Just Moved to San Diego? 15-Item First Week Checklist

Call SDG&E to start service immediately. Gas: SDG&E. If you didn't schedule ahead, same-day starts are sometimes available for an extra fee.

Contact City of San Diego Public Utilities to transfer or start water service. In some San Diego buildings, water is included in rent — check your lease.

Top providers in San Diego: Spectrum, AT&T Fiber, Cox. If your scheduled install is days away, most have mobile hotspot plans or you can use the public library WiFi.

Your provider: Environmental Services Department (858-694-7000). 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 San Diego 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 San Diego 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 $73 ticket.

Test every door and window lock. Save these numbers in your phone: building maintenance/super, landlord, 911, San Diego 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 San Diego'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 San Diego 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.