Skip to ContentFive offices handle most of a move to the Chico area: the California DMV, the Secretary of State for voter registration, your electric utility (PG&E), the City of Chico for garbage and sewer, and Cal Water for water inside Chico. This list sends you to each agency’s own page. Check each one before you go, because rules and fees change.
Checked October 29, 2026
- 20 daysto register a vehicle brought from another state, per the DMV
- 6 monthsof living in California is how the DMV defines a resident
- 3 cartsgarbage, recycling and organics in Chico
- 1 officeButte County Clerk-Recorder runs elections
Driver License and Vehicle: California DMV
The DMV’s New to California page says you are a resident if you intend to live in the state for six months or more in one year. It also lists other signs of residency, such as working here, renting a primary home or being registered to vote. If you intend to be a resident and drive, you need a California driver license or ID card. A vehicle that was registered in another state or country must be registered here within 20 days of becoming a resident or bringing it into the state. Most DMV business can be started online through a MyDMV account.
REAL ID: the DMV says a REAL ID is needed to board domestic flights or enter federal facilities with a license, effective May 7, 2025. Chico has no airline flights; see Plan a Visit for the nearest airports.
Voter Registration
The Secretary of State’s site registers voters online. You need a California driver license or ID number, the last four digits of your Social Security number and your date of birth. Without a California license or ID you can still apply, but extra steps follow. The site says a registration made less than 15 days before an election goes through same-day registration at the county elections office or a voting location. In Butte County, elections are run by the Clerk-Recorder at 155 Nelson Avenue, Oroville, (530) 552-3400, open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed 12 to 1. The office posts that it is closed 8:30 to 9 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. Election dates and deadlines change every year, so use the two sites below rather than a date from this page.
Register to Vote (California) Butte County Elections
Electricity: PG&E
PG&E’s Account page links to “Start, Stop or Transfer Service” for new and moving customers. Deposits, lead time and any rate-plan choices are Not Confirmed here. Ask PG&E before your move-in date.
Garbage, Recycling and Sewer: City of Chico
Inside Chico city limits, North Valley Waste Management holds the franchise for residential garbage, recycling and organics, and the City’s residential service is a mandatory three-cart system. Sewer is billed by the City through Util360 (sewer bills can be paid at chico.util360.com, or by mail, and customer service is (888) 530-4360, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific). The City says Chico residents on Cal Water and City sewer get two separate bills: one from Cal Water for water, one from the City for sewer. The City’s Trash & Recycling page also lists its Recycling office at (530) 592-5541 and the Neal Road Recycling and Waste Facility. City Hall is at 411 Main Street, (530) 896-7200.
City of Chico: Trash & Recycling City of Chico: Sewer Services
Outside Chico City Limits
Garbage, water and sewer providers differ in Oroville, Paradise, Gridley, Orland, Red Bluff and the unincorporated county. Butte County’s site lists departments, a permit portal and tax information at buttecounty.net. We did not find or confirm a single county page that names every provider, so for any address outside Chico, ask the city or county office for that address. Not Confirmed
Sources
- California DMV, New to California: dmv.ca.gov (checked October 29, 2026)
- California Secretary of State, Online Voter Registration: registertovote.ca.gov (checked October 29, 2026)
- Butte County Clerk-Recorder: buttevotes.ca.gov (checked October 29, 2026)
- PG&E, Account: pge.com (checked October 29, 2026)
- City of Chico, Trash & Recycling: chicoca.gov (checked October 29, 2026)
- City of Chico, Sewer Services: chicoca.gov (checked October 29, 2026)
- Butte County: buttecounty.net (checked October 29, 2026)
Cite this page: It's Chico, “New Resident Checklist”, itschico.com/living/new-resident-checklist/ (updated ). By the It's Chico editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.