Los Angeles Moving Checklist: What to Do Each Week in the Final 30 Days

Moving inside Los Angeles is harder than most places in the country. A 2024 report from Move dot org ranked LA among the five toughest cities for residential moves after comparing fees and utility delays in fifty metro areas. (https://www.move.org/moving-permits/) Street signs change from one block to the next, truck permits vanish overnight, and new utility service can take two weeks. The only real solution is a plan that locks in every permit and phone call on a clear timeline.

A month before the truck arrives

Book a licensed moving crew today. Summer Saturdays disappear first, and some buildings limit elevator use to specific hours. If the new home has an older electrical panel, ask Los Angeles Department of Water and Power for a capacity letter. The reply usually takes seven to ten business days. (https://www.ladwp.com/home/power/service-planning) Pull the trash and recycling schedule for the new street through MyLA311 so you can time donation drop-offs and dump runs.(https://myla311.lacity.org) Tell your insurance carrier the closing date and the exact parcel number. Underwriters will not issue final paperwork without it.

Three weeks out

File an online change of address with the United States Postal Service. The fee is one dollar and mail starts forwarding within a few days. (https://moversguide.usps.com) Schedule Los Angeles Sanitation for bulky items. Sofas and mattresses need a pickup slot, and those fill about a week ahead. Reserve the freight elevator if the building has one. Most managers ask for proof of mover insurance and a refundable deposit. Order specialty boxes early. Artwork sleeves, bike cartons, and wardrobe boxes ship slowly during peak season.

Two weeks to go

Apply for a Temporary No-Parking permit through Los Angeles Department of Transportation. Post the signs forty-eight hours before the truck shows up. (https://ladotparking.org/permits/ppd-permits) Call SoCalGas and your internet provider. Standard lead time for new service is five to seven days. Start packing. Sort out what you can donate or sell, box up books and seasonal clothing first, and label each box by room and priority. Keep a running list in your phone. Scan or photograph escrow papers, appliance manuals, and any hazard maps tied to the new lot. Store everything in a cloud folder so it is handy on move day.

One week left

Confirm the mover’s insurance meets the building rule of one million dollars liability and two million aggregate. Finish labeling. Color tape on fragile kitchen boxes saves time when unloading. Pack a small go-bag with medication, chargers, key papers, pet supplies, and a fresh outfit. If the truck is late, that bag covers the first night.

First seventy-two hours in the new place

Light the water-heater pilots and swap the HVAC filter so dust does not choke the blower. Add the new address to the MyShake earthquake app for faster alerts. (https://myshake.berkeley.edu) Walk every room. Check for leaks, loose stair rails, and tripped breakers. Photograph any issues for your own record. Schedule the first trash pickup at the correct address through MyLA311.

Small tips that save money

Post the move date on your neighborhood Facebook group or Nextdoor a week ahead. Neighbors often greet newcomers and will buy or take extra furniture. Pick a Tuesday or Wednesday move. Moving companies quote lower rates mid-week because demand drops. Add the phrase “moving day Los Angeles” to the captions and alt text of move-in photos. Friends can find your tips later, and search engines connect the post to local moving help.

Pitfalls to avoid

Street-sweeping tickets in LA run fifty-eight dollars. Check the curb sign and move the truck before the sweeper time. (https://ladotparking.org/parking-meters/parking-restrictions-holiday-parking/) Freight elevators without a reservation add surprise fees that can pass two hundred dollars. July afternoons in the San Fernando Valley often top one hundred degrees. Keep coolers of water and electrolyte mixes on site. National Weather Service data confirm these summer highs. (https://www.weather.gov) Carry cleaning spray, paper towels, and trash bags for both addresses. A quick wipe protects the deposit at the old place and makes the new rooms ready for furniture. Start power, gas, and internet at least five business days before move-in so there is light and Wi-Fi on arrival. (https://www.ladwp.com/account/start-or-add-service) Homes with garages or attics usually need about fifteen percent more boxes than an apartment, according to a 2025 SpareFoot storage survey. (https://www.sparefoot.com) Update every delivery account after filing the change of address. Packages left at the old porch vanish fast. A small toolkit in the car screwdrivers, utility knife, tape measure, extra bulbs, and chargers solves most first-night problems. Photograph walls, floors, and appliances before unloading. Time-stamped images protect deposits and warranties. Line up pet or child care away from the noise. Movers finish faster and doors stay closed.

Final Thoughts

A good move in Los Angeles works like a small project plan. Every permit has a lead time. The Temporary No Parking signs need forty eight hours on the curb before they hold legal weight, and the freight elevator calendar at most buildings is set at least one week in advance. Treat those rules as fixed milestones rather than last-minute errands. The same idea holds for utilities. Power, gas, and internet crews run separate schedules, and each one books out five to seven days. Put those service calls on your calendar the day you sign escrow or a new lease. It saves candles and phone data later.

Logistics matter just as much as permits. Set the move for Tuesday or Wednesday when streets stay calmer and movers charge less. Reserve a legal curb lane so the truck does not block a bike path or bus stop. If street sweeping is due that morning, park on another block until the sweeper passes. A single fifty eight dollar ticket can wipe out the savings you negotiated on the moving quote. Source LADOT fine list (https://ladotparking.org/parking-meters/parking-restrictions-holiday-parking)

Think about people and pets too. The city heat index in midsummer climbs past one hundred in many valley neighborhoods, and dehydration arrives fast when you are lifting boxes. Keep a cooler of water and electrolyte packets on the sidewalk, and rotate helpers into shade every hour. Set up day care or a pet sitter so children and animals stay safe and movers can work with doors open. National Weather Service climate data for Woodland Hills show average July highs near one hundred. (https://www.weather.gov)

Finally, document everything. Snap photos of walls, floors, and appliances at the new address before a single box comes inside. Time-stamped images settle most deposit or warranty disputes without long emails. Do the same during the last walk-through at the old place. Pair those records with a simple checklist kept on your phone and the entire process feels lighter. You do not remove the work, but you trade late fees and stress for clear steps and verified details. That swap is the real secret to ending move day with electricity on, keys turned, and everyone in the household already looking forward to the first quiet night.