New to Greer? Start power, water, sewer and gas with Greer CPW, get an S.C. driver's license and register your car within 45 days, and apply for the 4% tax rate.

Last checked Oct. 16, 2026. Sources: Greer CPW’s Start/Stop Service page, the S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles’ Moving to SC pages and the City of Greer. This page links our other guides instead of repeating them.

Welcome to Greer. The city straddles the Greenville County and Spartanburg County line, so your county matters for property taxes, schools and voting. Check which side you are on, and whether you are inside the city limits, with the city’s GIS map before you start.

First calls for new residents

  • Greer CPW (power, water, sewer, natural gas): 864-848-5500, 301 McCall St.
  • City Hall: 864-848-2150, 301 E. Poinsett St.
  • Trash carts: Public Services, 864-848-2184
  • SCDMV: find a branch
  • Greenville County Real Property Services (4% rate): 864-467-7300

1. Power, water, sewer and gas: Greer CPW

Greer CPW (the Greer Commission of Public Works) supplies electricity, water, sewer and natural gas to most homes in the city. To start or transfer service, use the online residential service application. CPW says same-day service is available if you apply before 1 p.m. Have ready:

  • Your name, date of birth and Social Security or tax ID number
  • The service address and your mailing address
  • A state-issued license or ID, government ID or passport
  • Proof of ownership (a settlement statement, sales contract, tax notice, homeowner’s insurance policy or deed) or proof of rental (a lease or rent receipt)
  • The date service should start, excluding weekends and holidays

There is no fee to move service to another CPW address in the same name. CPW’s electric service is mainly inside the city limits; use the Service Availability tool on its Electricity page to check your address. If CPW does not serve the address, another utility does, such as Duke Energy or an electric cooperative; ask the seller or landlord which one sent the home’s bills. See our power outages guide for outage numbers.

2. Internet

Providers publish their own coverage by address:

  • AT&T says it provides home internet in Greer; check your address on its Greer page.
  • To see every provider that reports service at your address, search the FCC’s National Broadband Map.

3. Driver’s license and car tag

The SCDMV’s Moving to SC page says:

  • Driver’s license: apply for an S.C. license or ID within 45 days of moving and turn in your out-of-state license. Bring proof of identity and date of birth, your Social Security number and proof of your S.C. address (two proofs for a REAL ID), and pass a vision test.
  • Vehicle registration: you have 45 days to register your vehicle. You will need a title application (Form 400), a Statement of Vehicle Operation (Form TI-006C), your out-of-state title (or registration if you have a loan), your S.C. license or permit, and the original paid property tax receipt from your county treasurer, according to the vehicle page.

So pay the county first. In Greenville County, vehicle taxes go through the Auditor (864-467-7040) and the Tax Collector (864-467-7050); in Spartanburg County, call the Treasurer at 864-596-2603. Details are in our property tax guide.

4. Property taxes and the 4% rate

If you bought a home you live in, apply to your county for the 4% legal residence assessment; without it the home is taxed at 6%, and you pay school operating millage. If you are 65 or older, disabled or legally blind and have lived in South Carolina for a year, you may also qualify for the homestead exemption on the first $50,000 of value. Bills go out in late October and are due Jan. 15. Everything is in our property tax guide.

5. Trash and recycling

The city’s contractor, Meridian Waste, picks up trash weekly inside the city limits. There is no curbside recycling; recyclables go to the convenience center at 315 Buncombe St. See our trash and recycling guide for carts, holidays and yard waste.

6. Schools

Most of Greer is in Greenville County Schools; the Spartanburg County side is in Spartanburg School District Five. Enrollment, calendars and ratings are in our schools guide.

7. Voting

Register with your county elections office; the deadline and early voting sites are in our voting guide.

8. Pets

All dogs inside the city limits must be on a leash, and owners must pick up after them away from their own property. The city’s animal rules say no dog can be licensed by the city without proof of a current rabies vaccination, according to the Police Department’s Operational Support page. For dog licenses and animal questions, call Animal Control at 864-848-2160.

9. Building or renovating

Roofs, decks, fences, sheds and water heaters all need city permits. See our building permits and zoning guide.

What this means for you

  • Apply to Greer CPW before 1 p.m. for same-day service.
  • Mark 45 days from your move for your S.C. license and car tag, and pay the county vehicle tax first.
  • File for the 4% rate as soon as you close on a home.

Related guides: who to call at City Hall, getting around Greer and Greer population and growth.

Frequently asked questions

How do I set up utilities in Greer?

Greer CPW provides power, water, sewer and natural gas for most of the city. Apply online with ID, proof of ownership or a lease and your start date; same-day service is available if you apply before 1 p.m. Call 864-848-5500.

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

The SCDMV says new residents must apply for an S.C. license or ID within 45 days of moving and turn in their out-of-state license.

How do I register my car in Greer?

You have 45 days. Pay the vehicle property tax to your county first, then take the paid tax receipt, a title application, your out-of-state title or registration and your S.C. license to an SCDMV branch.

Do I need a dog license in Greer?

The city’s animal rules say no dog can be licensed by the city without proof of a current rabies vaccination. Ask Greer Animal Control at 864-848-2160 how to license your dog.