New Resident Resources
Welcome to Pembroke Pines! Here's your move-in checklist — everything you need to do in your first week, first month, and first year to get settled and connected in your new community.
Move-In Week Checklist
- Set up FPL (Florida Power & Light) electric service — call before move-in day or service won't be on
- Set up water and sewer with the City of Pembroke Pines — one-time deposit and setup fee
- Set up internet — Xfinity and AT&T Fiber are the primary providers; check your address for availability
- Set up Waste Pro trash and recycling — city-managed; carts should be at the property or request from Waste Pro
- Update your address with USPS (online forwarding) and with the DMV within 30 days per Florida law
- Register to vote — you can do this at the DMV when you update your driver's license
- Find your HOA contact — get gate codes, pool keys, and review community rules
First Month Checklist
- Get a Broward County Library card — free for Pembroke Pines residents; kids get their own at age 5
- Find your primary care doctor and dentist — establish care before you need it
- Switch your kids' schools — Pembroke Pines has A-rated public schools; register at your zoned school
- Register pets with Broward County — required for all dogs and cats over 4 months
- Get a C.B. Smith Park annual pass ($60) — pays for itself in 3-4 visits
- Sign up for Alert Pembroke Pines — text ALERTPP to 888777 for emergency alerts
- Join a Pembroke Pines community Facebook group — the best way to learn about local events and recommendations
First Year Checklist
- File for Homestead Exemption — reduces taxable home value by up to $50,000; file by March 1st
- Explore all the parks — Pembroke Pines has 28 parks; see how many you can visit in your first year
- Attend a City Commission meeting — understand how your city is run and meet your elected officials
- Find your go-to spots — favorite pizza place, coffee shop, nail salon, barber, mechanic
- Make local friends — join a sports league, fitness class, book club, or volunteer organization
🔗 Quick Links
Important Contacts for New Residents
🤝 Get Connected
Settle In & Meet Your Community
Pembroke Pines is a community-oriented city. Here's how to plug in.
Join a Recreation League
The City runs adult sports leagues (softball, basketball, tennis), fitness classes, and arts programs. Check ppines.com for current offerings.
Volunteer
Pembroke Pines has strong volunteer programs — police department volunteers, park cleanups, animal shelter, and community events. A great way to meet neighbors.
Explore the Parks
28 parks across the city. Start with C.B. Smith Park (the crown jewel), then visit your nearest neighborhood park. Walk the trails, hit the playground, or picnic.
Follow the City on Social Media
The City of Pembroke Pines posts event announcements, park updates, and city news daily. The best way to know what's happening in town.
LIPP Tips
Settling-In Wisdom From Locals
Change your address the week before — USPS forwarding can lag
Set up USPS mail forwarding at least 5 business days before your move. Even then, some Pembroke Pines mail can take 2–3 weeks to catch up — especially packages and magazines. While you're at it: update your address with the DMV (required within 30 days), your bank, insurance, and any subscription services. Government services guide →
File for homestead exemption before March 1 — it's free money
Florida's homestead exemption can save you hundreds on property taxes — but only if you file. You must own and occupy the home as your primary residence by January 1 and file by March 1. The Broward County Property Appraiser's office makes it easy online. A lot of new Pembroke Pines homeowners miss this their first year because nobody told them. Now you know. Homebuying guide →
The fastest way to feel at home: find your third place
Home is your first place. Work is your second. Your third place is where you belong — the coffee shop where they learn your order, the park where you walk every morning, the volunteer gig where you make friends. Pembroke Pines has a strong community culture, but it rewards people who show up. Join a walking club, visit your neighborhood library, or check out the community page to find your people.
Thinking About Moving?
Whether you're relocating to Pembroke Pines, searching for your next home, looking for a rental, or preparing to sell, we're here to help.
Lizzette Torrico, Founder & Publisher of Living in Pembroke Pines and a licensed Florida real estate professional, works alongside her husband, Ian, Broker/Owner of Miami Realty Brokers (MRB), to assist buyers, sellers, renters, and families relocating throughout South Florida.
As with everything we do at Living in Pembroke Pines, our goal is to provide trusted local guidance and connect residents with the resources they need to make informed decisions.
(305) 439-1247About This Guide
This is part of our Moving to Pembroke Pines collection. Also see our guides to <a href="/living-here/neighborhoods/">neighborhoods</a>, <a href="/living-here/schools/">schools</a>, <a href="/living-here/utilities/">utilities</a> and <a href="/living-here/hurricane-preparedness/">hurricane preparedness</a>.
Information on this page was compiled from public sources and verified where possible as of August 2026. Details can change — we recommend confirming directly with providers, school districts, or community associations before making decisions.
Have a tip, correction, or neighborhood we should add? Let us know.
Welcome to Pembroke Pines!
You picked a great place to call home. Now get out there and explore — there's a lot to discover.