Moving to Chicago: The First 30 Days Checklist (Don’t Skip the City Sticker)
Illinois is generous with the license (90 days) — but Chicago is not generous about its city vehicle sticker: new residents have 30 days, and driving unstickered collects $200+ tickets repeatedly. ComEd for power, Peoples Gas for heat, city trash for smaller buildings, and Illinois offers same-day voter registration. Here’s the sequence — including the winter rules nobody warns transplants about.
The 30-Day Timeline
| When | Task | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Before/Day 1 | Electric + gas | ComEd (electric) and Peoples Gas (heat) — separate accounts, both online |
| Day 1 | Internet | Xfinity, Astound (RCN), or AT&T Fiber by address |
| Week 1 | Trash | Buildings ≤4 units: free city pickup (Streets & Sanitation black carts + blue recycling); 5+ units: private hauler via landlord — ask which |
| Week 1–4 | Chicago city sticker — 30-day deadline | Required for any vehicle kept in the city (it’s the “wheel tax”); buy at City Clerk online/Currency Exchanges; late = back fees + tickets |
| Week 1–4 | Vehicle registration (IL) — 30 days | Through the IL Secretary of State |
| Within 90 days | Illinois driver’s license | The relaxed one — but do it with the registration trip anyway |
| Anytime | Voter registration | Online up to 16 days before an election; same-day registration at polling places as backup |
| Month 1 | Residential parking zone check | Many neighborhoods are zoned — your city sticker can carry the zone number; guest passes via alderman’s office |
| Before winter | Learn the winter overnight parking ban | Dec 1–Apr 1, 3–7 a.m. on arterial streets — towed even with no snow; plus snow-route rules when it does |
Utilities Cheat Sheet
| Service | Provider | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electric | ComEd | Budget billing helps with AC summers |
| Gas | Peoples Gas | Chicago heating bills are real — winterize early (frozen pipe rules) |
| Water/trash | City (often in rent / property tax) | ≤4 units get city carts free |
| Internet | Xfinity / Astound / AT&T | Fiber is spreading but block-by-block |
The Chicago-Only Quirks Worth Knowing Early
- “Dibs”: after a snowstorm, a lawn chair in a shoveled parking spot is a property claim backed by neighborhood law. Respect it your first winter; judge it later
- 311 (CHI311) for bulky pickup, missed collection, rats (the alley bait program), and pothole season
- Renters: Chicago’s RLTO is one of the strongest tenant ordinances in the country — who pays for repairs tilts your way here, and landlords must provide heat (66°F+ daytime) Sept 15–June 1
- Homeowners: freeze-thaw is the city’s real landlord — our Chicago plumber, electrician, window, and concrete guides carry local prices, and Illinois license rules (roofers/plumbers state-licensed, the $1,000 pamphlet law) are worth 5 minutes
- Arriving by truck? Chicago moving costs explains the hourly math
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Chicago city sticker and do I really need it? A mandatory annual “wheel tax” sticker for any vehicle garaged in Chicago — new residents have 30 days. Skipping it is the classic transplant mistake: tickets are $200+, repeatable, and back-dated fees apply when you finally buy.
How long do I have to get an Illinois driver’s license? 90 days from establishing residency — among the most relaxed of big states. Vehicle registration is 30 days, and the city sticker clock (30 days) is the one that actually bites.
Who picks up my trash in Chicago? Buildings with 4 or fewer units get free city pickup (black carts in the alley, blue recycling). Bigger buildings use landlord-arranged private haulers. Bulky items: schedule via 311.
What’s the winter overnight parking ban? Dec 1–Apr 1, 3–7 a.m., on designated arterial streets — your car gets towed even on dry pavement. Separate snow-route rules trigger with 2+ inches. Check your street’s signs before December.
Can I register to vote on Election Day in Illinois? Yes — Illinois has same-day registration at polling places with two proofs of residency. Online registration closes 16 days out; either path works.
Last updated: June 11, 2026. Sources: IL Secretary of State (90-day license, 30-day registration); Chicago City Clerk (city sticker rules); Streets & Sanitation collection rules; Chicago RLTO; IL State Board of Elections. Deadlines change — verify with official sites.