Moving is already a pretty big task for all of us. We have to pack everything up, say goodbye to our old home, and move to a new place. Now, imagine moving in a busy city like Chicago! There are lots of buildings, streets, and—yes—cars. A lot of cars. So, where do we park when it’s time to unload our moving truck? How do we make sure we don’t get a ticket or, even worse, towed away? This blog post is all about helping you navigate Chicago’s parking regulations on moving day. We’ll talk about all the things we need to do to make our move easier and avoid any parking troubles.
Step 1: Know the Rules Before You Move
The first step to a successful move in Chicago is understanding the city’s parking rules. Chicago has many different types of parking regulations, and they change depending on the neighborhood and the time of day. There are street cleaning schedules, residential parking zones, metered parking, loading zones, and sometimes, even random construction work that can block a spot you planned to use.
We need to plan ahead! A few days before our move, we should visit the City of Chicago’s website or use apps like SpotHero or ParkChicago to understand the parking situation around our new home. We need to know if we can park on the street, if we need a special permit, or if there are metered spots we can use. Having this information in advance can save us a lot of trouble on moving day.
Step 2: Get a Residential Moving Permit
One of the best things we can do to make our move easier is to get a residential moving permit. This permit allows us to block off a section of the street near our new home so that our moving truck has a place to park. In Chicago, this is called a “Residential Moving Vehicle Permit,” and it is extremely helpful. Without it, we might find ourselves driving around in circles looking for a place to park, which is no fun when we just want to start unloading.
To get a moving permit, we need to visit the City of Chicago’s website or go to the local Alderman’s office. It’s a good idea to apply for the permit at least a week before our move. Once we have the permit, we will also receive “No Parking” signs, which we will need to put up on the street at least 24 hours before we move. This tells other drivers that they can’t park in our reserved space. It’s a simple step, but it makes a big difference when we’re trying to unload our things quickly.
Step 3: Understand Street Cleaning and Other Restrictions
Chicago loves its street cleaning. The city wants to keep its streets clean, so there are certain days when parking is not allowed on specific streets to make room for the street sweepers. These street cleaning days are marked with signs, and if we park there during cleaning hours, we can get a ticket or even have our car towed. Imagine the stress of trying to find our car after it’s been towed on moving day—yikes!
We need to look out for those street cleaning signs, which are usually posted on street poles. They tell us which days and hours we need to move our car. We can also check online for the street cleaning schedule in our neighborhood. If we’re planning our move on a day when street cleaning is scheduled, we might want to change our plans or at least make sure our moving truck is parked in a safe spot.
Another thing to keep in mind is the time restrictions on parking. Some streets have rules like “No Parking from 4 PM to 6 PM” because they need to make room for heavy traffic during rush hour. We definitely don’t want to park during those hours, or we might end up with a big ticket.
Step 4: Watch Out for Residential Parking Zones
Many neighborhoods in Chicago have residential parking zones. This means that only residents with a special sticker on their car are allowed to park there. If we don’t have the right sticker, we could get ticketed or towed. These zones are created to make sure that the people who live in the neighborhood can find parking easily. When we move to a new area, it’s important to figure out if our new street is in a residential parking zone.
If we need to park in a residential zone on moving day, we might be able to get a temporary parking permit from the Alderman’s office. This permit allows us to park in a residential zone without getting a ticket. It’s especially useful if we need to park our personal car while the moving truck is unloading.
Step 5: Metered Parking and Loading Zones
In some areas, we might need to park in a metered spot. Chicago has lots of metered parking, especially in busy neighborhoods. If we’re using a metered spot for our moving truck, we need to make sure we feed the meter and keep track of the time. The last thing we want is to get a ticket because the meter expired while we were busy moving boxes upstairs.
Loading zones can also be our best friend on moving day. Loading zones are spaces on the street that are meant for loading and unloading, and they can make moving much easier. However, these zones are usually meant for quick stops, so we need to be careful not to stay too long. We should also look for any signs that tell us if the loading zone is reserved for specific businesses or if there are time limits.
Step 6: Avoiding Tickets and Towing
No one wants to deal with parking tickets or, even worse, having their car towed on moving day. The best way to avoid these problems is to pay close attention to all the parking signs in our new neighborhood. Chicago is full of signs—they tell us where we can and cannot park, what time we need to move our car, and if we need a special permit.
If we’re not sure about a parking spot, it’s always better to be safe and find another place to park. A few extra minutes spent finding a legal spot is much better than spending hours at the impound lot trying to get our car back.
Step 7: Using Parking Apps
Technology can be really helpful on moving day. There are several parking apps that we can use to find parking spots, pay for metered parking, and even reserve spots ahead of time. Some popular apps in Chicago are SpotHero, ParkChicago, and ParkMobile. With these apps, we can enter our destination and see all the available parking options nearby. Some apps also show us the cost of parking, which can help us decide the best place to park our moving truck.
Using a parking app can also help us avoid surprises, like finding out that a spot we planned to use is unavailable. Some apps allow us to reserve a spot, which can make our moving day a lot less stressful. It’s like having a personal parking assistant right on our phone!
Step 8: Hiring Professional Movers
Another way to make parking on moving day easier is to hire professional movers. Movers who are experienced with Chicago’s streets know all the rules and regulations, and they know how to find the best spots for unloading. At Aaron’s Reliable, for example, we’ve helped countless families move in and out of Chicago, and we know all the ins and outs of parking in the city.
Hiring professionals means we don’t have to worry about permits, street cleaning, or parking tickets. The movers take care of all of that for us, and we can focus on settling into our new home. It can be a big relief, especially if we’re moving during a busy time or if we’re not familiar with the neighborhood.
Step 9: Be Prepared for Last-Minute Changes
Sometimes, no matter how well we plan, things can go wrong. Maybe there’s unexpected construction on our street, or maybe someone parked in the spot we reserved with our permit. On moving day, it’s important to stay flexible and be prepared for last-minute changes.
If we run into a problem, we can try talking to our neighbors. Many people are understanding, especially when they see that we’re moving in. They might be willing to move their car for a little while to make space for our moving truck. If that’s not an option, we might need to park a little farther away and use a dolly or cart to move our items.
It’s also helpful to have a backup plan. If we can’t park right in front of our new building, we should know where the nearest safe parking spot is. Having a Plan B can help us avoid the stress of scrambling to find a place to park at the last minute.
Step 10: Double Parking—A Big No-No
It might be tempting to double park our moving truck if we can’t find a good spot, but in Chicago, this is a big no-no. Double parking is illegal and can lead to our truck being ticketed or even towed. Plus, double parking blocks traffic and can be really frustrating for other drivers.
Instead of double parking, we should try to find a legal spot, even if it means parking a bit farther away. If we have helpers with us, we can work together to make the process quicker. One person can stay with the truck while the others carry items inside. That way, we can move as efficiently as possible without breaking any parking laws.
Step 11: Ask for Help from Friends and Family
Moving is always easier when we have a little help. If we have friends or family who can assist us on moving day, they can help us navigate the parking challenges. One person can drive the moving truck, another can look for parking, and someone else can stay behind to make sure our reserved spot stays open.
Having a team also means we can unload our things more quickly, which is helpful if we’re parked in a loading zone or metered spot. The faster we get everything inside, the sooner we can move the truck and avoid any parking issues.
Step 12: Parking in Downtown Chicago
If we’re moving to or from downtown Chicago, parking can be even trickier. Downtown is full of busy streets, metered parking, and limited spaces. In these areas, it’s especially important to plan ahead and get a moving permit. We might also consider moving early in the morning or late at night when traffic is lighter and there are more parking spots available.
Another option is to hire a professional moving company like Aaron’s Reliable, which knows how to handle downtown moves. Movers who are familiar with the area can navigate the tight streets and find the best places to park, making our move much less stressful.
Step 13: Stay Calm and Enjoy the Move
Moving day can be overwhelming, especially when we’re trying to navigate Chicago’s parking regulations. But with a little planning and preparation, we can make the process a lot easier. The key is to know the rules, get the right permits, and be flexible if things don’t go exactly as planned.
At Aaron’s Reliable, we understand how challenging moving in Chicago can be, and we’re here to help. Whether we’re moving a few blocks or across the city, having a plan for parking can make all the difference. Remember, the goal is to get everything moved safely so we can start enjoying our new home.
If you need more help or have questions about your upcoming move, feel free to visit our website at Aaron’s Reliable. We offer professional moving services and can take care of all the parking challenges for you. Let’s make moving day a great day together!
Happy moving!