Generic moving checklists miss the Brampton-specific details that actually matter: which utility company to call, who handles your water billing, where the ServiceOntario offices are, how school transfers work across Peel. This checklist fills that gap; it's built around what's actually different about moving in Brampton compared to a generic Ontario move.
The timeline below assumes a standard move date. Adjust the weeks relative to your own possession or lease start date.
8 weeks before move day
- Decide what's coming with you before you book containers. Decluttering first saves time and money; you're not packing things you'll just toss after the move.
- Book your moving truck or movers. Summer weekends and end-of-month dates fill fast in Brampton; if your move is between May and September, book early.
- Book your tote rental. ToteMove delivers 7 days before move day, so count back from your move date to pick your delivery window. Book at totemove.ca.
- If you're a renter, serve written notice to your landlord. Ontario tenants are required to give 60 days written notice to vacate; confirm the exact date you're expected to be out.
- If you're buying, confirm your possession date in writing with your real estate lawyer.
- If you have children, look up the school catchment for your new Brampton address now; school placement sometimes depends on specific boundaries that don't map cleanly to neighbourhoods.
6 weeks before move day
- School transfers (public): Contact the Peel District School Board (PDSB) at pdsb.org to begin the transfer process for your child's current school and register at the new catchment school. Don't assume your child can attend the same school from a new address.
- School transfers (Catholic): Contact the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board at dpcdsb.org for transfers within the Catholic system.
- Notify your employer of the address change: payroll, T4 correspondence, and benefits documents all get mailed to your address on file.
- Set up mail redirection at Canada Post (canadapost.ca). The standard 3-month redirection currently runs about $85. Do this now so it's active from day one at your new address.
- Collect documents you'll need access to during and after the move: purchase/lease agreement, insurance policies, health cards, SIN card, passports.
4 weeks before move day
- CRA address update: Log in at canada.ca/my-cra-account to update your address. Do this sooner if you're expecting any government correspondence, benefit payments, or tax refunds at your old address.
- Driver's licence: Ontario requires you to update your address within 6 days of moving. Book a ServiceOntario appointment now so you're not scrambling after the move. Brampton locations: 40 George St N (downtown) or 8968 McLaughlin Rd S.
- Health card (OHIP): Update at ServiceOntario at the same appointment as your licence.
- Vehicle permit: If you own a vehicle, update the address on your permit at the same visit.
- Notify your bank, investment accounts, RRSP, pension, and any automatic payment accounts.
- Update your address with subscriptions: phone plan, streaming services, Amazon, online retailers.
- If your new home has an elevator that needs to be reserved for moving, book it now at both your old and new buildings.
2 weeks before move day: Brampton utilities
This is the section most Brampton movers get wrong. Read carefully, especially if you're moving from another city or another province.
- Electricity (Alectra Utilities): Most of Brampton is served by Alectra Utilities (formed from the merger of PowerStream and others). Call 1-833-ALECTRA or visit alectrautilities.com to transfer or set up service at your new address. Request your move-out date for the old address at the same time.
- Natural gas (Enbridge Gas): Contact Enbridge at enbridge.com or 1-877-362-7434 to transfer your account or open a new one. If you're moving into a new build in North Brampton, confirm gas service has been connected before you assume it's live.
- Water and wastewater (Region of Peel): Water service in Brampton is managed by the Region of Peel, not the City. Contact Region of Peel at peelregion.ca or 905-791-7800 ext. 4715 to set up billing at your new address and close your account at the old one.
- Internet and phone: Book installation at your new address now; some providers need 2+ weeks for a technician visit. Confirm the cancellation date at your old address to avoid being billed for overlap.
- Home insurance: Update or transfer your home insurance policy to your new address. Don't let the old policy lapse before the new one is in place.
New build in Springdale, Castlemore, or Vales of Castlemore? Confirm with Alectra and Region of Peel that service is active at your specific address before move day. New subdivision lots occasionally have delays in utility activation. A quick call a few days before saves a very unpleasant surprise.
1 week before move day
- Tote delivery from ToteMove arrives; confirm your delivery window and make sure someone is home or a safe drop-off spot has been arranged.
- Start packing room by room. Label every tote on the top and side with the destination room and general contents.
- Pack a "first night bag" separately and keep it with you, not in the truck: phone chargers, medications, toiletries, a change of clothes, basic kitchenware, coffee.
- Defrost your freezer 48 hours before move day; don't wait until the morning of.
- Walk through both homes and photograph their condition with timestamps. This matters for deposit disputes and insurance claims.
- Confirm your mover or truck booking, and re-confirm the time and address.
Move day
- Take meter readings at your old home before you leave: photograph electricity, gas, and water meters with a timestamp. Do the same at your new home when you arrive.
- Do a final walkthrough of your old home: closets, kitchen cabinets, bathroom cabinets, garage, backyard, attic. Moves almost always leave something behind.
- Keep a few totes unpacked for last-minute finds during the walkthrough.
- Confirm with all utility providers that your old address is being closed effective today's date.
- Hand over keys, fobs, garage openers, and mailbox keys to the new owner or landlord.
First week in your new Brampton home
- Waste collection schedule: Region of Peel provides green bin, blue box, grey box, and garbage pickup for Brampton. Schedules vary by street; look yours up at peelregion.ca using the "What Goes Where" address search tool.
- Brampton Transit: Download the Brampton Transit app or visit brampton.ca/transit to find your nearest routes. The ZOOM BRT runs along Queen Street; Züm routes cover major corridors including Bovaird, Sandalwood, Steeles, and Main Street. Züm connects to Brampton GO station and Mississauga Transitway.
- Update your address with your family doctor, dentist, and pharmacy. If you're looking for a new family doctor in Brampton, register at the Ontario Health Care Connect program (ontario.ca/page/find-family-doctor).
- Update your children's emergency contact information at their new school in the first week of registration.
- If you have a vehicle, confirm your auto insurance shows the new address; your rate can change based on where the car is garaged.
- Schedule your ToteMove pickup once you're unpacked. Call or email to confirm the date; we collect from your new address at a time that works for you.
Frequently asked questions
Who provides water service in Brampton: the City or the Region?
Region of Peel, not the City of Brampton. Set up water billing at peelregion.ca or by calling 905-791-7800. This surprises a lot of people who expect to deal with the City directly; Brampton water and wastewater is a regional service.
What electricity provider serves Brampton?
Alectra Utilities serves most of Brampton. Set up or transfer service at alectrautilities.com or by calling 1-833-ALECTRA. If you're moving into a new build in North Brampton, confirm the connection is active at your specific address before move day; new subdivision lots occasionally have delays.
How long do I have to update my driver's licence address after moving in Ontario?
Ontario's Highway Traffic Act requires an address update within 6 days of moving. Practically, book a ServiceOntario appointment and update both your licence and health card at the same time. Brampton locations: 40 George St N (downtown core) and 8968 McLaughlin Rd S. You can also book appointments online at serviceontario.ca to avoid wait times.
Does Brampton have green bin pickup?
Yes. Region of Peel provides green bin (organics), blue box (recyclables), grey box (glass), and garbage collection for Brampton residents. The pickup schedule varies by neighbourhood; search your address at peelregion.ca to confirm your collection days.