homestead exemption. Start by checking whether your address is inside the city limits on the city’s lookup map: city services and city school zones apply only inside them.
Who to call
- City water and sewer accounts: 205-248-5500, ubcontact@tuscaloosa.com
- Tuscaloosa 311 (everything else the city does): 311 or 205-248-5311
- Tuscaloosa County License Commission (tags, titles): 2501 Seventh St., Suite 100
- Alabama Power outages: 1-800-888-2726
Water, sewer and garbage: the city
Open a new account, or move an existing one, with the city’s New Account or Transfer Service form from its useful forms page, emailed to ubcontact@tuscaloosa.com, or in person at the Business Services Center in City Hall Annex III, 2230 Gary Fitts St., which has a drive-through. You can also start online through the city’s online services.
Garbage pickup is mandatory for single-family homes in the city and starts with the water account; it is billed on the water bill. Recycling and bulk trash pickup come with it. Property owners, not tenants, call 311 for a cart. Full details: trash and recycling.
Electricity: Alabama Power
Alabama Power serves Tuscaloosa and has an office at 915 Queen City Ave. To start service, go to alabamapower.com or call 1-800-245-2244, the customer service number the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce lists for the company. Save the outage line and map: see power outages in Tuscaloosa.
Natural gas and internet
The city’s own FAQ sends new residents to the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce’s utilities list for electricity and gas. Ask your landlord or seller which gas company serves the address. To see which internet providers report service at your exact address, search it on the Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Map, then sign up on the provider’s own site.
Your car: tag and title
A new Alabama resident has 30 calendar days to transfer an out-of-state registration, the Tuscaloosa County License Commission says. Bring your title (or, with a lienholder, a copy of it and your out-of-state registration), your unexpired driver’s license and a printed Alabama insurance card. The vehicle must be brought to the license office for inspection, which is not done in the rain.
| Office | Address | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Main Office (all title work) | 2501 Seventh St., Suite 100 | 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays |
| Skyland | 1514 Skyland Blvd. East | 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays |
| Northport | 3500 McFarland Blvd., Northport | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays |
After that, your tag renews each year in a month set by the first letter of your last name.
Your driver’s license
Moving your license from another state is done only at the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, 2645 Skyland Blvd. East, not at the county license offices. ALEA also issues first STAR IDs. Later renewals and duplicates can be handled at the county’s Main and Northport offices. Lists of documents are on ALEA’s driver license site.
If you bought a home
- The deed is recorded at the Tuscaloosa County Probate Office, 714 Greensboro Ave., Room 137.
- Bring a copy of the recorded deed to the Tax Assessor, Room 108, to claim the homestead exemption, which must be claimed or it is lost. Owners 65 or older or disabled sign up between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31.
- Your first tax bill may carry the seller’s name, because Alabama taxes are paid a year in arrears. See Tuscaloosa County property taxes.
Register to vote
Update your registration with the Board of Registrars, 2501 Seventh St., Suite 200, or online. See voting in Tuscaloosa County.
Schools
Most of the city is in Tuscaloosa City Schools; check your zone before you sign a lease. See the Tuscaloosa schools guide.
Our other guides for newcomers
- Building permits and zoning
- Who to call at City Hall
- Getting around Tuscaloosa
- Parks and trails
- Tuscaloosa home prices
Frequently asked questions
How do I start water service in Tuscaloosa?
Fill in the city’s New Account form and email it to ubcontact@tuscaloosa.com, or open the account in person at the Business Services Center, City Hall Annex III, 2230 Gary Fitts St. The Water Office is 205-248-5500.
How long do I have to register my car in Alabama after moving?
A new Alabama resident has 30 calendar days to transfer an out-of-state registration, the Tuscaloosa County License Commission says. The vehicle must be brought to the license office for inspection.
Where do I transfer my driver’s license in Tuscaloosa?
State-to-state transfers are handled only by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency at 2645 Skyland Blvd. East, not the county license offices. ALEA’s Tuscaloosa County number for STAR ID questions is 659-676-1220.
How do I get garbage pickup at a new home in Tuscaloosa?
Garbage service starts when you open a city water account; it is mandatory for single-family homes in the city. Property owners call Tuscaloosa 311 to get a cart.
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