What’s Open, What’s Closed in Hillsborough County for the Holidays

What's open and closed for the Christmas and New Year's Day holiday observations? Here's a rundown on government offices, trash pickup, waster and wastewater services, U.S. mail, animal services, fire rescue, parks and recreation centers, libraries, the Sunshine Line and constitutional offices, including the offices of the property appraiser and tax collector. 

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GOVERNMENT OFFICES

Hillsborough County offices and many facilities will be closed on Monday and Tuesday (Dec. 24 and 25) for the Christmas holidays, and again on Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day.

Closed facilities include the administrative offices of County government, neighborhood service centers, most libraries, all County-operated Head Start/Early Head Start Centers, recreation centers, senior centers and nutrition sites.

The offices of the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County will be closed on the observed holidays.

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TRASH PICKUP

There will be no solid waste collection (including garbage, recyclables and yard waste) on Christmas or New Year’s Day in the unincorporated Hillsborough County service area, which also includes Tampa Palms, Hunter's Green and New Tampa.

County customers whose garbage collection day falls on these two days may set out twice the amount of household trash – not including recyclables and yard waste - on the Friday immediately following each holiday. Customers whose recycling or yard waste collection day falls on Christmas and New Year’s Day may set out an unlimited amount of recyclables and three times the amount of yard waste on Jan. 8.

County disposal facilities will be closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day. This includes the Southeast County Landfill, Northwest and South County transfer stations, Resource Recovery Facility, community collection centers and yard waste processing facilities.

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U.S. MAIL

There will be no U.S. Postal Service delivery on Christmas Day. All post offices will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Most post offices will shorten retail lobby hours and close at noon on Christmas and New Year's holiday eves. and mail collections close early New Year's Eve. Regular mail delivery for Dec. 24 and 31 will be unaffected by the change. 

Business customers should check with their respective Bulk Mail Entry Units for specific information regarding holiday hours of operation. 

Only Express Mail will be delivered on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. All Post Offices will be open and regular mail delivery will resume on Wednesday, Dec. 26 and Wednesday, Jan. 2.

Mail from Blue Collection Boxes May Be Collected Early.

Deposit mail into blue-collection boxes by noon Dec. 24 and 31, regardless of the final collection times posted. This means if the final collection time is posted for before noon, there will be no change. However, if the final collection time is normally after 12 p.m., mail might be collected early. 

If you require a service later on those days, please contact your local Post Office. For contact information, visit Find a Location on USPS.com or call 1-800-ASK-USPS. 

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ANIMAL SERVICES

Hillsborough County Animal Service posts the following notices:

• Dec. 24 and 25 — The shelter will be closed.
• Dec. 26 — The shelter will open for adoptions, lost-pet searches and more at 10 a.m.
• Dec. 31 — The shelter is set to have special hours, remaining open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Jan. 1 — The shelter will be closed.

A limited number of emergency personnel will remain on call throughout the holidays via the main number at 813-744-5660. Animal Services reminds pet owners to keep their pet’s identification securely fastened during the hectic holidays.

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FIRE RESCUE

Fire Rescue Administration, Fire Marshal and Emergency Operations Center offices will be closed Dec. 24-25 and Jan. 1. All emergency services will continue without interruption.

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INFOLINE

Hillsborough County’s InfoLine, 813-272-5900, also will be closed on the observed holidays.

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LIBRARIES

Holiday hours are as follows:

•  Dec. 23 — All libraries except the Temple Terrace Public Library will be closed.

• Dec. 24 -25 — All libraries will be closed.

• Dec. 26 -27 — All libraries will close at 6 p.m., except for the Temple Terrace Public library, which will close at 5 p.m.

• Dec. 31 — All libraries will close at 6 p.m., except for the Temple Terrace Public Library, which will close at 5 p.m.

• Jan. 1 — All libraries will be closed.

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PARKS AND RECREATION

All County recreation centers will be closed Dec. 24 and 25, and Jan. 1.

Below are the notices for regional parks:

December 24

• Open until 3 p.m. — Alderman’s Ford, Edward Medard, Eureka Springs, Lettuce Lake, Lithia Springs, Upper Tampa Bay, and the Flatwoods, Morris Bridge and Trout Creek sections of Wilderness Park. The Upper Tampa Trail also is open until 3 p.m.

• Closed — E.G. Simmons, Lake Park, Lake Rogers, and the Dead River, Harney Boat Ramp, John B. Sargeant and Veteran’s Memorial sections of Wilderness Park.

December 25

• All regional parks will be closed.

January 1

• All regional parks will be open. 

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SUNSHINE LINE

The Sunshine Line transportation service will not be in operation Dec. 24-25 or on Jan. 1.

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WATER/WASTEWATER

The Public Utilities Department’s customer service call center and water/wastewater customer service centers in Northdale and Brandon will be closed Dec. 24 and 25 and Jan. 1.

Emergency calls regarding County water and wastewater service may be made to 813-744-5600. Also, the Public Utilities Department’s Water Quality Hotline is answered 24 hours a day. That number is 813-264-3835.

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CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES

Offices of the Property Appraiser, Tax Collector and Supervisor of Elections will be closed Dec. 24 and 25 and Jan. 1, as well as offices of the Clerk of the Circuit Court and court facilities.

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