---
title: "Moving to Prince George: a new resident checklist | PG Pulse"
description: "A checklist for settling into Prince George: utilities, garbage day, alerts, MSP and a family doctor, ICBC, voting, schools and winter readiness."
url: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/moving-to-prince-george/
markdown: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/moving-to-prince-george.md
site: PG Pulse (https://princegeorgepulse.ca), The pulse of Prince George, British Columbia
generated: 2026-10-16T15:53:44.553Z
---

# Moving to Prince George: a new resident checklist

A checklist for settling into Prince George: utilities, garbage day, alerts, MSP and a family doctor, ICBC, voting, schools and winter readiness.

Updated September 30, 2026

![The white ‘Welcome to Prince George’ sign surrounded by spruce trees](https://princegeorgepulse-media.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/prince-george/guides/white-welcome-prince-george-sign-surrounded-spruce-trees-65a2b8-1280.webp)

Photo: Andybremner2012, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

## At a glance

- Set up City utilities, find your garbage day, and sign up for emergency alerts in your first week.
- Enrol in MSP right away and register for a family doctor on the Health Connect Registry.
- ICBC gives new BC residents 90 days to switch to a BC driver’s licence.
- You can update your address with several provincial agencies at once through AddressChangeBC.
- Winter arrives early: get winter tires and learn the October 15 to April 15 street parking rules.

Welcome to Prince George. This checklist puts the essentials in order, with links to our detailed guides and the official pages where you actually get things done. The City’s all-purpose contact is **311** (or **250-561-7600** from outside city limits), [311@princegeorge.ca](mailto:311@princegeorge.ca), weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at City Hall, 1100 Patricia Boulevard.

## Week one: the house

- **Utilities.** Water, sewer and garbage are billed by the City. When you buy a home, the account follows the property, so confirm your **mailing address** with the City. Electricity is **BC Hydro**; natural gas is **FortisBC**. See [property taxes and utilities](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/property-taxes-and-utilities/).
- **Register for MyCity** to see tax and utility bills online and switch to email billing.
- **Find your garbage day** on the collection calendar or in the **cityofpg** app. Learn the 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. set-out rule. See [garbage and recycling](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/garbage-and-recycling/).
- **Too big or too small a garbage cart?** New homeowners can swap sizes for free within six months.
- **Sign up for emergency alerts** with the Regional District’s Public Alerting System, and look up your **evacuation zone**. See [emergency services and alerts](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/emergency-services-and-alerts/).
- **Home owner grant.** If you own your home and live in it, claim the provincial grant each year when your tax notice arrives.
- **Install the cityofpg app** to report potholes, streetlights and graffiti, and to check garbage schedules.

## Week one: health

- **Enrol in MSP.** There’s normally a waiting period before coverage starts, so apply right away and buy private coverage for the gap.
- **Register on the Health Connect Registry** for a family doctor or nurse practitioner, online or by calling 8-1-1.
- **Learn your options:** UHNBC emergency, the Urgent and Primary Care Centre, and the 8-1-1 nurse line. See [health care](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/health-care/).

## First month: ID, vehicles and paperwork

- **Driver’s licence.** ICBC gives newcomers **90 days** to switch to a BC licence. Ask ICBC or an Autoplan broker about registering and insuring a vehicle you brought with you.
- **Update your address** in one place for several BC agencies (including ICBC and MSP) through **AddressChangeBC**. Update the **CRA** separately.
- **BC Services Card.** This is your health card and can also be your online government ID.
- **Service BC** handles many provincial services in person: birth, marriage and name change documents, and more.
- **Voter registration.** Register or update your details with **Elections BC** for provincial elections and **Elections Canada** for federal ones. Municipal voting uses same-day registration.

## Getting around

- **Buses.** Prince George Transit is run by BC Transit. Pay with **Umo**. Kids 12 and under ride free. See [transit](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/transit/).
- **Parking.** Downtown streets are free for up to three hours. See [parking](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/parking/).
- **Winter.** Winter parking rules apply **October 15 to April 15**: residential streets have no parking 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and overnight you park on the odd-numbered side unless signed. Plan on **winter tires**. Highways 97 and 16 require winter tires or chains for much of the year. Check **DriveBC** before road trips. See [snow and roads](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/snow-and-roads/).

![The terminal building at Prince George Airport](https://princegeorgepulse-media.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/prince-george/guides/terminal-building-prince-george-airport-17cc14-1280.webp)

Prince George Airport (YXS) has daily flights to Vancouver and Calgary. Photo: Alasdair McLellan, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

## Family and community

- **School.** Register kids with **School District 57**. See [schools and post-secondary](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/schools-and-post-secondary/).
- **Library cards** are free for city residents. See [libraries](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/libraries/).
- **Dog licence.** Required for dogs over four months. See [bylaws and animal control](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/bylaws-and-animal-control/).
- **Pools and rinks.** The Canfor Leisure Pool is open downtown. Public skating usually runs October to March. See [recreation centres and pools](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/recreation-centres-and-pools/).
- **Neighbourhood community association.** Many run outdoor rinks, programs and events.
- **Parks and trails.** Prince George has an extensive park and trail network. See [parks and facility bookings](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/parks-and-facility-bookings/).

## Know your local government

- **City Council:** the mayor and eight councillors. See [city council](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/civic/city-council/).
- **Vote this fall.** The municipal election is **Saturday, October 17, 2026**, and the provincial election is **Saturday, October 24, 2026**. See [election 2026](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/civic/election-2026/) and [provincial and federal representatives](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/civic/provincial-and-federal-representatives/).
- **Land acknowledgement.** Prince George is on the unceded traditional territory of the **Lheidli T’enneh**. See [First Nations governance](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/civic/first-nations-governance/).
- **Stay informed.** Subscribe to City news and public notices at princegeorge.ca/subscribe. See [public notices and engagement](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/civic/public-notices-and-engagement/).

## Useful numbers

| For | Call |
| --- | --- |
| Emergency | 9-1-1 |
| City services | 311 or 250-561-7600 |
| Nurse line | 8-1-1 |
| RCMP non-emergency | 250-561-3300 |
| Fire Rescue non-emergency | 250-561-7664 |
| Bylaw Services and Animal Control | 250-561-7622 |
| Conservation Officer (bears, wildlife) | 1-877-952-7277 |

Find local businesses and services in the [directory](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/directory/), and live weather, air quality and road conditions on the [dashboard](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/).

## Common questions

**What’s the first thing to do after moving to Prince George?**

Enrol in MSP (BC health coverage), since there’s normally a waiting period. Then set up your City utility account or confirm it transferred with your home, find your garbage day, and sign up for emergency alerts.

**How long do I have to get a BC driver’s licence?**

ICBC says you have 90 days after moving to BC to switch to a BC driver’s licence. Its moving-to-BC page lists the documents you need and explains how to register and insure vehicles brought from elsewhere.

**How do I contact the City of Prince George?**

Call 311 from inside city limits or 250-561-7600 from elsewhere, email 311@princegeorge.ca, or visit City Hall at 1100 Patricia Boulevard, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

**Can I vote in Prince George if I just moved here?**

For the October 17, 2026 municipal election, you must have lived in BC since April 16, 2026 and live in Prince George now. For the October 24, 2026 provincial election, you must have been a BC resident since April 23, 2026.

**Where do I get a library card?**

At either Prince George Public Library branch or online. It’s free for city residents. If your ID still shows your old address, you get three months to show proof of your new one.

## Sources

- [City of Prince George: Civic Address Change notification list](https://www.princegeorge.ca/addresschange)
- [City of Prince George: Online Services](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/online-services)
- [City of Prince George: Contact Us](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-hall/contact-us)
- [ICBC: Moving to BC](https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/moving-bc)

## Official links

- [City of Prince George: contact and 311](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-hall/contact-us)
- [AddressChangeBC](https://www.addresschange.gov.bc.ca/)
- [Enrol in MSP](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/bc-residents/eligibility-and-enrolment/how-to-enrol)
- [ICBC: moving to BC](https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/moving-bc)
- [Public alert sign-up](https://rdffg.connectrocket.com/)
- [Garbage collection calendar (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/media/5048)
- [MyCity online account](https://cobweb.princegeorge.ca/TempestLive/LoginManager/)

## On this page

- [Week one: the house](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/moving-to-prince-george/#week-one-the-house)
- [Week one: health](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/moving-to-prince-george/#week-one-health)
- [First month: ID, vehicles and paperwork](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/moving-to-prince-george/#first-month-id-vehicles-and-paperwork)
- [Getting around](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/moving-to-prince-george/#getting-around)
- [Family and community](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/moving-to-prince-george/#family-and-community)
- [Know your local government](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/moving-to-prince-george/#know-your-local-government)
- [Useful numbers](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/moving-to-prince-george/#useful-numbers)

## More in city services

- [Garbage, recycling and the landfill How curbside garbage and recycling work in Prince George: cart sizes and costs, set-out times, bear rules and where to take what the cart won’t.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/garbage-and-recycling/)
- [Water, sewer and sprinkling rules Where Prince George tap water comes from, year-round sprinkling rules, frozen pipes, leaks, water meters and what not to flush.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/water-and-sewer/)
- [Property taxes and utility bills Prince George property tax and utility due dates, how to pay, the home owner grant, MyCity accounts, utility rates and what if you fall behind.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/property-taxes-and-utilities/)
- [Snow clearing, winter parking and roads How Prince George plows its streets, when your road gets cleared, winter parking rules, spring sweeping, road closures and reporting potholes.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/snow-and-roads/)
- [Getting around by bus A practical guide to Prince George Transit: fares, Umo, passes, handyDART, free-ride days, trip planning and service alerts.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/transit/)
- [Parking downtown and around the hospital Parking in Prince George: free three-hour street parking, downtown lots and parkades, monthly and residential permits, paying or disputing tickets.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/parking/)

## Data

Machine-readable data behind this page, from the free PG Pulse API (https://princegeorgepulse.ca/developers/).

### Guide facts, FAQ and sources

Source: [PG Pulse guides (plain-language guides with links to official sources)](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/). Licence: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Updated 2026-09-30T00:00:00.000Z.
JSON: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/api/v1/guides/city/moving-to-prince-george?fields=summary,faq,officialLinks,sources,updated

- **summary**: Set up City utilities, find your garbage day, and sign up for emergency alerts in your first week., Enrol in MSP right away and register for a family doctor on the Health Connect Registry., ICBC gives new BC residents 90 days to switch to a BC driver’s licence., You can update your address with several provincial agencies at once through AddressChangeBC., Winter arrives early: get winter tires and learn the October 15 to April 15 street parking rules.
- **updated**: 2026-09-30T00:00:00.000Z

#### faq

| q | a |
| --- | --- |
| What’s the first thing to do after moving to Prince George? | Enrol in MSP (BC health coverage), since there’s normally a waiting period. Then set up your City utility account or confirm it transferred with your home, fin… |
| How long do I have to get a BC driver’s licence? | ICBC says you have 90 days after moving to BC to switch to a BC driver’s licence. Its moving-to-BC page lists the documents you need and explains how to regist… |
| How do I contact the City of Prince George? | Call 311 from inside city limits or 250-561-7600 from elsewhere, email 311@princegeorge.ca, or visit City Hall at 1100 Patricia Boulevard, weekdays 8:30 a.m. t… |
| Can I vote in Prince George if I just moved here? | For the October 17, 2026 municipal election, you must have lived in BC since April 16, 2026 and live in Prince George now. For the October 24, 2026 provincial … |
| Where do I get a library card? | At either Prince George Public Library branch or online. It’s free for city residents. If your ID still shows your old address, you get three months to show pr… |


#### officialLinks

| label | url |
| --- | --- |
| City of Prince George: contact and 311 | https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-hall/contact-us |
| AddressChangeBC | https://www.addresschange.gov.bc.ca/ |
| Enrol in MSP | https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/bc-residents/eligibility-and-enrolment/how-to-enrol |
| ICBC: moving to BC | https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/moving-bc |
| Public alert sign-up | https://rdffg.connectrocket.com/ |
| Garbage collection calendar (PDF) | https://www.princegeorge.ca/media/5048 |
| MyCity online account | https://cobweb.princegeorge.ca/TempestLive/LoginManager/ |


#### sources

| title | url |
| --- | --- |
| City of Prince George: Civic Address Change notification list | https://www.princegeorge.ca/addresschange |
| City of Prince George: Online Services | https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/online-services |
| City of Prince George: Contact Us | https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-hall/contact-us |
| ICBC: Moving to BC | https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/moving-bc |

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Markdown version of https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/moving-to-prince-george/. Guide for AI agents: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/llms.txt. Free API: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/developers/