New to Manassas? Start city power, water and trash in one account, register your car within 30 days, license your dog and enroll in city schools. Links.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page points to the official start-service and registration pages and to our own guides. Sources: the City of Manassas utility services, Commissioner of the Revenue and Animal Control pages, and the Virginia DMV.

Welcome to Manassas. The city is an independent city, separate from Prince William County, and electricity, water, sewer and trash all come from the city on one utility account. Start there: city utility customer service, 703-257-8219, at the Public Works building, 8500 Public Works Drive. Then you have 30 days to register your car with both the state and the city, and to license your dog.

Your first 30 days

Task Deadline Where
Start electric, water, sewer and trash Before move-in City utility customer service, 703-257-8219
Title and register your car 30 days Virginia DMV
File the city vehicle registration form 30 days Commissioner of the Revenue
License your dog 30 days City Treasurer’s Office
Get a Virginia driver’s license 60 days Virginia DMV
Register to vote Any time; Oct. 23 for Nov. 3, 2026 Our voting guide

Electric, water and sewer: the city

The City of Manassas utility handles electric, water, sewer, stormwater, and refuse and recycling service. To open an account you need a completed application, valid identification and a deposit; a passing utility credit check can waive the deposit. Applications for residents can be made in person, by email to cs@ci.manassas.va.us, or by fax. Pay bills online.

Live just outside the city line? Some addresses with a Manassas mailing address are in Prince William County, where other companies supply power and water (for power, Dominion Energy or NOVEC). Check your address with the city’s parcel finder.

Natural gas

Natural gas is not a city service. Columbia Gas of Virginia has gas mains in the city (it replaced a main on Portner Avenue with the city in 2015, Potomac Local reported). Start service on Columbia Gas’s start, stop or move page. Not every home has a gas line; ask the seller or landlord, or check with the company.

Internet and cable

Comcast (Xfinity) and Verizon Fios both carry the city’s government TV channel (Comcast channel 23, Fios channel 38), the City Clerk’s office says. Sign up on each provider’s own site: Xfinity and Verizon Fios. To see every provider that reports service at your exact address, search the FCC National Broadband Map.

Car and driver’s license

  • Driver’s license: new residents have 60 days to get a Virginia license (30 days for a commercial license), the DMV says.
  • Title and registration: title your vehicle in Virginia within 30 days of moving, then register it at any DMV customer service center within 30 days.
  • Nearest DMV: Prince William/Manassas, Parkridge Center, 11270 Bulloch Drive, Manassas. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday; make an appointment or walk in.
  • City car tax: the city requires a personal property vehicle registration form within 30 days of moving in, and taxes any vehicle normally garaged or parked in the city, even with out-of-state plates. Questions: Commissioner of the Revenue, 703-257-8206. Rates and due dates are in our property taxes guide.

Property taxes and tax relief

Virginia does not have a homestead exemption of the kind some states offer. Manassas offers real estate and personal property tax relief to owners 65 or older or permanently and totally disabled who meet income and asset limits; applications are due July 1 (703-257-8298). Real estate bills are due Dec. 5 and June 5. Full details: Manassas property taxes.

Pets

The city and state require a license for every dog over four months old, and new residents must license their dogs within 30 days of moving to Manassas. Licenses expire Dec. 31 each year and need a current rabies certificate from a veterinarian. Apply in person or by mail to the City of Manassas Treasurer’s Office (details). Lost pet? Manassas Animal Adoption Center, 703-257-2420.

Schools

Manassas City Public Schools serves every public-school student who lives in the city; Prince William County Public Schools serves the county around it. Enroll through the district’s how to enroll page. Schools, ratings and calendars: our schools guide.

Building, fences and decks

Planning to add a fence, a deck or a shed? Check first whether it needs a city permit. Planning and Development holds Walk Through Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for small projects; call 703-257-8278. See our building permits and zoning guide.

Frequently asked questions

How do I set up utilities in Manassas, Virginia?

The City of Manassas supplies electricity, water, sewer, stormwater and trash service through one utility account. Apply to city utility customer service in person, by email or by fax; call 703-257-8219. Natural gas and internet are separate companies.

How long do I have to register my car after moving to Manassas?

Virginia gives new residents 30 days to title and register a vehicle with the DMV, and the city requires a personal property vehicle registration form within 30 days of moving in.

How long do I have to get a Virginia driver’s license?

60 days after moving to Virginia (30 days for a commercial driver’s license). The nearest DMV office is at 11270 Bulloch Drive in Manassas.

Do I need a dog license in Manassas?

Yes. Dogs over four months old must be licensed, and new residents have 30 days after moving to Manassas. Licenses run through Dec. 31 and need a current rabies certificate.

Does Virginia have a homestead exemption?

Not in the form some states use. Manassas offers real estate and personal property tax relief to owners 65 or older or permanently disabled who meet income and asset limits; applications are due July 1.