SDG&E lets residential customers schedule a start, stop, or move request online by choosing a date, setting up the appointment, and adding any details the utility needs. The request is scheduled automatically and SDG&E sends an email confirmation, so you have a record of the date you picked. The same request can be placed through the SDG&E mobile app. If the closing date on your new home slips, log back in and change the date rather than opening a second request.

After you submit, the Service Request Tracker in My Energy Center shows your upcoming requests and a five-day history. If your plans change, you can update or cancel a request there. Business accounts follow a different rule: SDG&E asks commercial customers for at least five workdays of notice before a start, stop, or transfer. If you are moving a home office or a small storefront along with your household, put the commercial request in first, since it carries a published lead time.

Starting City of San Diego Water Service

The City of San Diego Public Utilities Department takes new water and wastewater service requests by phone, and you will need to submit the required identification before the account is opened. Plan ahead, because the City says it can take up to 10 business days to establish a new water and wastewater account. That is longer than most people expect, so call as soon as you have a move-in date rather than the week you arrive.

Customer support for water and wastewater accounts is at 619-515-3500, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on City holidays. Once the account is open, the MyWaterSD portal lets you view and pay the bill, track water use, and sign up for alerts and notifications. Remember that this applies only inside San Diego city limits. If your new address is in Chula Vista, Santee, Encinitas, or another city, use the water district links listed above instead.

DMV Deadline and USPS Change of Address

California gives you 10 days after a move to give the DMV your new address, and there is no fee to change your address. The DMV accepts the change online, by mailing a Change of Address form (DMV 14), or by calling 1-800-777-0133 to have the form mailed to you. Registered vehicle owners can complete their change of address on the DMV website as well. The DMV does not issue a new license or ID card after an address change, so keep your current card and record the new address for your files.

The official USPS change of address is filed at moversguide.usps.com, and the online version charges a $1.25 identity verification fee. You verify your identity by opting in to receive a code or link on your mobile phone. If that does not work, USPS emails you instructions and a barcode, and you finish the request at a Post Office with an acceptable photo ID. Because of that fallback, file the USPS request early enough that a trip to the counter will not push it past moving day.

Voter Registration After a Local Move

The San Diego County Registrar of Voters asks voters to update their registration any time they move or change their name, which you do by completing a new registration online. If you have already given your new address to the DMV or the U.S. Postal Service, the Registrar says your voter registration is updated automatically from that notice. It is still worth checking your record at sdvote.com a few weeks later.

You should be registered at least 15 days before an election. If you miss that deadline, conditional voter registration still lets you register and vote provisionally. A voter who moved within San Diego County 14 days or fewer before an election can vote at the old polling place, the new one, or the Registrar of Voters office. If your move date lands inside that window, keep both addresses handy so a poll worker can look up your record.

Questions People Ask

How long does it take to start City of San Diego water service?

Up to 10 business days, according to the City of San Diego Public Utilities Department. You request service by phone at 619-515-3500, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and you must submit the required identification before the account is established. This applies only to addresses inside San Diego city limits. Other cities in the county are served by separate water districts, such as Otay, Padre Dam, and Olivenhain, each with its own process.

Does the California DMV charge to change my address?

No. The DMV charges no fee to change the address on a driver license, ID card, or vehicle registration, but you must report the new address within 10 days of moving. You can do it online at dmv.ca.gov, mail in a DMV 14 Change of Address form, or call 1-800-777-0133 to have the form sent to you. The DMV does not print a new card after an address change.

Do I need to re-register to vote after moving within San Diego County?

Yes, your registration should be updated any time you move, and the San Diego County Registrar of Voters says an address change already reported to the DMV or the U.S. Postal Service updates your voter registration automatically. Otherwise, complete a new registration online. Register at least 15 days before an election. After that, conditional registration lets you vote provisionally, and voters who moved 14 days or fewer before the election can vote at the old or new polling place or the Registrar's office.

How far ahead should I schedule SDG&E for a move?

SDG&E lets residential customers pick the date themselves when they schedule a start, stop, or move request online or in the mobile app, and the request is confirmed by email. Business accounts need at least five workdays of notice. Once scheduled, you can change or cancel the date through the Service Request Tracker in My Energy Center, which also shows your upcoming requests and a five-day history.

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