Denver guide

How do you move to Denver? A step-by-step checklist

By /

This article is part of our Moving to Denver guide.

Last updated October 19, 2026

To move to Denver, start about eight weeks out with a budget and a target neighborhood, lock in an apartment and movers by week four, set up Xcel Energy and internet two weeks before, and then handle the Colorado paperwork after you arrive. The two hard deadlines are a Colorado driver license within 30 days of becoming a resident and vehicle registration within 90 days. Rent is the biggest number to plan for: Apartment List puts Denver’s median one-bedroom at $1,427 a month in October 2026.

Median 1BR rent$1,427Apartment List, Oct 2026
Driver license30 daysafter residency, Colorado DMV
Car registration90 daysafter residency, Colorado DMV
Denver head tax$5.75/moif you earn $500+/month, Sept 2026

This checklist is one piece of our moving to Denver guide. Work through it in order. Each stage builds on the one before.

What should you do 8 weeks before moving to Denver?

Eight weeks out is for money and geography. Get these two right and the rest of the list gets easier.

  1. Set a rent ceiling. Apartment List’s October 2026 report puts Denver’s overall median rent at $1,613, down 3.1% from a year earlier. The median one-bedroom is $1,427 and the median two-bedroom is $1,778. Newer, professionally managed buildings run higher: RentCafe’s September 2026 average for a one-bedroom is $1,725.
  2. Price the move itself. Get quotes for a truck, a container and full-service movers. Our guide to what it costs to move across the country shows typical ranges.
  3. Plan for move-in cash. Expect first month’s rent, a security deposit and application fees, plus possible utility deposits. A 2023 state law, SB23-184, caps security deposits at two months’ rent.
  4. See the full monthly picture. Our Denver cost of living breakdown covers food, transportation and taxes.
  5. Pick two or three target areas. Decide whether you want to walk to work, ride light rail or drive. Our best Denver neighborhoods for newcomers post compares the usual starting points.

What should you do 4 weeks before the move?

Four weeks out, you should be signing a lease and booking movers. Good moving dates go fast at the end of the month.

  1. Search and apply. Browse buildings by neighborhood on our sister site, DenverApartmentBuildings.com, which lists units, year built and pet policies. Then check current prices with the building. Our guide to renting in Denver explains applications, fees and your rights as a tenant.
  2. Tour by video if you can’t visit. Ask for a live video tour of the actual unit, not a model. Never send money before you’ve seen a lease.
  3. Book a truck or movers. Get the booking confirmed in writing with the date, arrival window and price.
  4. Ask about loading. Ask your new building whether it has a loading zone or elevator you need to reserve, and what hours moves are allowed.
  5. Check the street rules. A moving container parked on a Denver street needs a city permit. Denver’s transportation department (DOTI) says only the container company can get it, so confirm your company will handle it. If your truck will block a metered space, an alley or a lane, contact DOTI Permit Operations about a right-of-way permit well ahead of time.

What utilities do you need to set up 2 weeks out?

Most Denver apartments need three accounts: electricity and gas, water, and internet. Set them to start on your move-in day.

  1. Xcel Energy for electricity and gas. Xcel serves Denver. Start service online through its moving page. Xcel may ask for a deposit, depending on its written policy and your history with it. Under Colorado Public Utilities Commission rules, a deposit can’t be more than about 90 days of estimated bills. It comes back with interest after a year of on-time payments. Customers who got energy bill help such as LEAP in the past year don’t have to pay one.
  2. Denver Water. In many apartment buildings, water is billed to the landlord and passed through as a fee. If you rent a house, Denver Water keeps the account in the owner’s name, and a tenant can be added to it by calling Customer Care. Ask your landlord which setup applies.
  3. Internet. Look up your new address on the FCC National Broadband Map to see which providers serve it, then book installation. Ask your building whether it already has a bulk internet deal.
  4. Forward your mail. File a change of address with USPS and update your bank and employer.

What should you know for moving week, especially in winter?

Denver’s first measurable snow comes around October 19 on average, and the last around April 28, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder. Denver averages about 49 inches of snow a season (1991–2020 normal). A move anywhere from fall to spring can run into a storm.

  1. Watch the forecast for your route. Check COtrip.org for road closures before you drive into Colorado.
  2. Know the I-70 traction law. If you come in from the west on I-70, CDOT can enforce its traction law between Dotsero and Morrison from September 1 to May 31. You’ll need tires with at least 3/16 inch of tread rated for winter or all-weather, or chains or another approved device. Breaking the law costs $100 plus a $33 surcharge, and more if you block a lane.
  3. Build in a buffer day. Don’t book movers for the same morning you arrive. Snow days push schedules back.
  4. Protect the floors. Bring mats or cardboard for wet, slushy boots in hallways and elevators.
  5. Pack a first-night box. Include ID, your lease, chargers, medicine, a water bottle and bedding.

How do you adjust to Denver’s altitude?

Denver sits at 5,280 feet, and the air is dry. Most people adjust within days, but your first week of heavy lifting is when it hits hardest.

  • Drink more water than usual, starting the day you arrive. UCHealth notes that the dry climate and elevation make people thirsty.
  • Go easy on alcohol for the first few days. UCHealth says it can make altitude sickness worse.
  • Wear sunscreen year-round, even in winter. The sun is stronger at this height.
  • Wait on the big mountains. Give yourself time in Denver before hiking a high peak or skiing.

Our Denver weather guide covers hail, temperature swings and smoke days.

What do you need to do in your first month in Denver?

The paperwork starts once you’re a Colorado resident. The state looks at things like where you live, work, vote and register your car.

  1. Get a Colorado driver license within 30 days. The Colorado DMV asks new residents to transfer their out-of-state license in that window. Book a Denver DMV appointment early, since slots can fill up.
  2. Register your car within 90 days. Do it in the county where you live. In the Denver metro area, many gas vehicles must pass an Air Care Colorado emissions test before they can be registered. Air Care says vehicles in their first seven model years usually skip the test, and a VIN check may also be required. Registration includes Colorado’s specific ownership tax, so expect a bigger bill than in many states.
  3. Check your first paycheck. If you work in Denver and earn at least $500 in a month, your employer takes $5.75 a month for the city’s Occupational Privilege Tax, often called the head tax. Your employer pays $4 a month on top of that.
  4. Register to vote. You can register or update your address at GoVoteColorado.gov. The Secretary of State says online and mail registration runs through the eighth day before Election Day. After that, you can still register in person at a voter service and polling center through Election Day. You need to have lived in Colorado for 22 days before the election to vote in it.
  5. Set up RTD fares. Make an RTD MyRide account, now part of the RTD NextRide app, or get a MyRide card. Fares cap automatically when you tap, so you won’t pay more than a day or monthly pass. Our Denver transit guide explains passes and discounts.

For the rest of settling in, see our first 30 days in Denver guide.

What are the key deadlines after moving to Denver?

TaskDeadlineSource
Transfer to a Colorado driver licenseWithin 30 days of residencyColorado DMV
Register your vehicle (emissions test first, if required)Within 90 days of residencyColorado DMV; Air Care Colorado
Register to vote online or by mail8 days before Election DayColorado Secretary of State
Register to vote in personThrough Election DayColorado Secretary of State
Denver head tax withholdingAny month you earn $500+ in DenverMosey, Sept 2026

What else should you plan for before moving to Denver?

Our Moving Guides cover the parts of a move that work the same way in every big city:

Frequently asked questions about moving to Denver

How far ahead should I start planning a move to Denver?

About eight weeks is enough for most renters. That gives you time to budget, choose an area, sign a lease and book movers before the end-of-month rush.

How long do I have to get a Colorado driver license?

The Colorado DMV says new residents should transfer their license within 30 days of becoming a resident. Vehicle registration is due within 90 days.

Can I register to vote on Election Day in Colorado?

Yes. After the online and mail deadline, you can register in person at a voter service and polling center in your county through Election Day. Bring ID.

Is it a bad idea to move to Denver in winter?

Not necessarily, but plan for snow from about mid-October to late April. Leave a buffer day, check COtrip.org for road conditions and know the I-70 traction law if you’re driving in from the west.

Sources

Go Big City Team
Author: Go Big City Team

More Denver questions

Back to the Denver guide →
Cost of livingHow much does it cost to live in Denver?A single adult needs about $55,384 a year to cover basics in Denver, per MIT. Here is what rent, taxes, utilities, a car, transit and food cost in 2026.Updated Oct 23, 2026RentingHow does renting an apartment in Denver work?Renting in Denver means a median rent near $1,613, strong Colorado renter protections, a two-month deposit cap, income limits on applications, and plenty of 2026 move-in deals.Updated Oct 22, 2026Getting aroundHow does public transit work in Denver?How Denver's RTD buses, light rail and airport train work in 2026, including fares and fare capping, free youth rides, the downtown track rebuild, Colfax bus lanes and e-bike rebates.Updated Oct 21, 2026NeighborhoodsWhat are the best Denver neighborhoods for newcomers?Ten Denver neighborhoods newcomers choose, plus Aurora, Lakewood and Englewood for value, with who each suits, housing types, transit access and dated 2026 rent figures from RentCafe and Apartment List.Updated Oct 21, 2026

Next step: see the full Moving to Denver guide for rent, costs, transit, weather, jobs and neighborhoods in one place.

Scroll to Top