Your Complete, Printable B.C. Moving Checklist

• Create an account online and schedule your electricity transfer or hookup.
• Set the activation date to match your official possession or lease start date.
• Provide your new B.C. street address and a valid form of identification to establish billing.

• Register for natural gas online if your home uses gas for heating, hot water, or cooking.
• Check if your municipality relies on FortisBC for electricity (such as select areas in the Southern Interior).
• Coordinate hookup times if your property requires physical gas meter activation.

1. Apply Online Immediately

Enroll in the B.C. Medical Services Plan (MSP) on your very first day of physical arrival in the province. You will need to upload digital copies of your Canadian passport, permanent residency status, or valid work/study permit.

2. Manage the Waiting Period

Be prepared for the mandatory wait time, which spans the balance of your arrival month plus two full calendar months. If relocating from another Canadian province, maintain your previous provincial coverage to prevent a health insurance gap.

3. Visit an ICBC Licensing Office

Once you receive your physical enrollment letter in the mail, book an appointment at an ICBC driver licensing office. Bring two accepted pieces of legal identification to take your card photo.

• Book your in-person licensing appointment online at an ICBC driver licensing office as early as possible.
• Bring your current out-of-province license, which you must surrender to ICBC upon receiving your B.C. license.
• Provide two accepted forms of identification (e.g., valid passport, Canadian birth certificate, or PR card).
• Present your printed out-of-province driving record (driver's abstract) and a claims history letter to maximize your insurance discounts.

• Pass a provincial safety inspection at an authorized B.C. designated inspection facility if importing from outside Western Canada.
• Bring your vehicle registration, proof of B.C. insurance (Autoplan binder), and the vehicle's bill of sale or lease agreement.
• Visit a licensed ICBC Autoplan Broker to pay your provincial taxes, register your vehicle, and obtain your B.C. license plates.
• Ensure your out-of-province auto policy remains active until the moment your new B.C. plates and Autoplan insurance are finalized.

• Review tenancy agreements carefully; landlords in B.C. have the legal right to restrict pet size, type, quantity, or ban pets outright.
• Expect to pay a pet damage deposit of up to half of one month's rent if the landlord permits a pet, which is collected in addition to your standard security deposit.
• Schedule and document a mutual unit condition inspection with your landlord specifically before your pet moves into the rental space.
• Exempt certified guide and service dogs under B.C.'s Guide Dog and Service Dog Act from pet deposits, rental bans, and strata limits.

• Verify condo or townhome strata bylaws by requesting a Form B certificate to check for strict caps on pet numbers, weight, or species.
• Register your pet with the strata council immediately on arrival to secure your standing under grandfathering clauses if bylaws restrict pets later.
• Purchase a mandatory municipal dog license and tag from your local city hall, which must be renewed annually in most B.C. municipalities.
• Ensure your dog's rabies vaccinations are complete and keep certificates on hand, as cities require proof of spay/neuter for discounted licensing rates.

• Pre-book major routes like Tsawwassen to Duke Point or Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay, as drive-up fares are highly restricted due to terminal work.
• Check-in at least 30 to 60 minutes prior to your scheduled sailing to prevent forfeiting your reservation slot.
• Vacate all closed lower vehicle decks immediately once the vessel is underway, in compliance with federal safety regulations.
• Ensure your vehicle's total length is calculated accurately when booking, especially if towing moving trailers or utilizing roof racks.

• Download your city's local waste app (e.g., VanCollect or Coquitlam Curbside) to manage automated bi-weekly collection reminders.
• Sort organics and food waste strictly into your municipality's green bin, avoiding any plastic liners even if they are labeled compostable.
• Separate mixed containers from clean glass jars and bottles, placing glass only in designated grey or separate recycling bins to ensure processor safety.
• Keep waste bins locked or stored securely inside until the morning of pickup to comply with local bylaws and avoid attracting local wildlife.