Message from the Wildwood City Manager

Jason McHugh

Where Do I Live?

That may sound like a silly question. If you’re reading this, chances are you live in The Villages® and that’s the place you identify with as a resident.

Governmental jurisdictions in Florida can be complex and confusing at times because cities, counties, and special districts can and do overlap, even within or across ZIP codes.

The Villages, for example, spans three different counties: Lake, Marion, and Sumter. Within Sumter County, some portions of The Villages® lie in unincorporated areas, while others lie within City of Wildwood limits.

Every jurisdiction has its own code of ordinances governing activities within its boundaries. In overlapping jurisdictions, codes related to a specific issue may differ. What may be permissible in Sumter County may not be permissible in Wildwood, or vice versa. In that case, the more restrictive code applies.

In Florida, there also are water management districts, school districts, and other special districts that may collect taxes and/or regulate certain aspects of homeownership.

Furthermore, residential neighborhoods often have their own rules set by an HOA or similar organization. Those rules may prohibit something allowed by other relevant jurisdictions.

“Where do I live?” turns out to be more complicated than it may seem upon first moving in.

How can a new (or not-so-new) resident determine their relevant jurisdictions? A good place to start is the annual TRIM notice or tax bill. In Wildwood and all of Sumter County, those are sent by the Sumter County tax collector’s office. Both documents show the taxing districts that apply to the specific property, giving insight into relevant jurisdictions.

The City of Wildwood also maintains an online city boundary map, accessible at https://tinyurl.com/WildwoodCityMap, and Sumter County maintains an interactive GIS map at https://tinyurl.com/SCInteractiveGISMap with layers that can be toggled to see municipal jurisdictions and other property information.

I encourage every resident to explore and become more familiar with their own “Where do I live?” question. Please contact us at Wildwood City Hall with any questions, and we will be happy to provide as much information as possible. We are here to help so you can enjoy your Villages® lifestyle to the fullest.

Jason McHugh

Wildwood City Manager