Boxes everywhere and a to-do list a mile long — we've been there. This guide walks you through the first couple of weeks in Charles Cove: utilities, trash day, the HOA and CDD, your Florida paperwork, and exactly who to call when something comes up.
Independent neighbor-made guide — always verify with the official source linked
Work down the list — each step links straight to the official source so you're never guessing.
Water and sewer come from the City of Davenport Utility Billing office at City Hall, 1 S Allapaha Ave — call (863) 419-3300. Service starts once the deposit is paid in full, so handle this before moving day if you can.
Electricity in Davenport 33837 is Duke Energy. You can start, stop, or move service online in a few minutes — do it a few days ahead so the account is in your name at closing or move-in.
Residential collection is provided through Republic Services under the city's program. Pickup days are route-specific — confirm yours, plus cart and holiday-schedule details, with Davenport Public Services at (863) 419-3300.
Charles Cove uses USPS cluster mailboxes. File your change of address at usps.com, and if you didn't receive mailbox keys at closing, ask your builder rep or the local post office about getting keys issued.
The HOA's public documents — declaration, rules, and architectural standards — live on the FRONTSTEPS portal. Read the basics before your first exterior project; architectural changes generally need approval first.
The Charles Cove CDD maintains the community's infrastructure and amenity center, and its board meets publicly. Amenity access and rules are set by the district — note the amenity area is temporarily closed at the moment, so watch for the reopening.
New Florida residents generally have 30 days to get a Florida driver license — and as little as 10 days to register vehicles once you start work or enroll kids in school. Both are handled by the Polk County Tax Collector; details at flhsmv.gov.
Two minutes online at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov, or through the Polk County Supervisor of Elections. You can also register while updating your driver license.
If this is your permanent residence, don't skip this one — Florida's homestead exemption can knock up to $50,000 off your home's taxable value and caps future assessment increases. File with the Polk County Property Appraiser by March 1.
Zoning varies by exact address and can change year to year — check yours with the Polk County Public Schools zoning tool before registering.
Hurricane season runs June through November here. Register for AlertPolk notifications and read our Storm Ready guide — ten minutes now saves real scrambling later.
Event reminders, amenity updates, and community news in your inbox — join the Charles Cove list. And say hi at the next community event!
Something's out, broken, or confusing — here's where it goes. Save this page.
| Situation | Who handles it | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency | Police / Fire / Medical | 911 |
| Police, non-emergency | Davenport Police Department | (863) 419-3306 |
| Water or sewer issue / utility billing | City of Davenport Utility Billing | (863) 419-3300 |
| Missed trash, cart or recycling issue | Republic Services via Davenport Public Services | (863) 419-3300 |
| Power outage | Duke Energy | Outage map & reporting |
| HOA rules, approvals & violations | Charles Cove HOA / management | FRONTSTEPS portal |
| Amenities, ponds, common areas, street lighting | Charles Cove CDD — district manager's office (PFM) | (407) 723-5900 |
| Rec leagues & programs | Davenport Parks & Rec — Tom Fellows Community Center | (863) 588-1130 |
| During a declared emergency | Polk County Citizens Information Line | (863) 401-2234 |
Numbers & responsibilities can change — when in doubt, start with the official source
Charles Cove has both. The HOA handles deed restrictions, architectural approvals, and community standards. The CDD is a special-purpose government unit that finances and maintains infrastructure — roads, stormwater ponds, street lighting, and the amenity center. Both bill annual assessments. Full breakdown in our HOA & CDD guide.
Access, rules, and rates are set by the CDD — the adopted amenity policies are posted on charlescovecdd.com. Heads up: the amenity area has been temporarily closed to the public since May 18, 2026 — we're watching for the reopening and will post it on the News page.
Collection is route-specific, so confirm your day with Davenport Public Services at (863) 419-3300 — they can also cover cart details and the Republic Services holiday schedule.
Zoning varies by exact address and can change between school years — always verify with the Polk County Public Schools zoning tool before registering.
File with the Polk County Property Appraiser — if the home is your permanent residence it can reduce the taxable value by up to $50,000. Deadline is March 1 of the tax year.
Get event reminders, amenity updates, and community news in your inbox — a friendly note now and then, never spam.
