Interlachen, Florida country
Home · Putnam County · Interlachen › Facts & Services
Interlachen Newcomer Guide · 2026

Interlachen Facts & Town Services

Interlachen has a real advantage for movers: a Tax Collector branch, a public library, a town water utility, and a working police department, all inside town limits. Here's what a new Interlachen resident needs — with every phone number and link verified against the official source.

Quick Facts

Interlachen at a glance.

The hard numbers — official sources cited at the bottom of the page.

CountyPutnam County, Florida
StatusIncorporated Town — Mayor/Council form
Incorporated1888
Population1,441 (2020 U.S. Census)
Median household income~$47,950 (ACS 5-year estimate)
Median home value (ZIP 32148)~$87,800 (ACS estimate)
Square miles6.4 sq mi total (5.8 land, 0.6 water)
ZIP code32148
Time zoneEastern (ET)
MayorRick Hanes
Town Clerk (administration)Joni Payne — Interlachen has no separate town manager
Town CouncilJoni Conner (Chair), Carolyn Bennett (Vice-Chair), Beverly Bakker, Carolyn Meadows, Anna Rose Larsen

Population/income/home-value figures are the latest publicly available Census Bureau and ACS estimates and shift each year. Officeholders change with each election — verify on interlachen-fl.gov before relying on names.

Town Government

What the Town of Interlachen handles.

For a Putnam County town, Interlachen runs more in-house than most: three water treatment plants, its own police, building & zoning, public works, and parks & recreation.

Interlachen Town Hall

Address: 215 Atlantic Avenue, Interlachen, FL 32148
Council meetings: 2nd Tuesday of each month, 7:00 PM at Town Hall
Handles: water utility (3 plants: Tremont, Strickland, Grassy Lake), police, public works, parks & rec, building & zoning, code enforcement
interlachen-fl.gov →

Town vs. County — the quick read

  • Town handles water, police, building/zoning & permits inside town limits, parks, code enforcement
  • County handles tax collection, DMV, library, sheriff (backup), animal control, schools, elections
  • No municipal sewer — most homes on septic, often with private well outside town limits
  • Trash is contracted countywide to Waste Pro
County Services

The county offices Interlachen residents use.

The big advantage of Interlachen: the Tax Collector and the library are right in town. You don't have to drive to Palatka for most errands.

Putnam County Tax Collector — Interlachen Branch

Address: 1114 State Road 20, Suite 2, Interlachen, FL 32148
Phone: (386) 329-0282 (one number for all branches)
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5:00 PM (Driver License services 8:30 AM–4:30 PM)
Handles: driver licenses, vehicle & vessel tags/titles, photo IDs, property tax, hunting & fishing licenses, concealed-weapon permits.
Interlachen branch →

DMV / Driver License

Address: 1114 State Road 20, Suite 2, Interlachen, FL 32148 (same as Tax Collector)
Hours: Mon–Fri DL 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
Driving tests: by appointment only
flhsmv.gov/locations/putnam →

Interlachen Branch Library

Address: 133 N. County Road 315, Interlachen, FL 32148
Hours: Tue–Sat (call to confirm daily hours — small-branch schedules change)
System: Putnam County Library System

Two different phone numbers appear in directories for the Interlachen branch — call the system office at (386) 329-0126 or check the youseemore.com directory for the current line.

Putnam County Library System →

Trash, Recycling & Yard Waste

Hauler: Waste Pro USA (countywide residential contract)
County Sanitation: (386) 329-0395
Service: twice-weekly garbage, once-weekly yard trash (countywide standard)
Recycling drop-off (Interlachen): 111 Hickory Lane
County Sanitation →

Water & Sewer

Water provider: Town of Interlachen (3 treatment plants)
Set-up: Town Hall, (386) 684-3811
Online pay: nexbillpay link from interlachen-fl.gov
Sewer: No municipal sewer system — most properties on septic.
Outside town limits: typically private well + septic. We verify per property.
Water Department →

Animal Services & Building Permits

Putnam County Animal Services: 122 Orie Griffin Blvd, Palatka — (386) 329-0396
Town Building & Zoning (inside town): Town Hall, (386) 684-3811
Putnam County Building Dept (outside town): (386) 329-0307
Town Building & Zoning →

Voter Registration

Putnam County Supervisor of Elections (Charles L. Overturf III)
Address: 2509 Crill Ave, Suite 900, Palatka, FL 32177
Online: registertovoteflorida.gov — deadline is 29 days before any election.
voteputnamflorida.gov →
Schools

Interlachen schools — the short version.

Interlachen is served by the Putnam County School District, with Interlachen Elementary and Interlachen Junior–Senior High School as the local campuses. Because rural attendance zones don't always follow town lines, we always confirm the exact school for a specific address before you buy.

See the full Interlachen real estate & lifestyle guide →

Healthcare

Where Interlachen goes for care.

You're roughly equidistant from two health systems: HCA Putnam in Palatka (east, ~20 min) and UF Health Shands in Gainesville (west, ~45 min).

HCA Florida Putnam Hospital (Palatka)

Address: 611 Zeagler Drive, Palatka, FL 32177
Drive time from Interlachen: ~17 miles east on SR-20, roughly 20–25 minutes
HCA Putnam Hospital →

Urgent Care (Palatka)

St. Johns Urgent Family Care: 6101 Crill Ave, Palatka — open 7 days
Express Urgent Care: 6500 Crill Ave, Palatka
Drive time: ~20 min east on SR-20

Urgent-care hours change — call before walking in.

Emergency Services

911 — and the non-emergency numbers to save.

Interlachen runs its own police department, plus a long-standing volunteer fire department. Putnam Sheriff covers the county.

Interlachen Police Department

Chief: Larry B. Wilburn
Non-emergency: (386) 684-3811 (routes through Town Hall)
Emergency: 911
Interlachen PD →

Interlachen Volunteer Fire Department

Active volunteer dept serving Interlachen since 1965.
Emergencies: 911
Putnam Fire Rescue stations →

Putnam County Sheriff (Backup)

Non-emergency: (386) 329-0800
putnamsherifffl.com →
Newcomer Checklist

Your first week in Interlachen.

Florida is strict about new-resident deadlines. Knock these out in your first 30 days and you'll never get blindsided by a ticket or a late fee.

  1. Set up Florida auto insurance firstYou can't title or register a vehicle in Florida without a policy from a Florida-licensed carrier. Call your insurer before driving to the Tax Collector.
  2. Title & register your vehicle within 10 daysThe Putnam Tax Collector branch is right in town at 1114 SR-20, Suite 2 — bring title, FL insurance card, and two proofs of residency.
  3. Get your Florida driver license within 30 daysSame Interlachen office. DL services end at 4:30 PM. Bring proof of identity, Social Security number, and two proofs of Interlachen address.
  4. Register to voteOnline at registertovoteflorida.gov or mail to the Supervisor of Elections in Palatka. Deadline is 29 days before any election.
  5. Turn on water at Town HallIf you're inside town limits, call (386) 684-3811 to start water service. Outside town, you're almost certainly on a private well — have it tested before move-in.
  6. Confirm septic system statusInterlachen has no municipal sewer. Locate the tank and drain field, get the age, and know your last pump date. Pumping every 3–5 years is standard.
  7. Set up trash & recycling dropWaste Pro picks up trash twice weekly. Recycling drop-off site is 111 Hickory Lane in Interlachen.
  8. File for Homestead Exemption (by March 1)If Interlachen is your primary residence as of January 1, file with the Putnam Property Appraiser for up to $50,000 off taxable value plus Save Our Homes 3% annual cap. Our homestead guide walks you through it.
  9. Update your address everywhereUSPS change of address, IRS Form 8822, bank, employer, Social Security, Medicare, doctors, kids' schools.
Common Questions

Interlachen newcomer FAQ.

Do I have to drive to Palatka to renew my driver license?

No. The Putnam Tax Collector has a branch right in Interlachen at 1114 State Road 20, Suite 2 — same building handles tags, titles, vessels, IDs, and property tax. Phone (386) 329-0282. DL services end at 4:30 PM.

Does Interlachen have municipal sewer?

No. Interlachen has a town-run water utility (three plants), but no town-wide sewer system. Almost all properties are on septic. Before closing on any Interlachen home, we verify septic location, age, and last pump-out. Outside town limits, most homes are also on private well — test that too.

Who do I call to start water service in Interlachen?

Interlachen Town Hall at (386) 684-3811. The town runs three water treatment plants (Tremont, Strickland, Grassy Lake). You can pay online through the nexbillpay link on the town website.

Does Interlachen have its own police?

Yes — Interlachen Police Department, with Chief Larry B. Wilburn. The non-emergency line routes through Town Hall at (386) 684-3811. For emergencies, always call 911. Putnam County Sheriff is the backup agency for the surrounding unincorporated areas.

Where's the closest hospital and ER?

HCA Florida Putnam Hospital in Palatka, at 611 Zeagler Drive — about 17 miles east on SR-20, roughly 20–25 minutes from Interlachen. It's a 99-bed acute-care hospital with a 24-hour ER. UF Health Shands in Gainesville is the other major option, ~45 minutes west.

When does Waste Pro pick up trash?

Waste Pro holds the countywide Putnam residential contract: twice-weekly household garbage and once-weekly yard trash. Your specific pickup day depends on your street — call Town Hall or Waste Pro Putnam to confirm. Recycling drop-off in Interlachen is 111 Hickory Lane.

Where do I register to vote in Interlachen?

Online at registertovoteflorida.gov, or by mail/in-person to the Putnam County Supervisor of Elections at 2509 Crill Avenue Suite 900, Palatka. Phone (386) 329-0224. Deadline is 29 days before any election.

Keep Exploring

More Interlachen resources.

Sources

Every fact, verified.

Each number, address, and link on this page was verified against the official source listed below. Always double-check critical details by phone before relying on them — municipal info changes.

  1. Town of Interlachen — interlachen-fl.gov
  2. Interlachen Elected Officials — interlachen-fl.gov/elected-officials
  3. Interlachen Water Department — interlachen-fl.gov/water-department
  4. Interlachen Police Department — interlachen-fl.gov/police-department
  5. Interlachen Building & Zoning — interlachen-fl.gov/building-zoning
  6. Putnam County Tax Collector — Interlachen — putnamtax.com/locations/interlachen
  7. FLHSMV Putnam locations — flhsmv.gov/locations/putnam
  8. FLHSMV New Resident — flhsmv.gov/new-resident
  9. Putnam County Library System — youseemore.com/putnam
  10. Putnam County Sanitation — putnam-fl.gov/sanitation
  11. Putnam County Sheriff — putnamsherifffl.com
  12. Putnam County Animal Services — putnam-fl.gov/animal-services
  13. Putnam County Building Department — putnam-fl.gov building
  14. Putnam Fire Rescue stations — putnam-fl.gov fire-rescue
  15. HCA Florida Putnam Hospital — hcafloridahealthcare.com/locations/putnam-hospital
  16. Supervisor of Elections — voteputnamflorida.gov
  17. Register to Vote in Florida — registertovoteflorida.gov

Moving to Interlachen?

We'll send you a printable checklist plus the right Interlachen listings — lakefront, in-town, or quiet acreage. No pressure — just a local family team.

Talk To The Parham Team