New to Columbus? Start power, water and gas, register your car within 30 days, enroll the kids and file for homestead by April 1. Links and phones.
Last checked Oct. 6, 2026. This page links our other guides and each provider’s own start-service page. We do not list prices; check each provider.
Columbus and Muscogee County are one consolidated government, so one set of city offices serves the whole county. Here is what to set up in your first weeks, in order, with a link for each step. Unsure who handles something? Call 311 at 706-653-4000.
First-week checklist
- Power: Georgia Power or Flint Energies (check which serves your address)
- Water and sewer: Columbus Water Works, 706-649-3400
- Natural gas: Liberty Utilities, 1-855-216-6305
- Trash: billed by the city; order carts through 311
- Car: Georgia driver’s license, then register your vehicle within 30 days
- School: register online at your zoned school
- Vote: register online with the state
Utilities
| Service | Provider | Start service | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | Georgia Power | Start, stop or move service | 1-888-660-5890 |
| Electricity (parts of the county) | Flint Energies | Apply for service | See flintenergies.com |
| Water and sewer | Columbus Water Works | Customer service requests | 706-649-3400 |
| Natural gas | Liberty Utilities | Become a customer | 1-855-216-6305 |
| Trash and recycling | Columbus Consolidated Government | 311 | 706-653-4000 |
Natural gas. On Atlanta Gas Light’s system, customers buy gas from certified marketers. Liberty Utilities, which serves the Columbus area, works differently: the Georgia Public Service Commission says Liberty is the state’s only local distribution company, fully regulated, and it sells gas to its customers directly (PSC natural gas page). Gas emergencies: 1-855-216-6306.
Power. Georgia Power serves Columbus, and Flint Energies, an electric cooperative, has 1,452 members in Muscogee County. Ask your landlord or seller which one serves the address, or call either company. Outage numbers are in our power outages guide.
Trash. The city collects garbage, recycling, yard waste and bulk items on one day a week for a monthly fee. See trash and recycling.
Internet
Providers that publish home internet service in Columbus on their own sites include WOW! and AT&T. Each asks for your address to confirm service and speeds.
Car, tags and driver’s license
From the Muscogee County Tax Commissioner:
- Get a Georgia driver’s license first. It must show your Muscogee County address. The Department of Driver Services Columbus center is at 8397 Macon Road in Midland, open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.
- Register your vehicle within 30 days of becoming a Georgia resident, at the tag office, 3111 Citizens Way, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, 706-653-4208.
- Insurance: your insurer must send your Georgia liability coverage to the state’s database before you can register.
- Tax: Georgia collects a one-time title ad valorem tax (TAVT) when you title a vehicle in your county of residence; the state’s DRIVES e-services site has an estimator.
Tags then renew each year on the birthday of the first owner listed. Renewal kiosks are at Publix stores at Bradley Park Square and Cross Country Plaza, and at 6901 Ray Wright Way.
Property taxes and homestead
If you bought a home, file for a homestead exemption by April 1 of the year you want it. Bring the recorded deed and your Georgia driver’s license; your car and voter registration must be in Muscogee County. Details, rates and due dates are in our property tax guide.
Schools
Find your zoned school with the Muscogee County School District’s address lookup, then register online. You need two proofs of address, a birth certificate and Georgia immunization and eye, ear and dental forms. See our schools guide.
Voting
Register online with the state, or update your address if you moved from another Georgia county. See voting in Muscogee County.
Pets
The city’s animal services are run by Paws Humane Society. Ask its Animal Services Division, 706-225-4512, about the city’s rules for pets; the leash and animal rules are in Chapter 5 of the Columbus Code of Ordinances. Off-leash options are in our dog-friendly guide.
Building or renovating
Permits come from Inspections and Code, 706-225-4126. See building permits and zoning.
What this means for you
- Day one: power, water and gas. Columbus gas comes from Liberty Utilities.
- Within 30 days: Georgia driver’s license, then your car tag.
- By April 1: homestead exemption if you own your home.
- Bookmark who to call at City Hall and getting around Columbus.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start water service in Columbus, Georgia?
Through Columbus Water Works, 1421 Veterans Parkway, 706-649-3400. Its customer service page takes requests online.
Who provides natural gas in Columbus, Georgia?
Liberty Utilities, which runs a regulated gas system in the Columbus area. Customer care is 1-855-216-6305; gas emergencies are 1-855-216-6306.
How long do I have to register my car after moving to Columbus?
Thirty days from establishing residency in Georgia, according to the Muscogee County Tax Commissioner. You need a Georgia driver’s license showing your county address first. The tag office is at 3111 Citizens Way, 706-653-4208.
Where is the driver’s license office in Columbus?
The Georgia Department of Driver Services Columbus center is at 8397 Macon Road in Midland, open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.
When is the homestead exemption deadline in Muscogee County?
April 1 of the year you want the exemption. Your vehicle and voter registration must be in Muscogee County.
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