Establishing Residency��
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2019 | 39
The best legal way to establish residency in Charlotte County
is by filing a DECLARATION OF DOMICILE at the Clerk of the
Circuit Court office, Charlotte County Justice Center on Marion
Avenue in Punta Gorda, or at the County Administrative Complex
in Murdock. The filing fee is $17.00. This establishes Florida as the
primary state of residence. For information, contact 941-637-2245
or www.co.charlotte.fl.us
New residents will also want to make changes in:
DRIVER’S LICENSE
Within 30 days of taking up residency, registering to vote, or placing
a child in school, a driver should apply for a Florida license at the
Division of Drivers License Office or at one of your local Tax Collector
Offices located at the Administrative Center, 18500 Murdock Circle,
Port Charlotte; the South County Annex, 410 Taylor Street, Punta
Gorda; or the Englewood Annex, 6868 San Casa Drive, Englewood.
All three locations can be reached through the Tax Collector’s phone
number: 941-743-1350. There are new documents required to obtain
a license, so visit www.gathergoget.com.
VEHICLE REGISTRATION
Newcomers must register their vehicles in Florida within 10 days of
gaining employment or enrolling their children in school. You must
provide your current driver’s license, proof of Florida automobile
insurance, prior registration certificate and car title. Verification and
inspection of the vehicle I.D. number is always required. The Tax
Collector’s office will perform the VIN verification. The estimated cost
to register and title a vehicle for the first time is approximately $410.00.
All persons whose name will appear on the title must apply in person
at our office with a state-issued ID or call 637-2145 if he/she cannot
appear. This can be processed at any one of the three Tax Collector
locations: the Administrative Center, 18500 Murdock Circle, Port
Charlotte; the South County Annex, 410 Taylor Street, Punta Gorda; or
the Englewood Annex, 6868 San Casa Drive, Englewood, www.flhsmv.
gov. All three locations can be reached through the Tax Collector’s
phone number: 941-743-1350.
VESSEL REGISTRATION
The valid out-of-state registration of any vessel is accepted for a
period of 90 days, after which it must be registered. Owners of a vessel
should contact the Tax Collector’s offices in Punta Gorda, Murdock
or Englewood to register, renew or transfer ownership.
HUNTING & FISHING LICENSE
A separate license is required for hunting, freshwater fishing and
saltwater fishing. Nonresidents and Florida residents between the
ages 16 to 65 are required to purchase a license to hunt and fish. To
qualify for a Florida-resident license, the applicant must provide proof
of having resided in the county for six months. Florida residents 65
years of age or older are entitled to a free license. Other licenses and
stamps may also be required. Licenses are sold at the County Tax
Collector’s offices in Punta Gorda, Englewood, Murdock and suboffices
throughout the county. For more information, contact 941-
743-1350, www.myfwc.com.
AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE
Florida law requires NO-FAULT insurance for all motor vehicles
of private passenger types registered in Florida. This applies to any
automobile required to be registered and licensed in Florida and to
autos of nonresidents which have been physically in Florida for more
than 90 days during the preceding 365. Proof of insurance must be
presented.
BUSINESS TAX LICENSE
Business licenses must be obtained for most businesses which operate
in Charlotte County. Businesses operating in the incorporated City of
Punta Gorda must have both a city license and a county license. Fees
vary according to the type of business. Businesses that are required to
have a license from the Florida Department of Professional Regulation
or a Health Certificate must present copies of these documents before
a business license can be obtained.
For more information, contact the Tax Collectors Office at 941-743-
1350 or the City of Punta Gorda at 941-575-3369.
VOTER REGISTRATION
To vote in an election, voter registration must be made at least 29
days before election day. Registration locations are: Charlotte County
Courthouse in Punta Gorda, County Administrative Building in
Murdock and Englewood Courthouse Annex. For information, contact
941-833-5400 or visit www.charlottevotes.com.
GOVERNMENT
Charlotte County is governed by a five-member elected Board of
County Commissioners, each commissioner representing his or her
own district, but elected at large. Commissioners serve for four years.
The commission chairman is elected by the commissioners from their
body. Commissioners are located in the Administrative Complex at
18500 Murdock Circle in Port Charlotte where many other County
offices are located. Other elected officials are located in the Charlotte
County Justice Center on Marion Avenue in downtown Punta Gorda
and the South Annex, 410 Taylor Street in Punta Gorda.
The City of Punta Gorda is governed by a City Council, with the
mayor elected by the council from within the council. The members
of the council are elected for a two-year term. Punta Gorda City Hall
is located at 326 West Marion Avenue in Punta Gorda.
TAXES
There is no personal income tax in the state of Florida. There is a
corporate tax and a seven percent sales tax on most products. Food
and medicine are among the items exempt from sales tax.
In Charlotte County there is a five percent tax on temporary
accommodations of all accommodation rental periods of less than
six months.
The real estate tax is a combination of city, county and school
taxes, as well as the levies of several independent taxing authorities,
depending upon where your property is located. It is based on 100
percent of the appraised value of a property. A residential property, if
/www.co.charlotte.fl.us
/www.gathergoget.com
/www.flhsmv.gov
/www.myfwc.com
/www.charlottevotes.com
