New to Nashville? Start NES power, Metro Water and Spire gas service, get a Tennessee license within 30 days, register your car and your pets.
Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page links our other guides and adds what they do not cover. Sign-up details come from each provider’s own page: Nashville Electric Service, Metro Water Services, Spire’s notice to Tennessee customers, the Davidson County Clerk, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Metro Animal Care and Control.
Moving to Nashville means setting up a handful of services, most of them run by Metro or by public utilities. Power comes from Nashville Electric Service (615-736-6900), water and sewer from Metro Water Services (615-862-4600), and natural gas from Spire, still billed through Piedmont Natural Gas during a transition. Your Tennessee driver’s license is due within 30 days. For anything Metro handles, start with 311 (615-862-5000).
Your first-month checklist
- Power: NES, 615-736-6900, or My Account at nespower.com
- Water and sewer: Metro Water Services, 615-862-4600
- Natural gas: Spire, through Piedmont Natural Gas, 800-752-7504
- Driver’s license: within 30 days, at a full-service Driver Services Center
- Car title and tags: Davidson County Clerk
- Trash pickup and recycling cart: hubNashville, 311
Utilities: how to start service
| Service | Provider | How to start |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity | Nashville Electric Service | Start, stop or transfer online in My Account (24/7), by phone at 615-736-6900 (6 a.m. to midnight weekdays, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday) or at 1214 Church St. (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays; bring photo ID). Give at least one business day’s notice. |
| Water and sewer | Metro Water Services | Request service at 615-862-4600. Same-day service is available. To stop service, call the day before. |
| Natural gas | Spire (Piedmont Natural Gas handles accounts during the transition) | Start, stop or move service on Piedmont’s site. Your power and water must be on before the gas appointment. Emergencies and customer service: 800-752-7504. |
| Internet | Private providers | Check your address on each provider’s Nashville page, for example AT&T and Xfinity. Availability varies by street. |
Our guides for the rest
- Trash and recycling: Metro collects trash weekly in the Urban Services District; outside it, you hire a private hauler.
- Property taxes: bills come in October and are due by the end of February.
- Schools: find your zoned school with the MNPS zone finder before you sign a lease.
- Voting: register at GoVoteTN.gov with your new Tennessee license.
- Power outages: save NES’s outage number, 615-234-0000.
- Building permits and zoning: for fences, decks and renovations.
- Who to call at Metro: council members and city services.
- Getting around: roads, buses and the airport.
Your driver’s license
The Tennessee Department of Safety says new residents with a license from another state must get a Tennessee driver’s license within 30 days of establishing residency. You must go to a full-service Driver Services Center, take a vision screening and surrender your old license, because Tennessee does not let residents hold more than one. You can start the application and have documents pre-approved online. Drivers from some states must also bring a motor vehicle record from their old state; check the new residents page.
Registering your car
Title and register your car with the Davidson County Clerk:
- Bring a government-issued photo ID. If it is not a Tennessee ID, also bring two proofs of residency.
- If you own the car outright: bring the original title from your old state. Electronic-title states may need to send you a paper title first.
- If it is financed: bring your current registration and your lender’s name and mailing address.
- If it is leased: bring your current registration, a notarized power of attorney from the leasing company and its Tennessee sales tax ID number.
- New-to-state registrations are taken as walk-ins or by appointment.
Property tax relief
The Metropolitan Trustee runs two programs for homeowners who are 65 or older, disabled, or disabled veterans: tax relief and a tax freeze. Income limits apply, except for disabled veterans. Freeze applications are taken from October through April 5; call 615-862-6330. Details are in our property tax guide.
Pets
Metro requires every dog and cat 6 months or older to be vaccinated for rabies and registered with Davidson County. Metro Animal Care and Control explains registration on its licensing page. Questions or a lost pet: 615-862-7928.
What this means for you
- Book the Driver Services Center visit early in your first month; the 30-day clock starts when you move in.
- Set up power and water first; Piedmont says gas service is delayed if either is off when its technician arrives.
Related guides: home prices, population and growth and parks and trails.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start electric service in Nashville?
Nashville Electric Service starts, stops and transfers service through My Account on nespower.com, by phone at 615-736-6900 or in person at 1214 Church St. NES asks for at least one business day’s notice.
Who provides natural gas in Nashville?
Spire took over as Nashville’s natural gas provider on March 31, 2026. During the transition, Piedmont Natural Gas still handles accounts, and you start service through Piedmont’s start, stop or move page. Call 800-752-7504.
How long do I have to get a Tennessee driver’s license after moving to Nashville?
New residents must get a Tennessee driver’s license within 30 days of establishing residency, at a full-service Driver Services Center, with a vision screening.
Do I have to register my dog in Nashville?
Yes. Metro requires all dogs and cats 6 months or older to be vaccinated for rabies and registered with Davidson County.
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