Your Nevada County Moving Checklist

Send Your Change of Address

• Post office: set up mail forwarding. Rural addresses may need a PO box, so check with the local post office
• Banks, credit card companies and other financial institutions
• Loan servicers
• Insurance providers (home, auto, life, health)
• Government agencies (Social Security, DMV, IRS and the Franchise Tax Board)
• Employers and coworkers
• Schools
• Doctors, dentists and other healthcare providers
• Veterinarians and pet care providers
• Phone and cell providers. Check coverage at your new address, since some rural areas have weak signal
• Streaming services and online subscriptions
• Online shopping and delivery apps. Check whether they deliver to your new address
• Newspapers and magazines, and consider subscribing to local news
• Gyms, clubs and memberships
• Friends and family

Set Up Local Utilities & Services

Who provides your utilities depends on your address, so confirm each one for your property before you move.

• Electric: PG&E serves most of western Nevada County. Sign up for outage and Public Safety Power Shutoff alerts too
• Water: Choose the one that serves your address: the Nevada Irrigation District (NID), the City of Grass Valley, the City of Nevada City, or a private well
• Irrigation water: If your property has NID irrigation (canal) water, set up your irrigation service and learn the season
• Sewer or septic: City properties are on sewer, and most rural properties have septic (see Rural Essentials)
• Trash and recycling: WM (Waste Management) provides curbside pickup in much of Nevada County, but some rural properties aren’t on a route. No pickup? You can haul to a county transfer station. Check the county’s page for current locations, hours and what each one accepts
• Heating fuel: Many homes use propane, so set up delivery and a tank inspection before cold weather. Stock firewood if you have a wood stove
• Internet: Service varies a lot from one property to the next. Check availability at your exact address before you close, and plan a backup such as satellite or a cell hotspot
• Home security: Transfer your service or set up a new one

Rural Property Essentials

If your new place has a well, septic, propane or a private road, set up these systems in your first few weeks.

• Well: Find the well head, pressure tank and filters. Save the well records from your purchase and schedule regular water testing
• Septic: Find the tank and leach field, mark them, and keep vehicles off both. Get the pumping history and set a reminder for the next service
• Propane: Learn where the tank and shutoff are, and set up automatic delivery or a refill schedule
• Backup power: Plan for outages and power shutoffs with a generator or battery backup. A well pump won’t run without power
• Road and driveway: Read your road maintenance agreement if you have one, meet your neighbors on the road, and plan for snow and grading
• Property lines: Walk the boundaries and find the survey markers
• Local help: Ask Heidy for trusted well, septic, propane and contractor referrals

Fire Safety & Emergency Prep

Wildfire readiness is part of life here, so do these steps as soon as you move in.

• Sign up for emergency alerts: Register for Nevada County Alerts online or by calling 2-1-1, and save the alert phone numbers in your contacts
• Know your evacuation zone: Look up your zone with Know Your Zone and share it with your household
• Make an evacuation plan: Know two ways out, pack go-bags, and plan for pets and livestock
• Create defensible space: California requires up to 100 feet of defensible space around structures. Learn about county defensible space inspections
• Use local fire-safe resources: The Fire Safe Council of Nevada County offers programs and guidance. Check its chipping program page for current availability
• Review your insurance: Confirm your homeowners or fire coverage and keep a home inventory with photos
• Know burn rules: Check for burn days and permits before burning any yard debris

Before Moving Day

• Plan meals to use up food as you empty the fridge and freezer
• Defrost the freezer and fridge if needed
• Schedule utility disconnection at your old home and connection at your new one
• Schedule a final cleaning
• Confirm you have enough insurance to cover the move
• Confirm movers’ details: packing help, arrival time, payment and paperwork
• Make sure a moving truck can reach your new place. Steep, narrow or gravel roads may need a smaller truck or a shuttle
• Moving between November and March? Check chain requirements and road conditions on I-80 and Highway 49, and carry chains
• Plan for infants, children, pets and any livestock during the move
• Keep important documents (moving paperwork, insurance information) within reach

Moving Day

• Pack last-minute items and do a final sweep of your home
• Carry cash, jewelry and important documents with you
• Bring medications and daily vitamins
• Keep phone chargers, your laptop and essential electronics with you
• Download offline maps, since cell service can drop out on rural roads
• Do a final walkthrough of your old home
• Double-check closets, drawers and shelves
• Tell a trusted friend or relative your route, schedule and any overnight stops
• Leave keys, garage remotes and gate codes for the new owner

After You Arrive

• Driver’s license: New California residents have 10 days to get a CA driver’s license. The DMV office is in Grass Valley
• Vehicle registration: Register out-of-state vehicles in California within 20 days
• Homeowners’ exemption: File with the Nevada County Assessor to lower property taxes on your primary home
• Voter registration: Update your registration to your new address
• Change the locks and update garage and gate codes
• Pets: License your dog with the county and find a local vet, including a large-animal vet if you have livestock
• Find local care: Choose a doctor, dentist and the nearest urgent care
• Get a library card from the Nevada County Community Library
• Explore: Visit the farmers markets, trails and rivers, and the downtowns of Grass Valley and Nevada City