New to Bluffton? Start power with Palmetto Electric or Dominion, water with BJWSA (843-987-9200), get an SC license within 45 days and claim the 4% tax rate.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. This page links our existing guides and adds what they do not cover. Facts come from the Town of Bluffton, the utilities named, the SCDMV and the Beaufort County Auditor.

Welcome to Bluffton. This is a checklist for your first weeks: what to set up, in what order, and who to call. First, check whether your new address is inside town limits or in unincorporated Beaufort County; it changes who picks up your trash, who issues your permits and what you pay in taxes. Type the address into Bluffton Explorer and click the parcel.

Who to call

  • Town Hall: 843-706-4500
  • Water and sewer: BJWSA, 843-987-9200
  • Power outages: Palmetto Electric, 1-866-445-5551; Dominion Energy, 1-888-333-4465
  • Vehicle taxes and homestead: Beaufort County Auditor, 843-255-2500
  • Legal residence (4%) property tax rate: Beaufort County Assessor, 843-255-2400

Our guides for new residents

Start your utilities

Electricity. Bluffton homes are served by Palmetto Electric Cooperative or Dominion Energy South Carolina, both listed in the town’s utilities directory. Ask the seller or landlord which one serves the home, then sign up:

Water and sewer. The Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority serves Bluffton. For a home already connected, apply online, by phone at 843-987-9200 or in person at 6 Snake Road in Okatie, at least three business days before you want service to start. You will need a Social Security number or federal tax ID. Online applications are not complete until BJWSA calls back with a confirmation number, usually within three business days. New connections start with an availability request on the BJWSA website.

Natural gas. Dominion Energy South Carolina runs a gas leak line, 1-800-815-0083. Ask Dominion whether gas service is available at your address.

Internet and TV. The town’s directory lists Spectrum, Hargray, DirecTV and Dish. Check each provider’s site for service at your address.

Trash. Inside town limits, Waste Management collects trash and recycling under the town’s contract; carts come from WM, 803-534-0061. Bulky items go to the county convenience center at 104 Simmonsville Road, which needs a county solid waste pass. Details on our trash page.

Driver’s license and car

From the SCDMV:

  • Within 45 days of moving, apply for a South Carolina driver’s license or ID, and turn in your out-of-state license. A REAL ID needs the full set of documents.
  • Within 45 days, transfer your vehicle registration.

In South Carolina you pay your county’s vehicle property tax before the DMV finishes the registration. The Beaufort County Auditor’s guide for new residents explains how to reregister a car or boat from another state, and much of it can be done by email. Vehicle taxes must be paid in the county where you live, and you can then finish at any SCDMV office.

Property taxes: claim the 4% rate

If the house is your home, apply for the legal residence (4%) ratio with the Beaufort County Assessor. It cuts the tax on a Bluffton home sharply; in the Town of Bluffton district, the 2026 rate is 157.9 mills at 4% against 284 mills at 6%. You will need copies of your South Carolina driver’s license, vehicle registration and income tax return or SSA-1099, for you and your spouse. If you do not yet have a South Carolina tax return, the assessor may approve you for one year and ask for it the next year.

The separate homestead exemption, run by the auditor, takes the first $75,000 of value off the tax roll from tax year 2026 for owners 65 or older, disabled or legally blind, after a full calendar year of residence. See our property taxes guide.

Register to vote

Register at scvotes.gov or at the county elections office in Bluffton, Myrtle Park Government Center, 4819 Bluffton Parkway, 843-255-6940. See our voting guide.

Pets

Beaufort County Animal Services runs the county shelter in Okatie; call 843-255-5010.

What this means for you

  • Week one: power, water, internet and trash carts.
  • Within 45 days: South Carolina license and car registration, after paying county vehicle tax.
  • As soon as you have the documents: apply for the 4% legal residence rate.
  • Save the hurricane hotline, 1-833-254-6400.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to get a South Carolina driver’s license after moving?

45 days. The SCDMV says new residents must apply for a South Carolina license or ID within 45 days of moving and turn in the out-of-state license. You also have 45 days to transfer your vehicle registration.

How do I start water service in Bluffton?

Apply to the Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority online, by phone at 843-987-9200 or in person at 6 Snake Road in Okatie, at least three business days before you want service to start.

Who provides power in Bluffton?

Palmetto Electric Cooperative or Dominion Energy South Carolina, depending on the address. Both are listed by the Town of Bluffton; ask the seller or landlord which serves the home.

How do I get the 4% property tax rate in Beaufort County?

Apply for the legal residence exemption with the Beaufort County Assessor’s Office, online or on paper, with copies of your South Carolina driver’s license, vehicle registration and income tax return or SSA-1099.