NYC moving checklist: 8 weeks to move-in day

Start eight weeks out: give notice, book a mover licensed by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), then lock in your building's elevator slot and certificate of insurance (COI). The last two weeks are for utilities, mail forwarding, the move-out inspection that protects your deposit, and the move itself.

Moving in New York City is different from moving almost anywhere else. Many buildings limit moves to certain days and hours, want a COI from your mover before the truck arrives, and expect you to reserve the service elevator. Curb space is scarce. And if you rent, you have legal rights on the way out (a deposit inspection and a 14-day refund deadline) that only help if you use them. This checklist puts every task in order, with the official rules linked where they exist.

The 8-week timeline

1. 8 weeks out

   Check your lease and give notice

   Read the notice clause in your current lease: how much notice, in what form, and to whom. Put it in writing and keep a copy. If you need to leave early, read our guide to breaking a lease before you sign anything new.

2. 7 weeks out

   Get estimates from licensed movers

   NYSDOT advises getting at least three estimates, preferably from movers who look at your things in person. Confirm each one with NYSDOT before you book (CarCert search, (518) 457-6512 or [email protected]). Interstate movers need a USDOT number instead.

3. 6 weeks out

   Ask both buildings for their move rules

   Ask the management office or super at your old and new building: allowed move days and hours, elevator reservation, padding, any move deposit or fee, and the exact COI wording they need.

4. 5 weeks out

   Book the mover and the elevator

   Lock the date once both buildings confirm the slot. Get the order for service in writing, with the pickup and delivery dates and the most you will owe at delivery.

5. 4 weeks out

   Send the COI request and start purging

   Forward each building’s COI requirements to the mover. Start selling, donating or throwing out what you will not move. Fewer things mean a cheaper hourly move.

6. 3 weeks out

   Request your move-out inspection

   Under GOL §7-108 you can ask your landlord to inspect the apartment with you no earlier than two weeks and no later than one week before your tenancy ends. Fix what you can before it.

7. 2 weeks out

   Utilities, internet, mail and insurance

   Schedule the Con Edison (or PSEG Long Island) move. Book internet installation. File a USPS change of address. Buy or move your renters insurance so coverage starts on move-in day.

8. Move week

   Pack, photograph and confirm

   Reconfirm the mover, elevator slot and COI. Photograph and video the empty old apartment. Keep cash, a certified check or a money order ready if your mover requires payment on delivery.

9. Move day

   Supervise the inventory and delivery

   Stay until the truck leaves. Check the inventory and bill of lading. Note any damage on the paperwork before you sign.

10. First 10 days after

    Update your address everywhere

    NY DMV within 10 days (the legal deadline), then voter registration, IRS, NYS Tax, banks and employer. Then watch for your deposit refund within 14 days.

NYC building rules to ask about

No single city law sets move hours for apartment buildings. These rules come from your building's house rules, lease or alteration and move policies, and they vary a lot. A co-op or condo usually has stricter rules than a small walk-up. Ask both buildings early, in writing, because the answers decide which dates your mover can work.

NYSDOT's own booklet tells shippers to notify the building manager before moving day when either home has elevator access or limited parking. See our guide to building COIs for movers for what the certificate usually needs to say.

Street parking for the truck

Plan where the truck will stop before move day. Walk the block, read the parking signs for both addresses, and note fire hydrants, bus stops and street-cleaning hours. Ask your mover how they handle parking and whether tickets are passed on to you; put the answer in writing. If the truck has to park far away, the extra carrying time shows up on an hourly bill.

Hiring the mover: three checks

• License. Only movers authorized by NYSDOT can legally do household moves within New York State. Every authorized mover must give its name, certificate number and address in its ads. Search it on CarCert (the state labels its carrier search as still under development, so if it finds nothing, call NYSDOT at (518) 457-6512 or email [email protected]).
• Written paperwork. The mover must give you an order for service before anything moves, showing the most you will pay at delivery. For hourly moves, NYSDOT says that amount may exceed the written estimate by up to 25%; you then get 15 days to pay any balance over it.
• Liability. Movers are not liable for the full value of your things unless you arrange it. Ask what the standard coverage is and what extra protection costs.

Full details are in how to hire a licensed mover in New York and moving company scams: red flags.

Utilities, mail and paperwork

If you already have a Con Edison account, you can schedule a move once your move-in date is no more than 30 days away. New customers need the address, move-in date and a valid ID; without ID, Con Edison asks for a deposit. If the power is in your landlord's name, Con Edison moves it to you when you start service. In the Rockaways, electricity comes from PSEG Long Island. See setting up utilities in a new NYC apartment.

Heat and hot water are the owner's legal duty in NYC apartment buildings, so you usually won't set those up. HPD says hot water must be at least 120°F all year, and heat is required from October 1 to May 31.

USPS says a change of address takes effect 7 to 10 business days after it's approved, so file it about two weeks out. It only changes your mail at the Post Office; you still have to tell the DMV, banks and agencies yourself. Our change of address checklist covers every one.

Getting rid of furniture and trash

Don't leave furniture, mattresses or electronics on the sidewalk without checking the Department of Sanitation rules first. Some items need special handling or an appointment. Our guide to getting rid of furniture and trash when you move walks through them. Start early: donation pickups often book up weeks ahead.

Your printable checklist

Tick items off as you go. Your progress is saved in this browser, so you can come back to it.

Moving into the new place

Before you unpack, walk through the new apartment and photograph its condition, room by room. Test the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, the hot water and the windows. Write down anything broken and send it to the landlord in writing so it isn't blamed on you later. Our apartment viewing checklist works well for this walkthrough.

If you used a broker, remember that since June 11, 2025, under the FARE Act, a broker hired by the landlord cannot charge you a fee. If something on your move-in bill looks wrong, check it with the NYC move-in cost calculator and the FARE Act broker fee checker.