Moving to Brandon, FL: The Local's Guide
Neighborhoods, utilities, DMV deadlines, schools, hurricane prep and moving-day tips from our Tampa crew.
Thinking About Moving to Brandon?
Brandon sits just east of Tampa, close enough to commute downtown but with more space, established neighborhoods and plenty of newer subdivisions nearby. Our Tampa-area crew, based in Lithia about 20 minutes away, moves families into and around Brandon all the time. Here’s what to know before and after your move.
Every fact below links to the official source so you can double-check it. Rules and numbers change, so confirm anything important before you rely on it.
Brandon at a Glance
Population
127,048 (ACS 2024 1-year estimate) (source)
County
Hillsborough County (unincorporated census-designated place, 11 miles east of downtown Tampa) (source)
Median home value
$373,900 median value of owner-occupied housing units (ACS 2024 1-year) (source)
Median household income
$80,980 (ACS 2024 1-year) (source)
Climate
Humid subtropical; summers average 85°F and winters 62°F, about 44 inches of rain a year; a few nights below freezing most years (source)
Brandon Neighborhoods
A quick look at the areas new residents ask us about most. Our crews move families into all of them.
Historic Brandon core (Moon Ave / Victoria St)
The original town center, platted in 1890 north of today's SR 60, where older homes sit on established streets.
Brandon Hills
One of the named neighborhoods within the Brandon census area, a short drive from SR 60 shopping and I-75.
Kensington Estates
A named neighborhood within the Brandon census area.
Limona
A historic community now within Brandon's boundaries (Brandon spread into Limona, Seffner, and Valrico in the 1960s), with older homes and mature trees.
Valrico
Brandon's eastern neighbor (37,895 residents in 2020) along SR 60, with extensive subdivision growth since 2000.
Bloomingdale
A bedroom community for Tampa since the 1960s (22,947 residents), bordered by Brandon to the north, with established suburban neighborhoods.
Seffner
Just north of Brandon, once rural with live oaks, strawberry farms, and lakes, and now adding new subdivisions.
FishHawk
Master-planned FishHawk Ranch covers 3,000+ acres in several villages southeast of Brandon, and most homes are in HOA-governed neighborhoods.
Your First 30 Days in Brandon: Setup Checklist
Utilities
- Electric: Tampa Electric (TECO) serves Hillsborough County; start service online at link (source)
- Water & sewer: Hillsborough County Water Resources — start/stop/move online; for service within 1–2 business days call (813) 307-1000 (source)
- Natural gas: Peoples Gas (TECO) — Start, Transfer, or Stop Service portal (source)
- Trash, bulky items & recycling: Brandon is unincorporated, so trash service comes from Hillsborough County. Bulky items like sofas, mattresses, and appliances need a fee-based special curbside pickup, which you must schedule with Solid Waste Customer Service at (813) 272-5680 before putting anything at the curb. Regular carts and yard waste go to the curb no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before collection and by 6 a.m. on collection day. Don’t leave piles out early on move-out day. (source)
Driver’s license & car
- Driver’s license: Get a Florida driver license within 30 days of establishing residency (source)
- Vehicle title & registration: Title and register vehicles within 10 days of establishing residency, with insurance from a Florida-licensed agent (source)
- Nearest DMV offices: Hillsborough County Tax Collector — Brandon office, 3030 North Falkenburg Road, Tampa, FL 33619; Mon–Fri 8–5 (Wed 9–5), driver license services until 4:30; road tests by appointment (source)
Register to vote
- Register online at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov or at a tax collector office that issues driver licenses (source)
Schools
- School district: Hillsborough County Public Schools — link (Brandon High School, est. 1914) (source)
- How to enroll: Student Enrollment & Registration Checklist (source)
- Find your zoned school: Find Your Neighborhood School (source)
Property taxes
- Florida’s constitution bars a state tax on the income of natural persons who are residents (Art. VII, §5) (source)
- Homestead exemption: up to $50,000 off assessed value of a permanent residence (first $25,000 fully exempt; second $25,000 applies to value from $50,000–$75,000, not school taxes); after the first year, annual assessed-value increases are capped at the lower of 3% or CPI. Must own and live in the home Jan 1; filing deadline March 1; e-file with the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser (source)
Hurricane & Flood Prep
- Know your evacuation zone: Hillsborough County ‘Find your evacuation zone’ (printable zone maps) (source)
- Check flood risk: FEMA Flood Map Service Center (search by address) (source)
- Hurricane season: Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1–November 30 (source)
Plan your move date with storm season in mind, and keep a backup date. Our crews watch the forecast for every coastal move.
Things to Do in Brandon
Alafia River State Park, Lithia
Alafia River State Park, Lithia — reclaimed phosphate mine with some of Florida’s steepest mountain-bike trails; $5/vehicle (source)
Edward Medard Conservation Park
Edward Medard Conservation Park — reservoir with boat ramp, canoe rentals, camping; $2/vehicle, 6140 Turkey Creek Rd (source)
The Florida Aquarium, Channelside in Tampa
The Florida Aquarium, Channelside in Tampa (source)
Westfield Brandon mall
Westfield Brandon mall (formerly Brandon Town Center) (source)
Brandon Regional Library
Brandon Regional Library (two-story regional branch) (source)
Moving Day in Brandon: Tips From Our Crew
Parking, trash pickup, traffic and building rules we plan around on every local move.
Bulky Item Pickup
Brandon is unincorporated, so trash service comes from Hillsborough County. Bulky items like sofas, mattresses, and appliances need a fee-based special curbside pickup, which you must schedule with Solid Waste Customer Service at (813) 272-5680 before putting anything at the curb.
Moving Box Disposal
Leftover moving boxes count as bulky waste in Hillsborough County (20 boxes = 1 item on a special pickup), so flatten them and recycle or schedule them with your bulky pickup.
Trash Day Timing
Regular carts and yard waste go to the curb no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before collection and by 6 a.m. on collection day. Don’t leave piles out early on move-out day.
Traffic & Routes
State Road 60 (Brandon Boulevard) and I-75 exits 256 (Selmon Expressway) and 257 (SR 60) are Brandon’s busiest access points, and I-4 is 4 miles north, so we time truck routes to miss rush hour.
Weather & HOAs
Brandon summers are long and hot (about 85°F on average) with around 44 inches of rain a year, and hurricane season runs June 1–Nov 30. Early starts and flexible dates help, and most HOAs in the area expect notice before a moving truck arrives.
Moving to Brandon: FAQs
Florida requires new residents to get a Florida driver license within 30 days of establishing residency. Vehicles must be titled and registered within 10 days, using insurance from a Florida-licensed agent.
No. Florida’s constitution prohibits a state tax on the income of natural persons who are residents. Homeowners can also file for the homestead exemption (up to $50,000) by March 1 with the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser.
Tampa Electric supplies power across Hillsborough County, and Hillsborough County Water Resources handles water and sewer ((813) 307-1000). Because Brandon is unincorporated, trash and bulky-item pickup come from Hillsborough County.
Hillsborough County has a Find My Evacuation Zone tool with printable maps. Hillsborough County Public Schools offers a Find Your Neighborhood School lookup and an enrollment checklist.
Local moves are billed by the hour, with the clock starting when our crew arrives at your home. Long-distance moves get a binding, flat-price estimate that won’t change after you book. Call 813-544-0048 for a free written quote.
Yes. Our long-distance moves come with your own truck, the same crew from door to door and a guaranteed delivery date.
Ready to Move to Brandon?
Get a free, written quote from our Tampa crew. Family-owned since 2015.