Moving to Loudoun?

Are you thinking about moving or have you recently moved to Loudoun County? Here's some helpful info that could make the process quicker and easier.

Water and sewer service

The Loudoun County Sanitation Authority provides water and sewer service for Loudoun residents who live outside the county's incorporated towns.

Incorporated towns in Loudoun County are responsible for providing water and sewer service to town residents.

The sanitation authority was created in May 1959 to provide water and wastewater service to residents in the unincorporated areas of the county. The authority receives all of its income from customers or developers. It receives no tax money.

Most of the authorities customers are residents living east of Highway 15 to the Fairfax County line, excluding Leesburg and Washington Dulles International Airport.

Most residents of unincorporated western Loudoun have private wells and septic tank systems. The Loudoun County Department of Health oversees private wells and septic tanks.

The sanitation authority's operations are split between two locations. The administrative office, including customer service, engineering and support staff, is at 880 Harrison Street SE in Leesburg.

Customers can pay their bills from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. A night drop box is available for after-hours.

For more information, visit the Loudoun County Sanitation Authority's Web site.

Utilities

• Cable provider: Adelphia Communications
• Electricity: Dominion, Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative
• Gas: Washington Gas
• Election Districts: See the Loudoun County Web site

Trash service

For complete information, check out Curbside Refuse and Recycling Collection section of the Loudoun County Web site.

Recycling information:

Incorporated towns provide curbside recycling collection services, as do many waste collection companies. Loudoun County residents also can drop off recyclable material at one of 11 sites in the county.

For more information, call the Loudoun County Recycling and Waste Management Hotline at 703-771-5318. More information — included everything from recycling cans to recycling Christmas trees — is available on the county's recycling Web site.

Register your vehicle

Although the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is in charge of controlling vehicles permitted on the commonwealth's roadways, the Loudoun County Commissioner of the Revenue provides some DMV services at its locations in Leesburg and Sterling. For more information, visit the Loudoun County Commissioner of the Revenue's Web site or the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles' Web site.

Register to vote

Residents of Loudoun County who are at least 18 years old must register before voting in elections. Applications are available at public libraries and community centers. Find additional information at the county's Web site.

Enrolling in Loudoun County Public Schools:

If you're new to Loudoun County, just moving down the street, or have questions about what documents are required for registration, the school district probably has an answer.

The site covers everything from learning what school zone you currently reside in to what you do if you don't have a birth certificate to register your child. For additional information, you can contact the school district registrar's office at 571-252-1018 or visit the district's Web site.

Loudoun County Alerts

Loudoun County residents can register for emergency alerts and other information by signing up for government alerts via cell phone, e-mail, pager or PDA at the county's Web site.

Tax rates

• Real Property Tax — 1: $1.14 per $100 of assessed value
• Personal Property Tax Rate — $4.20 per $100 of assessed value
• Virginia Sales Tax — 5 percent on non-food items; 4 percent on food items for home consumption
• Local Income Tax — None

Dog licensing

Loudoun County requires all dogs four months or older to be license annually. Licenses go on sale each November and must be purchased by Jan. 31, according to the county. All licenses expire on Dec. 31 each year. Dogs more than four months old must also have a valid rabies certification from a licensed veterinarian.

Licenses can be purchased for $5 or $10, depending on whether the dog is spayed or neutered. Residents can purchase a dog license at the animal shelter, the treasurer's office in Leesburg or Sterling, or through the mail.

You can find more details at Loudoun County's Web site.

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