50 Things to Know Before Moving to Florida | TB Relo

50 Things Every Florida Newcomer Should Know

Moving to Florida is a culture shock, even if you've vacationed here a hundred times. Living here is fundamentally different from visiting. Nobody hands you a manual when you cross the state line, so here's the one I wish someone had given me 23 years ago. Some of these are practical. Some are cultural. All of them are real.

The Essentials

Publix is your grocery store now. Accept it. Love it. The deli is excellent, the BOGO deals are real, and the Pub Sub (chicken tender sub, specifically) is the unofficial state food. You'll understand within a month.
Palmetto bugs are just big cockroaches. They're 1.5–2 inches long, they fly, and they'll appear in your house no matter how clean it is. They come in from outside. Don't panic. Get Amazon Advion gel bait and a quarterly pest control service.
Hurricane season is June 1 through November 30. Most activity is August through October. Prepare once at the start of the season and don't panic every time a tropical wave forms off Africa. See my hurricane season guide.
File for Homestead Exemption immediately after closing. You have until March 1 of the year following your purchase. This reduces your property tax assessment by $50,000 and caps annual increases at 3%. Miss the deadline and you lose a year of savings. File at the county property appraiser's office or online.
Get a SunPass for tolls. Florida has toll roads everywhere. A SunPass transponder ($5–$15) pays discounted rates automatically. Without one, you'll get billed at higher pay-by-plate rates. Stick one on your windshield on day one.
You have 30 days to get a Florida driver's license after establishing residency. You also have 10 days to register your vehicle. Visit the DMV (called FLHSMV in Florida) or see my driver's license guide for the full process.

The Weather

Florida has two seasons: wet and dry. The wet season (June–October) brings daily afternoon thunderstorms like clockwork, usually 2–5 PM. The dry season (November–May) is pure sunshine. Plan accordingly.
Lightning is a real danger. Florida is the lightning capital of the United States. When you hear thunder, get inside. Lightning strikes kill and injure people here every year. Outdoor activities during afternoon storms are genuinely dangerous.
Sunscreen is not optional. The UV index in Florida is extreme. You will burn faster than you expect, even on cloudy days. SPF 50+ for any extended outdoor time. Reapply every two hours. This isn't a suggestion — it's a dermatology reality.
You will sweat through your clothes. June through September, stepping outside means sweating. Keep a change of clothes in your car if you have meetings. Embrace linen and moisture-wicking fabrics. Cotton is the enemy.
Your car will be an oven. A parked car in Florida summer reaches 140–160°F inside within 20 minutes. Windshield sunshades are essential. Never leave anything heat-sensitive in your car. Never leave pets or children in a car, not even for a minute.

The Wildlife

Gators exist but don't panic. They live in every body of fresh water — lakes, ponds, retention ponds, golf course water hazards, even swimming pools occasionally. Don't let small pets or children near unfenced freshwater edges. Gators avoid humans when possible. Respect them, don't harass them, and call FWC (Fish and Wildlife) if one shows up somewhere dangerous.
Don't feed wildlife. Not the gators, not the ibis, not the iguanas, not the sandhill cranes. Feeding wildlife is illegal in many jurisdictions and always a bad idea. Fed animals lose their fear of humans and become dangerous.
Sandhill cranes own the road. These tall, gray birds walk through neighborhoods with complete indifference to traffic. You stop and wait. They're protected. They know it.
Check your shoes. Shake out any shoes that have been sitting outside or in the garage. Spiders, scorpions (small, not deadly, but painful), and other creatures like dark enclosed spaces.
Fire ants are everywhere. Their mounds pop up overnight. Don't stand on one. If you see loose sandy mounds in your yard, treat them with bait. Barefoot yard time requires scanning the ground first.

The Driving

Left lane is for passing. Florida actually has a law about this. Nobody follows it, but you should.
Nobody uses turn signals. You'll adopt this terrible habit within two years. Fight it.
Snowbird season is real. January through March, the roads get noticeably slower as seasonal residents arrive from the Northeast and Midwest. Traffic patterns change, restaurant wait times increase, and patience becomes essential.
Rain driving is terrifying. Florida roads become slick instantly when it rains after a dry period (oil buildup). Hydroplaning is common. Slow down during the first 15 minutes of rain — that's when it's most dangerous.
The Selmon Expressway is the best-kept secret for east Hillsborough County commuters. REX lanes (reversible express) make the Tampa commute from Brandon/Riverview manageable.
Florida has no vehicle inspections. No emissions, no safety checks. See my full breakdown. This means some questionable cars on the road.

The Home

Pest control is not optional. Get quarterly service immediately. Between palmetto bugs, ants, spiders, and termites, professional pest control is a cost of living in Florida, not a luxury.
Get a termite bond. Subterranean termites and drywood termites are active here. A termite bond (annual inspection and treatment guarantee) costs $200–$400/year and protects your home's structure.
Pressure washing is a regular chore. Mildew, algae, and general grime build up on driveways, sidewalks, pool decks, and house exteriors. Pressure wash everything at least once a year. Twice is better.
Your HVAC system is your best friend. It runs almost year-round. Change the filter monthly (not quarterly). Get it serviced twice a year. A failed HVAC system in July is an emergency, not an inconvenience. Best Bay Services — Handyman & Home Services handles HVAC maintenance if you need a reliable local service.
Pool maintenance is ongoing. If you buy a pool home (common in Florida), budget $100–$200/month for pool service or invest in learning to do it yourself. Florida heat and rain chemistry require constant balancing.
Flood zones matter. Check the FEMA flood zone before you buy. Zones A and V require flood insurance and have higher premiums. Zone X is lower risk but not no risk. Even non-flood-zone homes can flood during heavy storms.

The Money

No state income tax. This is the big one. Your entire paycheck stays. No state tax on wages, retirement income, Social Security, or investment income. It's a permanent raise.
Property taxes are real though. Florida makes up for no income tax with property taxes (1.0–1.5% of assessed value typically) and sales tax (6% state + local surtax, usually 7–8% total).
Homestead Exemption saves you money. Worth mentioning twice. File by March 1. It exempts the first $50,000 of assessed value from property tax and caps annual increases at 3% (Save Our Homes). If you've been in your home for years, your assessed value can be dramatically lower than market value.
CDD fees are not HOA fees. Community Development District fees are a separate assessment on newer communities, often $1,500–$3,000/year, on top of HOA fees. They fund infrastructure (roads, streetlights, community amenities) that the community built itself instead of the county. Always ask about CDD fees before buying new construction.
Insurance will be your second-largest housing cost. Homeowners + flood + auto insurance in Florida can easily run $8,000–$15,000/year. Budget for it. Policygenius helps shop multiple carriers.

The Culture

Florida is not one culture. Tampa Bay is different from Miami is different from Jacksonville is different from the Panhandle. Even within Tampa Bay, South Tampa is different from St. Pete is different from Wesley Chapel. Don't generalize.
Flip-flops are acceptable almost everywhere. Business casual here means what casual means up north. The dress code is relaxed. Embrace it.
Happy hour starts early. 4 PM happy hours are packed. Dinner at 5:30 PM is normal, not early-bird. The schedule shifts earlier in Florida generally.
"Florida Man" is a product of public records laws. Florida's Sunshine Law makes arrest records and police reports immediately public. Every state has wild incidents — Florida just lets reporters write about them all.
Publix subs > everything. Order a chicken tender sub with buffalo sauce and ranch. You're welcome.
Sweetwater is a chain you'll discover. Sweetwater restaurants, along with First Watch (breakfast/brunch), Keke's, and other regional chains will become your regular spots.
BBQ here is different. Florida doesn't have one BBQ style — it has all of them, done in varying quality. Don't expect Carolina, Texas, or KC specifically. Expect a Florida fusion that's its own thing.

Random But Important

Set up internet early. Spectrum Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet home internet are the main options in most of Tampa Bay. Schedule installation before you move in — wait times can be 1–2 weeks.
You need a good home security system. Florida's property crime rates are above the national average. ADT Home Security and SimpliSafe are both solid options. At minimum, get a video doorbell and exterior cameras.
Get a good pair of polarized sunglasses. The glare off water, sand, and concrete is intense. You'll wear sunglasses 350 days a year.
Learn your evacuation zone. Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Manatee counties have evacuation zones (A, B, C, etc.) that determine when you evacuate during hurricanes. Know yours. The county emergency management website has zone lookup tools.
Garage sales are called "yard sales" here and they happen year-round because the weather allows it.
The "Florida room" is what locals call an enclosed lanai or porch. If a listing says "Florida room," it's screened or glass-enclosed outdoor living space. They're wonderful.
You'll become a weather app addict. Between tracking afternoon storms, hurricane season, and cold fronts, you'll check weather apps multiple times daily. My Florida Weather is a solid local app.
Springs are your new favorite thing. Crystal-clear, 72°F spring water, year-round. Weeki Wachee, Rainbow Springs, Ichetucknee — make a list and start crossing them off. See my day trips guide.
You'll stop saying "back home." Within a year or two, Florida becomes home. The adjustment period is real but temporary. Most people settle in faster than they expected.
Florida will surprise you. It's not what you expect, in both good and bad ways. The people are warmer than you think. The nature is more stunning than you think. The bugs are bigger than you think. And the lifestyle is better than you think. Give it a full year before you judge.

Welcome to Florida, neighbor. It's weird, it's wonderful, and it's home.

The NOW Team — Barrett Henry, REALTOR® helps newcomers find the right neighborhood in Tampa Bay based on what actually matters to them. Don't just pick a house — pick a life.

Making the move? Barrett Henry has been helping families land in Tampa Bay for over 23 years. The NOW Team — Barrett Henry, REALTOR®

50 Things Every Florida Newcomer Should Know Before Moving