Just Moved to Chicago? 16-Item First Week Checklist

Call 1-800-334-7661 or go to https://secure.comed.com/CustomerServices/service/start. Service starts within 1 business day. Avg Chicago electric bill: ~$85/mo. Sign up for budget billing to avoid winter spikes.

Call 1-866-556-6001 or go to https://www.peoplesgasdelivery.com/services/start-energy-service. Mon-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat 7am-3pm. Gas must be on before winter — no-heat emergencies in Chicago are dangerous.

City of Chicago (included in property tax for owners; renters check lease): call 311 or visit https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/water.html. Most Chicago renters do NOT pay a separate water bill — it's typically included in rent or covered by the landlord.

Chicago providers: Xfinity (most common), AT&T Fiber (where available), RCN (select neighborhoods). Check Google Fiber availability — it's expanding into select Chicago neighborhoods in 2026.

Your provider: Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation (311). Look up your pickup day by address — getting it wrong means a week of trash sitting on the curb.

Map the 3 closest grocery stores to your Chicago address. Stock essentials: cleaning supplies, toilet paper, paper towels, basic food, trash bags, and light bulbs. You'll need them before you've fully unpacked.

Find a pharmacy near your Chicago home and transfer any active prescriptions. Most major chains (CVS, Walgreens, etc.) can pull your prescription history with just your name and date of birth.

Read ALL parking signs on your block. Note: street cleaning days/times, permit-only hours, meter hours, and hydrant zones. One missed sign = a $25-55 ticket.

Test every door and window lock. Save these numbers in your phone: building maintenance/super, landlord, 911, Chicago non-emergency (311 or local equivalent), and a 24-hour locksmith.

Take timestamped photos of every room, every scratch, every stain BEFORE unpacking. Email them to yourself AND your landlord. This protects your security deposit when you eventually move out.

Knock on the doors of the units/houses next to you and across the hall. Introduce yourself. Ask: what's the building/block like, where do you park, what should I know?

Most landlords require it, and it's worth it regardless. Typical cost: $15-30/month. Covers theft, fire, water damage to YOUR belongings. Lemonade, State Farm, and Progressive all offer same-day policies.

Put your name on the mailbox. If your building has a package room, get the access code. If not, set up Amazon Locker or a UPS Access Point nearby. File USPS mail forwarding if you haven't already.

Download: your city's parking app (ParkMobile, SpotHero, or similar), transit app (Google Maps or Chicago's local transit app), 311 app for reporting issues, and your utility provider's app for bill pay.

Walk a 10-minute radius from your Chicago home. Note: the closest laundromat (if you don't have in-unit), dry cleaner, hardware store, coffee shop, and ATM. Knowing these saves panic later.

Create recurring phone reminders: trash night (put bins out), recycling night, street cleaning (move car), and rent due date. The first month is when you're most likely to forget.