Last updated October 13, 2026
Moving to Chicago goes smoothest if you start about two months ahead. Pick your neighborhood and start apartment hunting 30 to 45 days before your move. Book movers or a truck early, especially for summer. Plan moving-day parking, since a truck on a public street usually needs city no-parking signs, and check your building’s move-in rules. After you arrive, you’ll have 30 days to buy a Chicago city sticker and register your car in Illinois, and 90 days to switch your driver’s license.
What should you do two months before you move?
- Set your budget. Include rent, move-in costs, moving costs and your first month of living expenses. See how much it costs to live in Chicago.
- Shortlist neighborhoods based on your commute and budget. See the best neighborhoods for newcomers.
- Decide: movers or a truck? Get quotes early. Summer is peak moving season, and the end of the month is the busiest time.
- Decide about your car. Many newcomers sell it or leave it behind. See do you need a car in Chicago.
- Start sorting what you own. Chicago apartments, especially vintage ones, often have less closet space than you’re used to.
What should you do one month before?
- Find and sign your lease. Most apartments for your date are listed 30 to 45 days ahead. See how apartment hunting in Chicago works.
- Book your movers or truck and confirm the date and time window.
- Ask your new building about move-in rules. High-rises often require you to reserve the freight elevator, move only during set hours, and have your movers send a certificate of insurance in advance. Some charge a move-in fee.
- Set up utilities for your move-in date: electricity (ComEd serves Chicago), gas if your apartment has its own heat or stove (Peoples Gas in the city), and internet. Ask your landlord which ones you’ll pay.
- Buy renters insurance. Some buildings require it.
- Forward your mail through the U.S. Postal Service.
How do you reserve parking for a moving truck in Chicago?
If the truck will park on a public street, plan for parking ahead of time:
- Enforceable signs from the city. The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) issues official no-parking signs for residential moves, for a fee of about $25. Cars parked in the space can be ticketed or towed. Apply well in advance so the city can post them. Professional movers usually handle this for you.
- Courtesy signs from your alderman. Many ward offices hand out free paper “moving” signs. They aren’t enforceable, but they help. Post them 48 to 72 hours before your move.
- Moving containers such as PODS generally can’t be left on the street. They need to go on private property, like a driveway or private parking space.
- Don’t leave a truck overnight on the street, and watch for street cleaning, winter parking bans and snow bans.
What should you do on moving day?
- Photograph and video the empty apartment before anything comes in, and note any damage in writing to your landlord.
- Check that heat, hot water, appliances, smoke detectors and locks all work.
- Keep a bag with essentials, documents, chargers and a change of clothes with you, not on the truck.
- In winter, protect floors from salt and slush, and check for snow parking bans before the truck arrives.
What deadlines apply after you arrive?
| Task | Deadline | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Buy a Chicago city sticker (if you keep a car in the city) | Within 30 days | Office of the City Clerk |
| Register your car and get Illinois plates | Within 30 days | Illinois Secretary of State |
| Get an Illinois driver’s license | Within 90 days | Illinois Secretary of State |
| Get a residential parking permit, if your street is in a zone | Before you park on the street | Office of the City Clerk |
| Register to vote at your new address | Before the next election deadline | Chicago Board of Election Commissioners |
For everything else to do once you’re here, read your first 30 days in Chicago.
When is the best time to move to Chicago?
Late spring and early fall give you the best weather. Summer is the busiest season, so movers book up and apartments go fast. Winter moves are cheaper and less competitive, but plan around snow, cold and the overnight parking ban that runs from December 1 to April 1.
Frequently asked questions about moving to Chicago
Do you need a permit to park a moving truck in Chicago?
To reserve street space you can enforce, yes: CDOT issues official no-parking signs for residential moves for about $25. Ward offices also offer free courtesy signs that aren’t enforceable.
How long do you have to get an Illinois driver’s license?
90 days after becoming an Illinois resident. You have 30 days to register your car.
When do you need a Chicago city sticker?
Within 30 days of moving to Chicago, if you keep a vehicle in the city. For 2026, it costs $105.18 for a passenger vehicle up to 4,500 pounds.
Can you leave a PODS container on a Chicago street?
Generally no. Moving containers need to be placed on private property, such as a driveway or private parking space.
Sources
- Moving signs and containers: 44th Ward, No Parking Signs for Residential Moves; 47th Ward, Moving Signs
- City sticker: Office of the Chicago City Clerk, City Sticker FAQs
- Registration and driver’s license timelines: Illinois Vehicle Code (Public Act 99-0118); Domu, Guide to Chicago City Sticker
- Winter parking ban: FOX 32, citing the Department of Streets and Sanitation
