In Murphy, NC, the Town of Murphy handles water, sewer and weekly garbage pickup for homes inside town limits, while homes out in Cherokee County use county convenience centers for trash and usually run on a private well and septic system. Electric service comes from Murphy Electric Power Board, Blue Ridge Mountain EMC or Tri-State EMC depending on the address, and propane comes from a supplier you choose. I'm Bonnie DuPree, a REALTOR® and Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR) with RE/MAX Town & Country, and this is the first-30-days directory I love handing new homeowners after closing.
Key Takeaways
- In-town homes: the Town of Murphy Public Works department runs water, sewer and residential garbage collection, and sanitation is built into the town tax base.
- County homes: Cherokee County operates nine convenience centers plus a landfill convenience center, open to county residents and taxpayers.
- Your electric provider depends on the exact address: Murphy Electric Power Board, Blue Ridge Mountain EMC or Tri-State EMC.
- North Carolina asks new residents who drive to get an NC driver license within 60 days of establishing permanent residence.
- County offices for taxes and elections sit on Peachtree Street in downtown Murphy.
What should a new homeowner set up in the first 30 days in Murphy?
Think of your first month in four groups: utilities in your name, county and state paperwork, the home service pros you'll call on for years, and the places where you'll start to feel at home. I've written about pieces of this before, so treat this post as the organized directory and those as the deeper reading. My newcomer's guide to Cherokee County services and offices covers the paperwork side in more detail.
Here's the quick-reference version, pointing to official websites.
| Need | Who handles it | How to reach them (website) |
|---|---|---|
| Water and sewer (in town) | Town of Murphy Public Works | townofmurphync.com |
| Garbage pickup (in town) | Town of Murphy sanitation crew | townofmurphync.com |
| Trash and recycling (county) | Cherokee County Solid Waste Department | cherokeecounty-nc.gov |
| Electric power | Murphy Electric Power Board, Blue Ridge Mountain EMC or Tri-State EMC, by address | murphypower.com, brmemc.com, tsemc.net |
| Property taxes | Cherokee County Tax Office | cherokeecounty-nc.gov |
| Voter registration | Cherokee County Board of Elections | cherokeecounty-nc.gov, ncsbe.gov |
| Driver license and vehicle registration | NC Division of Motor Vehicles | ncdot.gov/dmv |
| Library card | Murphy Public Library, Nantahala Regional Library | nrlibrary.org |
| Craft, music and cooking classes | John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown | folkschool.org |
Who provides water, sewer and trash service in Murphy, NC?
Inside Murphy town limits
The Town of Murphy Public Works department operates the water and wastewater plants, maintains the water and sewer lines, reads meters, and handles residential garbage collection. According to the Town of Murphy's FAQ page, you can ask about starting service by calling Water Services at 828-837-2510, and the town posts its water and sewer rates online. One helpful detail: the town maintains the line up to its meter, and the homeowner looks after the line from the meter to the house.
Garbage pickup is one of my favorite in-town conveniences. The town's sanitation crew collects weekly for city residents, the service is built into the tax base with no separate fee, and the town's sanitation page shows your pickup day.
Out in Cherokee County
Many county homes draw water from a private well and treat wastewater with a septic system, so there's no water bill to set up. For trash, Cherokee County's convenience center page lists ten sites, including Texana, Peachtree, Caney Creek, Hanging Dog, Martin's Creek, Unaka and the Mountain Folk Center, plus a landfill convenience center on US-19. They accept household trash and recyclables such as cardboard, aluminum cans, glass and plastic bottles, and access is limited to county residents and taxpayers.
I always encourage new owners to find their nearest center during the first week. Once it's part of your errand loop, it becomes second nature.
Who provides electric power and internet?
Electric service in the Murphy area comes from three providers, and the property address decides which one you call.
- Murphy Electric Power Board is a TVA local power company serving Murphy and about 10 miles into the surrounding county.
- Blue Ridge Mountain EMC is a member-owned cooperative serving Cherokee and Clay counties in North Carolina and Towns, Union and Fannin counties in Georgia. It also offers fiber internet under the name BRMEMC SmartFi.
- Tri-State EMC is a cooperative serving parts of Cherokee County, NC, along with Fannin County, GA and Polk County, TN.
The easiest way to confirm your provider is to look at the seller's recent bill or ask me to check it during the transaction, then call to move service into your name for the closing date. My guide to internet, power and utilities in Cherokee County, NC explains how service varies across the county.
Internet is also address-specific, so look up the exact property rather than the ZIP code. I walk through fiber, fixed wireless, cellular and satellite options in my post on getting internet at a Murphy, NC mountain home.
Which county and state offices will you visit?
Property taxes
The Cherokee County Tax Office is at 75 Peachtree Street in Murphy, and the county website offers online tax payment and property lookup. Every parcel pays the county rate. In-town parcels add the Town of Murphy rate, and county parcels add a fire district rate. Your closing attorney will show the current year's taxes on your settlement statement.
Voter registration
The Cherokee County Board of Elections is at 40 Peachtree Street, Suite B, in Murphy. The county's page points to the North Carolina State Board of Elections at ncsbe.gov for registration forms and current deadlines, which is where I send anyone updating their address.
Driver license and vehicle registration
According to NCDMV's new-resident guidance, if you'll be driving, you need a North Carolina driver license within 60 days of establishing permanent residence. Vehicle registration comes due when you start work here or when your prior state's reciprocity period ends, typically 30 days, whichever comes first.
Other first-month items
Update your homeowner's insurance to the new address, forward your mail, and keep your recorded deed with your closing papers. If you ever need a copy, the Register of Deeds in Murphy keeps the county's property records. My answers to the questions I hear most about moving to Murphy cover the bigger picture of settling in.
How do you find propane, well, septic and other home services?
Mountain homes rely on a handful of trusted local pros. Here are the categories I suggest lining up in your first month, before you need them:
- Propane. Many homes here heat, cook or run a fireplace on propane. Ask whether the tank is owned or leased, open an account with a supplier, and ask about automatic delivery.
- Well service. A well company can service the pump and pressure tank and test your water quality.
- Septic pumping. Keep the location of the tank and the date of the last pumping on file, and choose a company for routine service.
- HVAC. A seasonal tune-up for your heat pump or furnace keeps things comfortable year-round.
- Chimney sweep. If the home has a wood-burning fireplace or stove, schedule an inspection and cleaning before the first cool evenings.
- Landscaping. Wooded lots benefit from gutter cleaning, leaf removal and driveway care.
- Home watch or caretaker. For a second home, a local caretaker can check on the property between your visits.
When choosing any provider, ask whether they're licensed where the trade requires it and insured, and ask for references from nearby homeowners. The seller's service records are a great starting point too. My well and septic primer for mountain properties explains both systems.
My printable checklist for winterizing a second home in Murphy shows how these pros fit into a seasonal routine.
I describe categories here rather than naming businesses. Any names my team shares with you are for convenience, not an endorsement, so please make your own choice.
Where do you connect with the Murphy community?
Murphy Public Library
The Murphy Public Library at 11 Blumenthal Street is the headquarters of the Nantahala Regional Library, which also includes the Andrews Public Library, the Graham County Public Library, Moss Memorial Library and a bookmobile. The library offers books, eBooks, research databases and community programs, and a library card is one of the easiest first-week errands.
Murphy Farmers Market
The Murphy Farmers Market sets up at the L&N Depot on Railroad Street on Saturday mornings from April through October. Local growers and makers sell produce, baked goods, honey, eggs, plants and handmade crafts. If you close this fall, mark April on your calendar for the new season.
John C. Campbell Folk School
East of Murphy in Brasstown, the Folk School offers weekend and weeklong classes for adults on a 270-acre campus, in craft, art, music, dance, cooking, gardening, nature studies, photography and writing. A class is a wonderful way to meet neighbors and learn a new skill in your first season here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do I call for water, power, trash or propane in Murphy, NC?
Inside town limits, the Town of Murphy handles water, sewer and weekly garbage pickup. County homes usually have a well and septic and use Cherokee County convenience centers. Power comes from Murphy Electric Power Board, Blue Ridge Mountain EMC or Tri-State EMC by address, and propane comes from a supplier you choose.
Does the Town of Murphy charge a separate fee for garbage pickup?
No. The Town of Murphy picks up garbage weekly for city residents, and sanitation is built into the tax base with no separate fee. The town's sanitation page shows your pickup day.
Where do I take trash if I live outside Murphy town limits?
Cherokee County runs convenience centers such as Peachtree, Caney Creek, Hanging Dog and Texana, plus a landfill convenience center. They accept household trash and common recyclables, and access is limited to county residents and taxpayers.
How long do I have to get a North Carolina driver license after moving to Murphy?
NCDMV asks new residents who drive to get an NC driver license within 60 days of establishing permanent residence. Vehicle registration is due when you start work here or when your prior state's reciprocity period ends, whichever comes first.
Where is the library in Murphy, NC?
The Murphy Public Library is at 11 Blumenthal Street and serves as headquarters of the Nantahala Regional Library, which includes branches in Andrews and Graham County plus Moss Memorial Library and a bookmobile.
Your Local Expert
I'm Bonnie DuPree, REALTOR®, founder of The DuPree Real Estate Group at RE/MAX Town & Country. Based in Murphy, NC — the county seat of Cherokee County — I've helped buyers settle into these mountains and lakes since 2007. As an Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR), I guide buyers from the first showing through closing day and the first weeks after, across Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties in North Carolina and Union, Fannin and Towns counties in Georgia.
Welcome home to Murphy
Getting the utilities, paperwork and service pros in place is the start of the fun part: learning your new town. If you're buying here, or you've just closed and have a question this directory doesn't answer, I'd be glad to point you to the right place.
Reach out to me directly, or call me at (828) 361-1027. Come for a weekend, stay for a lifetime.
The DuPree Real Estate Group is pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity. Bonnie DuPree, REALTOR® · RE/MAX Town & Country · Each Office Independently Owned and Operated.
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