Planning a September 1 move in Boston

Why September 1 is different

The City of Boston’s own moving page says most leases in the city turn over at the beginning of September. In practice that means the outgoing tenant often leaves on August 31, the unit is cleaned and turned over, and the new tenant moves in the next day. Trucks, movers, elevators and utility call centers are all busy in the same few days.

If your old lease ends August 31 and the new one starts September 1, decide early where you, your belongings and a loaded truck will spend the night if the hand-over slips. Our guide to the rental timeline covers short stays and storage for that gap.

Plan the move as a sequence. Sign the lease and confirm the move-in time first, then book the truck or movers, then the elevator slot, then furniture deliveries. Deliveries cannot arrive before you have keys, so stacking a truck, a furniture delivery and the key pickup on the same morning leaves no room if one of them slips.

Plan the route too. The city says moving trucks cannot be driven on Storrow Drive because of its low clearance; the height limit is 10 feet. When you get quotes from movers, ask whether the hourly estimate includes travel time and what the stated coverage amount is.

Reserving curb space for the truck

Boston issues moving truck permits through the Parking Clerk. A standard permit reserves two parking spaces for one day, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and you can apply for up to five days in a row. Online applications are accepted when the move is at least 15 days and no more than eight weeks away. If the date is closer, you can still apply in person as long as the move is at least three days away. These permits apply only to city-owned streets; for a street owned by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, the city refers you to DCR for a temporary road access permit.

As of October 2026, a one-day permit for two non-metered spaces costs $69 and includes two signs. Two metered spaces cost an additional $40, and a non-refundable service fee of 2.5% of the total payment, with a $1 minimum, is added.

The signs must be posted on the street at least 48 hours before the 7 a.m. start. If a car is still parked in your reserved space on moving day, the city says to call Boston police at 617-343-4911; if police cannot reach the owner, they arrange a tow. A permit does not override no-stopping or tow-zone signs.

The city also says a permit is not legally required, though it recommends one in some neighborhoods. From August 31 to September 2, Boston blocks off some common moving locations for truck drop-offs, and those spots do not need a permit. A permit gives you a reserved space and a basis for enforcement, but it does not clear the street by itself. Post the signs on time, check the spaces early on moving day, and leave time to deal with a car parked in them.

Building rules, elevators and measurements

Apartment buildings and condominiums usually control moves. Ask management for the move-in rules in writing: which days and hours are allowed, how to reserve the freight elevator or loading area, whether movers must send a certificate of insurance in advance, whether a refundable move-in deposit is required, and whether walls and elevators need protective padding. Book the elevator as soon as you know your date, because slots around September 1 go quickly.

Measure before you buy. Note the width of the entry door, apartment door and hallway turns, the depth of the elevator, and the stairs in walk-up buildings. A sofa or bed frame that will not fit is a bigger problem on moving day than any price difference.

Do not assume what comes with the unit. Check the listing, the lease and any inventory list in writing for appliances, window treatments and light fixtures, and ask before drilling into walls, since many buildings limit it.

Electric, gas and internet

Electric and gas accounts are usually in the tenant’s name. Eversource handles start, stop and transfer requests online, and you need an Eversource.com user ID to submit one. If you already have an account at your old address, ask for a transfer rather than a new start. Gas may come from a different company, such as National Grid, so open both accounts and confirm which company serves which utility at the new address.

Do this as soon as the lease is signed. Identity checks can add days, and some buildings ask to see that the account is open before handing over keys. If a call center sends you back and forth between companies, say clearly whether you are calling about electric or gas service, and keep the confirmation numbers.

Who pays for what is set by the State Sanitary Code and your lease. A tenant can be asked to pay for electricity or gas only if it serves their unit alone through a separate meter and a written agreement says so. Our rental costs guide lists the monthly utility costs to budget for.

A few towns run their own municipal light departments. If you are moving outside Boston, check which company serves the address before you call.

Old furniture, mattresses and textiles

Boston will not collect mattresses or box springs with curbside trash, because the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has banned mattresses from disposal. The city requires an appointment for every mattress and box spring. Put it on the curb by 6 a.m. on the day of the appointment, or after 5 p.m. the night before. If your building is too large for city pickup, ask management how mattresses are handled before move-out week.

Massachusetts also bans textiles from disposal, so the city does not take clothing and fabric in curbside trash. Use textile drop-off boxes, curbside textile collection or the city’s Zero Waste Days. Worn, torn or stained items are still accepted; wet or moldy items go in the trash.

Ordinary furniture can be donated or put out with curbside trash. Televisions, monitors and appliances with refrigerant, such as refrigerators, air conditioners and dehumidifiers, are special items that the city collects only by appointment. A refrigerator must be empty and have its door removed. As of October 2026, appointment pickups are limited to 10 items per household per calendar year and five items per appointment.

Move-in day: inspect and photograph

Before furniture goes in, walk the empty unit. Take dated photos and video of floors, walls, windows, appliances and bathrooms, and test the faucets, burners, heat, outlets and smoke alarms. An empty room shows damage that a furnished one hides.

If you paid a security deposit, the landlord must give you a written statement of the unit’s condition when the deposit is received or within ten days after the tenancy starts, whichever is later. You have fifteen days after receiving it or moving in, whichever is later, to check it, sign it and return it, attaching your own signed list of anything it misses. Your photos make that list accurate, and our move-out guide explains how they matter when the deposit comes back.