New to Bowling Green? Start power and water with BGMU (270-782-1200) or Warren RECC, gas with Atmos, then title your car and get a Kentucky license.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Every step links to the utility or agency that runs it. City Hall: 270-393-3000. BGMU, the city-owned electric, water and sewer utility: 270-782-1200.

This page is a checklist for your first weeks in Bowling Green. Where we already have a full guide, we link to it instead of repeating it.

Your first-week checklist

  1. Start electric, water and sewer service (BGMU or Warren RECC and Warren County Water District).
  2. Start natural gas with Atmos Energy, if the home has gas.
  3. Set up internet.
  4. Title and register your vehicle at the Warren County Clerk’s office.
  5. Get a Kentucky driver’s license within 30 days.
  6. Register to vote at your new address.
  7. Find your trash day and your school district.

Electric, water and sewer

Which utility you call depends on your address. Your landlord, seller or Realtor can tell you which one serves the home.

  • Bowling Green Municipal Utilities (BGMU), 801 Center St., 270-782-1200. BGMU provides electric, water and wastewater service. Apply 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays; you must be 18 or older and bring a valid U.S. government-issued photo ID and your Social Security number. A deposit may be required. See BGMU’s new service requirements or apply online.
  • Warren Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation (Warren RECC) serves other parts of the area. Bring a U.S. government-issued photo ID, your Social Security number and the service address; renters also need a copy of the lease, with every tenant on the application. The co-op asks for one to three business days’ notice. See Apply for Service or call Member Services at 270-842-6541 or 800-844-1664.
  • Warren County Water District, 5844 Southwest Parkway, also provides water and sewer service in Warren County. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays; main office 270-842-0052, emergencies 270-842-0068. See Establish Service.

Sign up for your utility’s outage texts while you are at it. Our power outages guide has both utilities’ report numbers and maps.

Natural gas

Atmos Energy lists Bowling Green among the Kentucky communities it serves. Use its Start/Transfer Service form or call 888-286-6700.

Internet

These providers publish home internet service in Bowling Green on their own sites. Check your exact address on each:

BGMU’s fiber network serves business customers.

Your car: title and registration

Kentucky’s Drive.ky.gov says vehicles must be insured with a company authorized in Kentucky and titled and registered within 10 days of establishing residency. (The county clerk’s page gives 15 days. Do not wait.)

Go to the Warren County Clerk’s office, Warren County Courthouse, 429 E. 10th St., Suite 100, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, 270-842-9416. The clerk’s Moving Into Kentucky page lists what to bring:

  • Your original out-of-state title (if a lender holds it, fill out the clerk’s title request form first)
  • Proof of Kentucky insurance
  • A Kentucky Application for Certificate of Title/Registration (form TC96-182)
  • A sheriff’s VIN inspection, done at 1347 Kentucky 185
  • Your driver’s license and Social Security number
  • Proof of sales tax paid in your prior state, if any

Your driver’s license

New residents must get a Kentucky license within 30 days of establishing residency, the state says. Bring proof of legal presence (such as a birth certificate or U.S. passport), your Social Security card, proof of Kentucky residency dated within the last year (two for a REAL ID) and your out-of-state license. If any testing is needed, book it with the Kentucky State Police first. Driver licensing regional offices are open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays; appointments are recommended and walk-ins are welcome. Find an office.

Property taxes and the homestead exemption

Bowling Green homeowners get a county tax bill and, inside the city, a city bill. Our property taxes guide has the rates, due dates and appeal steps.

If you are 65 or older or totally disabled and own and live in the home, apply for Kentucky’s homestead exemption with the Warren County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA), 270-843-3268. The application must reach the PVA no later than Dec. 31 of the eligible tax year, the Kentucky Department of Revenue says.

Pets

Inside the city, dogs must be leashed or confined on the owner’s property. Animal concerns: 270-393-4000, 24 hours a day. City impounds go to the Bowling Green-Warren County Humane Society, 1924 Louisville Road, 270-842-8572. Details are in our who to call guide.

The rest of the list

Frequently asked questions

How do I start electric and water service in Bowling Green?

Most homes in the city get electric, water and sewer service from Bowling Green Municipal Utilities (BGMU), 801 Center St., 270-782-1200. Bring a U.S. government-issued photo ID and your Social Security number; applications are taken 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Other parts of the area get electricity from Warren RECC, 270-842-6541.

Who provides natural gas in Bowling Green, Kentucky?

Atmos Energy, which lists Bowling Green among the Kentucky communities it serves. Start or transfer service on its website or call 888-286-6700.

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

30 days after you establish residency, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says. Vehicles must be titled and registered within 10 days, according to drive.ky.gov.

Where do I register my car in Warren County?

At the Warren County Clerk’s office in the Warren County Courthouse, 429 E. 10th St., Suite 100, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, 270-842-9416. Out-of-state vehicles need a sheriff’s VIN inspection first.

When is the deadline for the Kentucky homestead exemption?

Dec. 31 of the tax year you qualify for. Apply to the Warren County PVA’s office, 270-843-3268, if you are 65 or older or totally disabled and own and live in the home.