Tavares movers for a city built between three lakes.
Tavares sits on a strip of land between Lake Eustis and Lake Dora, with Lake Harris to the west. Seaplanes land a block from Main Street, golf carts share the side streets, and the city runs its own garbage trucks. Black Swan Moving plans Tavares moves around those details, from which electric company serves the new address to the day the old couch can go to the curb.
Lake Eustis to the north, Lake Dora to the south, Lake Harris to the west.
The city says Tavares is surrounded by three large lakes and many small ones. That shapes almost every move here: which road the truck takes, where it can park, and how much of the home faces the water.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Tavares city (V2025). Area: 13.7 square miles, 1.6 of them water.
Not to scale
Two separate setups: the city for water, and Duke or SECO for power.
In Tavares, the city utility covers water, sewer, and reclaimed irrigation water, and the city also bills for garbage. Electricity is a separate account with a separate company, so plan on two calls (or two web forms) before moving day.
Water, sewer & garbage
- Where to apply
- City Hall, 201 E. Main St., Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., or the online application
- Bring
- Driver license number, plus a copy of the lease if you rent
- Deposit
- $175 residential, plus $100 for each additional meter
- Setup charge
- $25 per meter, one time, on the first bill
- Questions
- Utility Billing, 352-742-6400
Duke Energy or SECO Energy
- Which one?
- It depends on the address. The city’s street-light page lists both and sends residents to whichever serves them.
- How to check
- Duke’s “Is Duke my provider?” address lookup, or SECO’s service-territory map
- Then
- Start service in your name with that company before the move
- Good to know
- Power lines and tree trimming near them are handled by Duke or SECO, not the city
The city runs its own collection trucks.
The City of Tavares Solid Waste Division, a manager and seven staff, collects for more than 7,200 homes. Waste Management handles curbside recycling under a city franchise. Here is how that schedule meets a move.
2× Twice a week
- Blue cartHousehold garbage and compost. Routes run Monday & Thursday or Tuesday & Friday.
- Set outPickup starts at 7 a.m., so the city suggests putting carts out the night before, handle facing the house, 4 feet from mailboxes.
1× Once a week
- Green cartRecycling, including flattened moving boxes.
- Bulk itemsFurniture, appliances, and other metal, on Monday or Tuesday depending on the address.
- Tree limbsThursday or Friday, up to 2 cubic yards a week.
Four free bulk pickups a year
Each household gets four free bulk pickups per fiscal year, October 1 to September 30, up to 2 cubic yards each (about 6 by 3 by 3 feet). After that, the current rate is $15.90 for the first 2 cubic yards and $7.96 for each extra one (rates for February 2026 through January 2027). If you are moving in October, a new allowance has just started.
Not at the curb
Car batteries, oil and paint, propane tanks, fluorescent bulbs, chemicals, and concrete are not collected. The Lake County Landfill takes them.
Lake County Landfill
13130 County Landfill Rd., off County Road 561 in Tavares. The city says household trash disposal there is free for Tavares residents with a valid ID. Call 352-343-3776 for hours.
Look up an address’s route on the Lake County My Public Services map. The city skips pickup on holidays such as Thanksgiving and the day after, and posts the make-up days on its collection page.
Real Black Swan Moving jobs, not stock photos.
Lakefront homes, villas, and mobile homes: the furniture changes, and the protection stays the same.
Four kinds of Tavares addresses, and what to tell us about each.
Your quote is more accurate when we know the type of property at both ends.
Historic blocks near Main Street
Tavares was designated the Lake County seat in 1887, and the county’s administration offices are on West Main Street. Wooton Park and the seaplane base sit one block from Main Street, and the base hosts fly-ins and other events during the year.
Royal Harbor
A deed-restricted, 55-plus community of 755 single-family homes on Little Lake Harris, and a golf cart community (Royal Harbor POA). The city collects here on its own schedule: garbage Tuesday and Friday, recycling Friday, bulk Tuesday.
Parks with their own pickup day
The city’s collection page lists mobile home parks that share one schedule (garbage and bulk on Tuesday, yard waste on Friday), including Dora Canal Court, Lake Dora MHP, Les Chateau Villas, Tiki Village, Tranquil Court, and Tween Waters.
Lake Eustis, Lake Dora & the Dead River
Homes on the water can come with docks, boathouses, and yards that slope toward the lake, plus patio sets and outdoor furniture that move with you.
From our Orange City office to Tavares.
Most of our Tavares moves start or end somewhere else in Central Florida. Here is one common route from our office, and the roads that matter once we arrive.
- Orange CityOur office at 221 Strawberry Oaks Dr. in west Volusia County.
- I-4 toward SanfordSouth across the St. Johns River into Seminole County.
- Wekiva Parkway (SR 429)The final segment to I-4 near Sanford opened in January 2024. It is an all-electronic toll road.
- SR 453 to SR 46The Mount Dora Connector, also tolled, links the parkway to SR 46.
- US 441 westThrough Mount Dora, about 6 miles east of Tavares, and into town.
US 441
Runs along the north side of Tavares, east to Mount Dora and west about 10 miles to Leesburg. SR 19 shares the road through part of town.
SR 19
Heads northeast about 5 miles to Eustis, and south along the west shore of Lake Dora and over the Lake Harris Bridge toward Howey-in-the-Hills.
Golf cart crossings
Carts may cross US 441 only at St. Clair Abrams Avenue / Banning Beach Road, and SR 19 only at Dead River Road. Expect them on side streets.
Moving within Lake County, or between Tavares and Orange, Seminole, or Volusia County? See how our local moves work and what affects the cost of a move. Between closings? Ask about storage solutions.
Lakes all around means planning ahead from June 1 to November 30.
Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. If you are moving to Tavares in those months, set up these three things before the boxes are unpacked.
Lake County Emergency Updates ↗
When the county’s Emergency Operations Center is activated, this page lists sandbag sites, shelters, road closures, and the Citizens Information Line (352-253-9999).
02Sign up for AlertLake ↗
Lake County’s emergency alert system. Register the new address, not the old one.
03Check the flood map ↗
Look up the flood zone for the new address on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center, ideally before you sign or close.
If a storm is forecast near your move date, call us early so we can talk through your options together.
Five places to go once the bed is set up.
Most of them are on the water.
Wooton Park & Pontoon Promenade
The city named its Lake Dora waterfront Pontoon Promenade in January 2023. It runs from the Wooton Park playground and splash pad to the boat ramps at Sinclair Avenue.
Tavares Seaplane Base (FA1)
A city-owned, public-use seaplane base with a 3,000-by-200-foot water runway on Lake Dora, licensed as a public airport in 2010. Operations run from the Prop Shop in the historic Woodlea House.
The Dora Canal
A mile-long canal between Lake Dora and Lake Eustis under bald cypress and Spanish moss, dug in 1882 from the former Elfin River so steamboats could reach the Harris Chain of Lakes.
Tavares Public Library
At 314 N. New Hampshire, with bookable study rooms and curbside pickup on weekdays.
The county offices
Tavares is the county seat, so the Lake County Tax Collector (license and tag) and Elections office are in town. Check the Tax Collector’s site for what to bring.
A bit of history: Alexander St. Clair-Abrams founded Tavares in 1880 and named it after a Portuguese ancestor. He hoped it would become Florida’s capital. That didn’t happen, but Tavares was designated the Lake County seat in 1887 and incorporated in 1919.
The short Tavares version.
Eight steps split into before and after. Our full Florida checklist covers everything else.
Before the truck
- Check whether Duke Energy or SECO serves the new address, and start power.
- Apply for city water and sewer at City Hall or online, with your lease if you rent.
- Collect move rules from Royal Harbor, your park, or your HOA.
- Book the move, and tell us about docks, slopes, sheds, and pianos (piano moving).
- Use one of your four free bulk pickups for the furniture you are leaving.
After the boxes
- Recycle flattened boxes in the green cart, a few each week.
- Update your license and tag with the Lake County Tax Collector, and your voter address.
- File for homestead with the Lake County Property Appraiser if you bought.
5.0 stars from 127 Google reviews.
Quoted exactly as customers wrote them.
Black Swan Moving did an outstanding job with my recent move. From start to finish, the entire team was professional, punctual, and incredibly efficient. They handled everything with great care and attention to detail, making what could have been a stressful day feel smooth and well-organized.The crew worked seamlessly together, clearly experienced and respectful of both my belongings and my home. Nothing was rushed or overlooked—they took the time to do things right, and it showed in the final result.I truly appreciated their positive attitude and strong work ethic. I would absolutely recommend Black Swan Moving.
I have moved so many times for work and was dreading an upcoming move. However, thanks to Black Swan, I had an absolutely seamless moving experience. From start to finish, I have zero complaints and am so grateful to the team that moved me. My quote was timely, they followed up amazingly well, and everyone was so kind and helpful. I’m not kidding when I say the booking experience was seamless, they make it easy to provide payment, and everything was transparent and fair.I truly cannot thank you all enough for making the stressful experience of moving feel so easy. Book Black Swan for your next move. You won’t be disappointed. They truly care about their customers and I will recommend them hands down every time. They were careful with my belongings and went the extra mile. What a professional company. Thank you all!!!
Life brings many trials and tribulations~ with the transitioning of my husband after a battle with cancer, I moved from a 5BDR home to a condo. Black Swan Moving (Bryant) was extremely professional, punctual, and extremely responsive during an extremely stressful time. From multiple sites to locate pieces of furniture that would fit in a new condo to rearranging items in 2 AC storage units, I cannot express how extremely helpful the entire team was with my move!!! We have moved multiple times— very large moves with large furniture and this was by far the best! Words cannot express my gratitude and appreciation!!!
Fourteen links for new Tavares residents.
Official sites, checked October 22, 2026. Links open in a new tab.
Our services and Tavares’s neighbors.
Tavares borders Eustis, sits about 6 miles from Mount Dora on US 441, and is part of the Orlando metro area. We move people between here and the rest of Central Florida.
Services
Tavares moving questions.
Who provides electricity at a Tavares address?
Duke Energy or SECO Energy, depending on the address. The City of Tavares utility handles water, sewer, and reclaimed water, and the city's own street-light page sends residents to whichever of the two companies serves them. Check the address with Duke's online lookup or SECO's service-territory map before you book the move, then start power in your name with that company.
How do I set up water and sewer in Tavares?
Apply with the city's Finance Department (Utility Billing) at City Hall, 201 E. Main Street, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or use the city's online New Residential Utility Account Application. If you rent, attach a copy of your lease. Questions go to 352-742-6400 or Utility.Billing@TavaresFL.gov.
How much is the Tavares utility deposit?
The city's residential application lists a $175 deposit, plus $100 for each additional meter, such as a separate irrigation meter. There is also a one-time $25 service charge per meter, which appears on your first bill. When you close an account, a deposit that has not already been refunded is applied to your final bill.
When is trash day in Tavares?
The city's own Solid Waste Division collects household garbage twice a week from the blue cart, starting at 7 a.m. Routes run Monday and Thursday or Tuesday and Friday, depending on the address. Recycling, bulk items, and tree limbs are each collected once a week. Look up your route on the Lake County My Public Services map, which the city links from its collection page.
What can I put out for bulk pickup after the move?
Furniture, appliances, and other metal go out as bulk items, collected on Monday or Tuesday depending on your address. Each household gets four free bulk pickups per fiscal year (October 1 to September 30), up to 2 cubic yards (about 6 by 3 by 3 feet) each. Place bulk items away from your cart. Larger piles cost extra. Car batteries, oil, paint, propane tanks, fluorescent bulbs, chemicals, and concrete are not collected; take them to the Lake County Landfill.
Can I drive a golf cart around Tavares?
On approved city roads, yes. Tavares calls itself golf cart friendly, but carts are not allowed on or across US 441 or SR 19 except at the approved crossings (Dead River Road on SR 19, and St. Clair Abrams Avenue / Banning Beach Road on US 441). They are also not allowed on sidewalks, bike paths, boat or seaplane ramps, or in parks such as Wooton Park. The Tavares Police Department offers free, voluntary golf cart registration.
Do you move people into Royal Harbor and other 55+ communities?
Yes. Royal Harbor is a deed-restricted, 55-plus community of 755 single-family homes on Little Lake Harris, and the city also has several mobile home parks. Many communities have their own move-in rules, such as gate lists or set move times. Send us those rules with your quote request and we will plan the crew and truck around them.
Where is Black Swan Moving based, and do you serve Lake County?
We are based in Orange City in west Volusia County, and we serve Tavares, Mount Dora, and other Lake County addresses as part of our Central Florida local moves. We also move people between Tavares and Apopka, Sanford, Orlando, and west Volusia. Longer moves out of state go through our long-distance moving service.
Moving to, from, or within Tavares?
Tell us about both homes: the size of each, docks or long carries, gate or park rules, and your date. We will size the crew and truck to match. Prefer to talk it through? Call us or use the contact page.
Mon–Sat: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM · Sunday: Closed · USDOT 3397054