Portland utilities and address-change checklist

First, identify who is responsible for every account

Do not assume the occupant controls each service. Responsibility can belong to a homeowner, tenant, landlord, property manager, association, or building account.

For both addresses, record:

Use lease documents, closing records, the property manager, and provider account pages to confirm responsibility. Do not cancel a landlord-controlled service or assume a buyer automatically receives the seller's account.

Transfer Portland water, sewer, and stormwater service

The City of Portland provides an official start, stop, or transfer service workflow for sewer, stormwater, and water accounts. The City asks for different information depending on whether the person is a buyer, seller, landlord, or tenant.

Prepare:

• Responsible party's name.
• Service address.
• Start or end date of billing responsibility.
• Forwarding or mailing address.
• Phone number and email.
• Existing account number when available.
• New owner or landlord information when required by the form.

The City's page says an ordinary open, close, or transfer request usually takes about 15 minutes to complete. That describes form completion, not a guarantee for every account situation. Submit early enough to resolve missing information.

Start, stop, or move electric service

Portland General Electric's moving page provides online paths for residential customers who need to start, stop, or move service. Confirm that PGE serves the exact address rather than assuming the provider from the city name.

Choose dates that support the final walkthrough and first arrival. Electricity may be needed for lighting, charging, appliances, heating or cooling equipment, gates, elevators, and cleaning. Photograph meter information only when safe and useful for your own records, and do not touch utility equipment.

Transfer natural gas when the property uses it

NW Natural's start, stop, or transfer page distinguishes among opening a new account, ending service, and transferring service between addresses. Verify whether the destination has gas service and which appliances rely on it.

If you smell gas or suspect an emergency, leave the area and use the provider's emergency instructions. A moving checklist is not an emergency-response guide.

Schedule internet after checking the exact address

Provider availability can vary by address, building, unit, and infrastructure. Before choosing an appointment:

1. Check service at the exact destination address and unit.
2. Ask the property manager whether a specific provider, equipment room, installer window, or access procedure applies.
3. Decide whether existing equipment returns to the provider, stays with the property, or moves with the account.
4. Photograph cable and equipment connections before disconnecting them, without exposing account data.
5. Keep modem, router, power supplies, remotes, and labeled cables together.
6. Confirm return deadlines for rented equipment.

The FCC's National Broadband Map instructions explain how to check reported provider availability by address, but the provider must confirm that service and installation are actually available for the unit.

Set up garbage, recycling, and compost correctly

Portland's garbage service basics explain that single-family homes and smallplexes use an assigned garbage company based on neighborhood. The City says the property owner is responsible for establishing and paying for tenant service in those property types.

Buildings with five or more units use a different system. The City's multifamily recycling guidance directs residents to the property manager for building-specific garbage and recycling information.

Before moving, confirm:

• Who owns or controls the bins.
• Final and first collection dates.
• What remains with the property.
• How flattened moving boxes should be handled.
• Whether bulky items require a scheduled pickup.

Do not fill a destination building's common area with cardboard without learning the local process.

Update mail, DMV, and voter registration

USPS

Use the official USPS change-of-address process when mail forwarding is needed. USPS recommends notifying the people and organizations that send mail directly. Forwarding helps catch missed updates, but it should not be the only plan for sensitive accounts.

Oregon DMV

Oregon DMV states that customers must notify DMV within 30 days of an address change. Its page also explains that an address change does not automatically produce a new registration card or license showing the new address. Follow the current instructions for the records you hold.

Oregon voter registration

The Oregon Secretary of State's My Vote page allows eligible users to check and update voter-registration information. The state advises updating registration after a move or mailing-address change.

Update the accounts that mail forwarding cannot fix

Create categories and mark each update as complete:

Identity and government

• Driver license or identification record.
• Vehicle registration.
• Voter registration.
• Passport contact information when applicable.
• Tax records and benefit programs.

Money and insurance

• Banks and credit unions.
• Credit cards and lenders.
• Payroll and retirement accounts.
• Home, renters, vehicle, health, pet, and other insurance.
• Payment apps and online wallets.

Health, household, and family

• Medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, and veterinary providers.
• Schools, childcare, caregivers, and emergency contacts.
• Employers and professional records.
• Pet microchip and license records.
• Home services and maintenance providers.

Deliveries and subscriptions

• Online retailers and saved checkout addresses.
• Meal, grocery, and pharmacy delivery.
• Newspapers and recurring shipments.
• Memberships and subscription boxes.

Remove the old address from saved checkout defaults. A forwarded letter does not prevent a package from going to the wrong home.

Use a utility overlap instead of a same-minute handoff

When provider rules, costs, and possession dates allow, a short overlap can support:

• Origin cleaning and final inspection.
• Destination lighting and temperature control.
• Charging phones and equipment.
• Internet setup before work or school resumes.
• Testing water and appliances.
• A less stressful first night.

Do not schedule service before legal responsibility begins or after it ends. Closing documents, lease terms, and provider policies control.

Final 72-hour checklist

• Save all confirmation numbers and appointment windows.
• Charge phones and backup batteries.
• Keep utility login information private and owner-controlled.
• Photograph final meter readings when appropriate.
• Confirm building keys, fobs, parking, and internet access.
• Keep provider equipment and return labels separate from packed household items.
• Put the utility checklist in the owner-carried document folder.
• Add flashlights, chargers, water, and basic cleaning items to the first-night box.

The broader Portland moving checklist places these tasks inside the complete move timeline.