Newcomer's Guide

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Greater Lantana area. The Chamber is centrally located in the heart of Lantana, just minutes from the Lantana beach. On behalf of the Greater Lantana Chamber of Commerce and our members, I would like to welcome you to our new website.

Our town will make a wonderful visit for you and your family. Please explore our many one of a kind shops and fine restaurants, all within walking distance from the beach. Whether you are relaxing, exploring or working, we are sure you will find the Greater Lantana area will have it! As you enjoy your stay here, please feel free to stop by our Chamber office for all your tourist needs. Be sure to pick up our 2007 Membership Guide and Directory and you will find a variety of restaurants, gift shops and motels from which to choose. You will indeed find that we are an Old-Fashioned Family here in Lantana. We hope to see you soon.

Driver’s License

To drive in Florida, new residents are required to apply for a Florida driver's license within 30 days of moving to the state. Application for a Florida driver's license requires vehicle registration, proof of insurance, a current driver's license and social security card. If your license has not expired beyond 30 days, you may be able to convert without taking a written or road test. You will be required to take a vision screening. Please call your local driver's license office and schedule an appointment.

Additional information is available at the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Website: www.hsmv.state.fl.us or call 681-6333.

Residency Requirements

Legal residency in Florida is established by: 1. Filing a declaration of domicile at the office of the Circuit Court. Phone: 355-2991. 2. Registering to vote at the Supervisor of Elections office. Phone: 355-2650.

Motor Vehicle Registration

All motor vehicles, commercial and private, including motorcycles and mopeds must be titled and registered through the Tax Collector's office, agent for the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The Tax Collector's office also issues disabled parking placards.

New residents are required to register their vehicle and obtain a Florida driver's license plate within 10 days of establishing legal residency, becoming employed or registering a child in a Palm Beach County School. All Florida drivers must have at least $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) auto insurance and at least $10,000 property damage liability (PDL) insurance. You may contact the Department of Insurance Hotline at (800)342-2762 regarding insurance requirements.

First, obtain vehicle insurance from a company licensed to do business in Florida. Take your proof of insurance, along with the original title to your County Tax Collector. Additional information is available on the Tax Collector's homepage at www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/tax or on the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles' homepage at www.hsmv.state.fl.us or call the Tax Collector's office at 355-2622 for office locations. Vehicle Registration Office, 501 South Congress Avenue, Delray Beach 930-7922.

Seat Belts

Florida law requires that passengers in the front seat of a vehicle wear seat belts. Drivers will be held responsible and fined for passengers in the front seat, age 15 and younger, who are not wearing seat belts. Passengers age 16 and older can be fined individually for not wearing seat belts.

All children under 6 years of age must be properly restrained while riding in any car, pickup truck or van on Florida's roads, no matter where they are sitting in the vehicle. Children age 3 and younger must be secured in federally approved child restraint seats.

Additional information is available at the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website: www.hsmv.state.fl.us, or call 681-6333.

Vessel Registration

Motorboats used in fresh and saltwater require registration at the Tax Collector's office. To register, a Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO) is required. Out-of-state valid registration certificates are recognized in Florida for a period of 90 days. Use of motorboats over a period of 90 days requires legal Florida registration. For more information:
Visit the TaxCollector's office website: www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/tax or call 355-2622. Or contact the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website: www.hsmv.state.fl.us or call 681-6333.

Fishing Licenses

Both fresh and saltwater fishing licenses are required in Florida. To obtain a resident license for fishing or hunting, you must be a resident of Florida for six months. Residents 65 or older can obtain a complimentary hunting and fishing license when they show a valid Florida Drivers License.

Lifetime and 5-year fishing licenses are available for residents only. Nonresidents can obtain short-term 3-day (saltwater only), 7-day and annual license. Licenses and information may be obtained at the Tax Collector's office or at any local subagent (bait shop, sporting goods store). Additional information is available on the Tax Collector's homepage at www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/tax, or call the Tax Collector's office at 355-2622.

Marriage License

South County Courthouse - Both individuals must present photo identification (driver's license or passport). The license fee is $88.50. For information, call 274-1400.

Occupational Licenses

An occupational license is issued to all businesses and professional offices for the privilege of operating a business in the county. Licenses are renewed annually and may be obtained from the County Tax Collector's offices. Phone 355-2272 for more information.

Pet Registration/Vaccination

State and local laws require every person who owns, keeps or harbors a dog or cat over four months of age in Palm Beach County to have such animal vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. Once vaccinated, owners are required to secure for their dog(s) and or cat(s) a Palm Beach County Rabies License Tag from the Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control Division at 7100 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach, or from a participating veterinarian. The current tag fees are $35 for a dog or cat that has not been spayed or neutered and $14 for spayed and neutered dogs and cats.

Voter Registration

Supervisor of Elections - In the state of Florida, you must be a US citizen and 18 years old by election day to register to vote. If you have been convicted of a felony or declared mentally incompetent, you must have had your civil rights or mental competency documents restored before you can register. Proof of residency is not required and there are no residency requirements; however you must be a legal resident of the county you register in.

Voter registration applications may be picked up at city halls, most banks and savings & loans, public libraries, driver's license offices, public assistance agencies and other locations throughout the county.

Tax Information

The Tax Collector has five permanent office locations and two mobile offices at convenient sites throughout the county. Phone 355-2622 for addresses and hours. The Tax Collector collects property taxes for every government agency in Palm Beach County that has the authority to levy taxes. Ad valorem and non-ad valorem assessments are due November 1, or as soon the tax roll is certified. Discounts for property tax payments are allowed at the rate of 4% in November (or within 30 days from when the notice is mailed), 3% in December; 2% in January and 1% in February. Exemptions such as homestead, disability and widow/widower are filed with the Property Appraiser's office. Call 355-2866 for filing dates. You may visit the Property Appraiser's homepage at www.co.palmbeach.fl.us/tax/index/htm.