The boxes are in, the Wi-Fi works, and now the paperwork starts. Colorado and Denver set specific deadlines for new residents, and a few of them come up faster than people expect.
This checklist covers what to do in your first month or so in a Denver apartment, in roughly the order the deadlines arrive. Each item links to the official page, because fees and rules change.
First, know when the clock starts
Colorado’s deadlines run from the day you become a resident. You count as a resident if you work in Colorado, own or operate a business here, or live here for 90 days in a row, according to the Colorado DMV. If you took a job here, your clock has probably already started.
Out-of-state students who are here for school, hold a valid home-state license and pay non-resident tuition are exempt from the license and registration rules.
Within your first week
Set up utilities
Electricity and natural gas in Denver are generally supplied by Xcel Energy. You can start or transfer service online through Xcel’s moving page. Ask your building which utilities are in your name and which are included or billed back. A recent Xcel bill or your lease also counts as proof of address for several items below.
Know how trash works in your building
Denver’s own trash service covers homes and buildings with seven or fewer units. Larger apartment buildings use private haulers arranged by the property, according to the City and County of Denver. Since September 1, 2026, Denver requires buildings with eight or more units to offer recycling and composting to tenants. If yours does not, ask management.
Within 30 days
Switch your driver’s license
You have 30 days after becoming a resident to transfer your out-of-state license, according to the Colorado DMV. Key points:
- Make an appointment. The DMV says all applicants need one to visit a driver’s license office. You can pre-register online to save time.
- Bring your current license (valid, or expired less than a year) or a driving record dated within 30 days, plus identity and proof-of-address documents from the DMV’s document list.
- Choose REAL ID or a standard license.
- Know where to go. Denver’s city motor vehicle offices handle registration and titles only. They do not issue driver’s licenses or IDs, according to the City and County of Denver. Licenses are issued at state driver’s license offices.
License your dog or cat
Denver requires dogs and cats 6 months and older to be licensed within 30 days of arriving in the city, according to Denver Animal Protection. A license costs $15 for one year, $40 for three years or $150 for the pet’s lifetime, and you can buy it online through PetData or at the Denver Animal Shelter. Denver also requires dogs and cats over 6 months to be spayed or neutered unless you hold an intact permit.
If you have a pit bull-type dog, Denver no longer bans the breed, but it does require a Breed-Restricted Permit ($30) plus a pet license, a free breed evaluation at the shelter, and proof the dog is microchipped, vaccinated and fixed. The city’s permit page has the details.
Most Denver apartment buildings welcome pets. In our index, 160 of 194 buildings say on their own websites that they are pet friendly, and most building pages include a short pet policy. Browse them by neighborhood.
Get a temporary parking permit if you need one
Many Denver blocks have time-limited street parking, and a Residential Parking Permit exempts residents in designated zones. If you just moved from out of state, Denver offers a one-time temporary permit for up to 90 days while you switch your documents, according to the city’s parking permit page. A regular vehicle permit costs $20 a year, and a guest flex permit $25. Applications are online or by mail only.
Within 90 days: register your car
You have 90 days from becoming a resident to title and register your vehicle, according to the Colorado DMV. Registration is handled by your county motor vehicle office. In Denver, that is the city’s motor vehicle offices, which take appointments separately from the state.
Bring your out-of-state title (or registration and lender details if you have a loan), proof of Colorado insurance, ID and a proof of residency such as a lease. Two steps catch most people:
- VIN verification. Out-of-state vehicles need a VIN inspection (form DR 2698) by a Colorado law enforcement officer, a licensed dealer or an emissions station. Air Care Colorado stations charge $25.
- An emissions test. Denver is an emissions county. Under the DMV’s 2026 schedule, 2021–2026 models are exempt, most 1994–2019 models test every two years for $35, and all-electric vehicles need no test. Air Care stations take no appointments.
Colorado registration fees are based on the vehicle’s age, weight and taxable value, so a new car costs noticeably more to register here than an older one. Use the DMV’s fee estimator before you go.
If you plan to give up the car, our guide to living car-free near Union Station compares rail access by neighborhood.
Register to vote
You can register online at GoVoteColorado with a Colorado license or ID, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Colorado mails a ballot to every registered voter, according to the Colorado Secretary of State.
If you are reading this in fall 2026: the general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Register by October 26 to have a ballot mailed to you. After that, you can still register and vote in person at a voter service and polling center through Election Day. Colorado also registers voters automatically through the DMV unless they decline, so your license appointment can take care of this.
Other things worth doing early
- Get a library card. Denver Public Library cards are free for Colorado residents with a photo ID and proof of a Colorado address, according to the library.
- Note your street sweeping days. Residential street sweeping runs April through November, according to the city, and you need to move your car on your block’s day.
- Plan for taxes. If you moved partway through the year, Colorado taxes the income you earned while living here. Part-year residents file Form 104PN, according to the Colorado Department of Revenue.
- Get your bearings. Our neighborhood guide for people moving to Denver explains how the city’s twelve apartment neighborhoods differ.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to get a Colorado driver’s license after moving?
Thirty days after becoming a Colorado resident, according to the Colorado DMV. You become a resident when you start working here, run a business here, or have lived here for 90 consecutive days.
How long do I have to register my car in Colorado?
Ninety days after becoming a resident. Out-of-state vehicles also need a VIN verification and, in Denver, may need an emissions test depending on model year.
Can I get a driver’s license at a Denver city motor vehicle office?
No. Denver’s city motor vehicle offices handle vehicle registration and titles only. Driver’s licenses and IDs are issued at state driver’s license offices, which require an appointment.
Do I need to license my pet in Denver?
Yes. Dogs and cats 6 months and older must be licensed within 30 days of arriving in Denver. A one-year license costs $15.
Deadlines, fees and requirements are from the Colorado DMV, Colorado Secretary of State, Colorado Department of Revenue, City and County of Denver, Denver Animal Protection, Air Care Colorado, Denver Public Library and Xcel Energy, checked October 18, 2026. Fees change, so confirm on the linked pages before you go.