Bowie utilities and services: what to set up when you move in
Electric, gas, water, trash, taxes and the MVA, sorted by what to do first. Most of it depends on one question: is your address inside the City of Bowie or in unincorporated Prince George’s County?
Step 1: find out which side of the city line you are on
A “Bowie, MD” mailing address does not mean a home is in the City of Bowie. Large parts of ZIP codes 20715, 20716, 20720 and 20721, including Fairwood, Mitchellville and most of Woodmore, are unincorporated Prince George’s County. That line decides your trash service, your police department, your permits and part of your tax bill.
- City address checker. On cityofbowie.org, the New Residents and Neighborhoods pages link to an address checker that shows whether a home is in the city and which neighborhood it belongs to.
- SDAT property record. Search the address on the Maryland SDAT Real Property Data Search and read the “Town” field. A home inside the city shows Bowie there.
More detail is in Is it in the City of Bowie?
Who provides each utility
| Service | Who provides it | How to confirm for your address |
|---|---|---|
| Electric | BGE, Pepco or SMECO, depending on the address | Ask the seller or landlord which company serves the home, or look at a recent bill |
| Natural gas | Washington Gas or BGE, where the home has gas service | Ask the seller or landlord; some homes are all-electric |
| Water and sewer | City of Bowie water in named sections (Bowie Forest, Buckingham, Chapel Forge, Derbyshire, Foxhill, Glenridge, Heather Hills, Idlewild, Kenilworth, Longridge, Meadowbrook, Overbrook, Rockledge, Somerset, Tulip Grove, Victoria Heights, Whitehall and Yorktown). WSSC Water everywhere else. | Your settlement papers usually say which. City Public Works: 301-809-2344 |
| Trash and recycling | Inside the city: City pickup twice a week, recycling weekly. Outside the city: county contracted pickup once a week, recycling weekly. | City Public Works: 301-809-2344. County: PGC311, 301-883-4748 |
| Yard waste and leaves | Inside the city: Wednesday yard waste in paper bags, plus vacuum leaf collection twice each fall. Outside the city: yard trim on Mondays, year-round. | Check your schedule on cityofbowie.org or with PGC311 |
| Bulk items | Inside the city: out on your regular day for single-family homes and townhomes; call for tires and metal. Outside the city: bulky items on your regular day; appliances and tires by 311 appointment. | City Public Works or PGC311 |
| Internet and TV | Varies by street | Check service for the exact address before move-in day, and schedule installation early |
Providers can change by street. Always confirm with the seller, landlord or the provider for your exact address.
Your first-month checklist
- Utilities. Call electric, gas and water before closing so service transfers into your name on move-in day.
- MVA. Update your address with the MVA within 30 days. If you are moving from another state, title and register your vehicles in Maryland within 60 days and get your Maryland driver’s license.
- Homestead Tax Credit. If you bought a home you live in, apply once through the Maryland SDAT website. It caps how much your taxable assessment can rise each year.
- Register to vote at your new address.
- Schools. Confirm assigned schools for your exact address with the Prince George’s County Public Schools boundary locator at pgcps.org.
- Library card. Sign up with Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (pgcmls.info).
- Trash day. Look up your collection days so your first week goes smoothly.
Property taxes: the number to check
Inside city limits, the City of Bowie rate rose from $0.40 to $0.58 per $100 of assessed value for fiscal 2027. Lenders often estimate escrow from the seller’s last tax bill, which used the old rate. If you bought inside the city, ask your lender to escrow at the new rate so your first escrow analysis does not bring a shortage.
Bills come in July, and owner-occupants can pay in two installments, due September 30 and December 31. See Bowie property taxes explained.
Numbers to save
City of Bowie
Main line: 301-262-6200
City Hall: 15901 Fred Robinson Way
Public Works (trash, recycling, leaves, city water): 301-809-2344
Code Compliance (permits): 301-809-3008
Police (non-emergency)
Inside the city: Bowie Police Department, 240-544-5700
Outside the city: Prince George’s County Police
Emergencies: 911
Prince George’s County
PGC311: 301-883-4748, for county trash, bulky item appointments and county services
WSSC Water
Customer service and account setup at wsscwater.com
Quick answers
Who provides electricity in Bowie, MD?
BGE, Pepco or SMECO, depending on the address. Ask the seller or landlord which company serves the home, or check a recent bill.
Is my water from the City of Bowie or WSSC?
The City of Bowie serves named sections such as Kenilworth, Tulip Grove, Somerset, Foxhill, Whitehall, Heather Hills and Bowie Forest. Most other addresses, including many inside the city, are on WSSC Water. Your settlement papers usually say which.
How often is trash picked up in Bowie?
Inside city limits, trash is picked up twice a week and recycling weekly. In unincorporated Bowie-area addresses, county contracted pickup is once a week with weekly recycling.
How long do I have to register my car after moving to Maryland?
Title and register out-of-state vehicles within 60 days. Maryland residents who move should update their address with the MVA within 30 days.
How do I know if my home is inside the City of Bowie?
Use the address checker on cityofbowie.org and confirm with the Town field on the SDAT property record. A Bowie mailing address or ZIP code alone does not prove it.
Get the Bowie welcome kit
Utilities, trash days, the MVA, voter registration, schools and the library, in one printable checklist.
Still deciding where to live? Start with New to Bowie, compare all Bowie neighborhoods, or call or text Bruno at (240) 418-3809, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Sources: City of Bowie, Prince George’s County, Maryland SDAT and MVA. Schedules, rates and providers can change, so confirm with each provider. Last reviewed October 2026.