Moving to San Francisco: The First 30 Days Checklist (Compost Is the Law)
Two deadlines define your first month: California’s 10-day driver’s license rule (20 days for vehicle registration) — and learning Recology’s three-bin system, because composting is legally mandatory in San Francisco. Power and gas are PG&E, water is SFPUC, and your street’s residential parking permit letter matters more than you think. Here’s the sequence.
The 30-Day Timeline
| When | Task | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Before Day 1 | Book the DMV slot | CA’s 10-day license clock; SF/Daly City offices book out — do it before arrival |
| Before/Day 1 | Electric + gas | PG&E one account (generation may default to CleanPowerSF — city program, same bill) |
| Day 1 | Internet | Comcast Xfinity, Sonic (fiber, local favorite), AT&T — building-by-building availability |
| Week 1 | Water/sewer | SFPUC — homeowners set up directly; renters usually via landlord |
| Week 1 | Trash = Recology, and compost is mandatory | Blue (recycle), green (compost), black (landfill); city ordinance requires sorting — buildings provide bins, fines exist for chronic violators |
| Week 1 | Residential parking permit (RPP) | If your street is zoned, get the permit early — 2-hour limits are enforced with religious zeal |
| Week 2 | License (10 days) + vehicle registration (20 days) | Smog check for out-of-state cars; garage/street tradeoffs decide whether to keep the car at all |
| Week 2 | Voter registration | Online, 15-day standard deadline, same-day conditional backup |
| Month 1 | Renters insurance + earthquake thinking | Standard policies exclude quakes (CEA add-on); old Victorian buildings make insurance worth real comparison |
Utilities Cheat Sheet
| Service | Provider | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electric + gas | PG&E (CleanPowerSF generation default) | One account |
| Water/sewer | SFPUC | Usually landlord-managed in rentals |
| Trash/recycle/compost | Recology | Mandatory three-bin sorting by city ordinance |
| Internet | Sonic / Xfinity / AT&T | Sonic fiber is the local-darling option where available |
The SF-Only Quirks Worth Knowing Early
- Microclimates are real budgeting: the Sunset’s fog and the Mission’s sun are different jackets and different heating bills in the same month — most older SF apartments have no AC and marginal heat (what landlords must provide)
- Street cleaning + hills: read signs, curb your wheels (it’s the law on grades), and expect the ticket until habits form
- 311 (SF311) handles bulky pickup (Recology gives free pickups/year), graffiti, encampment reports
- Homeowners: SF’s Victorians are beautiful money pits — SF electrician rates are the nation’s highest, knob-and-tube wiring is common, and CA’s contractor protections (CSLB at $1,000+, deposit caps) are your friend
- Moving in: narrow stairs, no parking, and SFMTA moving-truck permits — our SF moving guide covers the full COI/permit dance
Frequently Asked Questions
Is composting really required by law in San Francisco? Yes — SF’s Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance requires everyone to sort into recycling, compost, and landfill bins. In practice: buildings supply bins, you sort, and chronic mis-sorting can draw fines (usually aimed at building owners).
Do I need a parking permit in SF? If your street is in a Residential Parking Permit zone (much of the city), yes — without it you’re limited to posted 1–2 hour windows. Check your address’s zone and apply online in week one; bring proof of residency.
Should I keep my car in San Francisco? SF is the strongest no-car case outside Manhattan: Muni/BART coverage, garage costs, RPP zones, break-in rates (“nothing visible in the car” is a lifestyle), and CA’s registration costs. Many newcomers sell within six months.
Who is CleanPowerSF and why is it on my PG&E bill? The city’s power-purchasing program — PG&E still delivers and bills, but generation defaults to CleanPowerSF’s (greener) supply. You can opt out; most don’t. It’s not a scam line item.
What’s the 10-day rule for new Californians? A CA driver’s license within 10 days of establishing residency, vehicle registration within 20. Insurance, RPP permits, and most adulting chains start with the license — book the DMV before the truck.
Last updated: June 11, 2026. Sources: CA DMV new-resident rules; SF Environment (mandatory composting ordinance); Recology SF; SFMTA RPP program; CA Secretary of State. Deadlines change — verify with official sites.