New to Madison? Your county decides your power company and car tag office. Start-service links, schools, trash, homestead deadline (Dec. 31) and pet licenses.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. This page links to our full guides and to each provider’s own start-service page. Sources: the City of Madison’s Utilities and Other Services page, Madison County’s License Department and each utility’s website.

The first thing to know about Madison: the city sits in two counties. Whether your address is on the Madison County side or the Limestone County side decides your power company, sometimes your water provider, your car tag office, your property tax office and your voter registrar. Your deed, lease or a call to City Hall, 256-772-5600, will tell you. Everyone in the city goes to Madison City Schools and gets city trash and police service.

First calls for new residents

  • City Hall: 256-772-5600, 100 Hughes Road
  • Madison City Schools enrollment: 256-464-8370
  • Madison County Waste Control (garbage cart): 256-532-3718
  • Police non-emergency: 256-772-7190

Start your utilities

Service Madison County side Limestone County side
Electricity Huntsville Utilities: start, stop and transfer service, 256-535-1200 Athens Utilities: 256-233-8750 (website)
Water and sewer Madison Utilities: new service setup, 256-772-0253 Limestone County Water and Sewer Authority, 256-233-6445, or Madison Utilities
Natural gas North Alabama Gas District: request service, 256-772-0227 Same

Provider assignments are from the city’s Utilities and Other Services page. For outages and emergency numbers, see our power outages guide.

Internet

Providers that publish Madison service pages include AT&T and Xfinity. Service varies street by street: check your exact address on each provider’s site and on the Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Map, which lists every provider that reports service at an address.

Trash and recycling

Madison County Waste Control picks up household garbage every Thursday; call 256-532-3718 to start service and get a cart. Republic Services collects yard debris and large items weekly, and the Recycling Alliance of North Alabama empties a free blue recycling cart once a month after you sign up. Details: trash and recycling guide.

Schools

Madison City Schools serves the whole city, both counties. Find your zoned school on the district’s School Zone Locator and enroll online. You will need proof of residency: a deed, property tax receipt or lease plus a gas, water or electric bill or start-of-service receipt. See our schools guide.

Car tags and driver’s license

  • Car tags and titles, Madison County side: the Madison County License Department, at the Madison County Service Center, 1918 Memorial Parkway NW, Huntsville, or the Taxpayer Service Building, 100 Plaza Blvd. in Madison. Titles must be applied for in person, and you need proof of Alabama liability insurance, the county says. Questions: 256-532-3310.
  • Car tags, Limestone County side: Limestone County License Commission, 256-233-6430.
  • Driver’s license: new residents with a valid out-of-state license apply at the state’s Driver License Test Center, 7262 Governors West, Huntsville, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., where they take an eye test. Bring your out-of-state license, Social Security card and birth certificate or U.S. passport. Appointments are preferred through the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Madison County offices cannot process out-of-state transfers, the county says.

Property tax and the homestead exemption

If you bought a home, record the deed with the probate office, assess the property with the tax office and claim your homestead exemption by Dec. 31. Owner-occupied homes are taxed at 10% of appraised value, and city property in Madison County carries 69.5 mills. See our property tax guide.

Register to vote

Madison County Board of Registrars, 256-532-3510; Limestone County Board of Registrars, 256-233-6405. Register online through the Alabama Secretary of State. See our voting guide.

Pets

The City of Madison requires dog and cat licenses, sold at the Madison Police Department, 100 Hughes Road, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, with proof of rabies vaccination, according to its Animal Licenses page. Animal Control: 256-692-8364.

Building or remodeling

Permits come from the city’s Building Department, 256-772-5644; zoning questions go to Planning, 256-772-5630. See building permits and zoning.

What this means for you

  • Find out your county first; it decides several of your providers.
  • Claim the homestead exemption by Dec. 31.
  • Keep your first utility bill: schools ask for it as proof of residency.

More guides: who to call at City Hall, getting around Madison and home prices.

Frequently asked questions

Who provides electricity in Madison, Alabama?

Huntsville Utilities on the Madison County side of the city and Athens Utilities on the Limestone County side, according to the City of Madison.

How do I start water service in Madison?

Most homes get water and sewer from Madison Utilities; request service on its new service setup page or call 256-772-0253. Some Limestone County addresses are served by the Limestone County Water and Sewer Authority, 256-233-6445.

How do I transfer my driver’s license to Alabama?

With a valid out-of-state license, you apply at the state driver license test center at 7262 Governors West in Huntsville, where you take an eye test. Bring your license, Social Security card and birth certificate or passport. Madison County’s offices cannot process transfers.

When is the homestead exemption deadline in Madison County?

Dec. 31. You must own and live in the home on Oct. 1 of the tax year. Apply with the Madison County Tax Assessor or, on the Limestone County side, the Limestone County Revenue Commission.

Do I need to license my dog in Madison?

Yes. The city sells dog and cat licenses at the Madison Police Department, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, with proof of rabies vaccination.