Apartment Moving in DC: COIs, Freight Elevators & Permits

Step 1: Ask the building three questions (3 to 4 weeks out)

Email the management office at the building you are moving into, and ask for the answers in writing. Then ask the building you are leaving the same three questions. Move-out rules catch people off guard more often than move-in rules.

• Do movers need a certificate of insurance, and can you send me the requirement sheet?
• How do I reserve the freight elevator, and how long is a slot?
• Where does the moving truck park? Is there a loading dock, an alley, or only the street?

Step 2: The certificate of insurance

A certificate of insurance, or COI, is a one-page form from your mover's insurer. It shows the mover's coverage and names the building, usually as an additional insured. The building reviews it before it lets the crew use the elevator.

Forward the requirement sheet to your mover the day you book. $1,000,000 of general liability per occurrence is the most common ask, and some buildings also want auto liability and workers' compensation shown. Ask the office to confirm by email that the certificate was accepted, and do it at least a week before the move.

Step 3: The freight elevator

Reserve a specific time block and get it in writing. For a one-bedroom, ask for at least two hours at the building you are leaving and 90 minutes at the new one. Confirm the reservation again two days before the move.

Older DC buildings and converted rowhouses often have only a small passenger elevator, or none. Tell your mover which it is and send photos of the stairs, so the crew size and the quote are right.

• Ask whether the building pads the elevator or expects the movers to.
• Ask what happens if the move runs past the slot. Some buildings charge for it.
• Measure your largest furniture against the elevator door before move day.

Step 4: Truck parking and the DDOT permit

If your building has a loading dock or off-street space, use it and skip this step. If the truck has to park at the curb, the District Department of Transportation lets you reserve the space with a public space permit. For DC moves we can apply for the permit and post the signs as part of planning your move, so tell us when you book if you want that. The steps below are for doing it yourself.

• Create an account and apply online in TOPS, DDOT's permit system, at tops.ddot.dc.gov. Use the Parking/Occupancy section and choose a moving truck.
• Pay online once the permit is approved. TOPS shows the current fee.
• Print the Emergency No Parking signs at a DDOT kiosk or at the permit office. The permit can be printed anywhere, but the signs cannot be printed at home. Kiosks are at police district stations around the city.
• Post the signs at least 72 hours ahead on a residential block without meters, or at least 24 hours ahead at metered spaces in a commercial area. Signs posted late cannot be enforced.
• A reserved parking permit covers up to four curbside spaces for up to 16 hours.
• Follow the verification steps printed on the back of the signs, and take a dated photo of each sign once it is up.
• Take the signs down as soon as the move is done.

Two things that trip people up with the permit

Metered blocks take longer. DDOT asks for requests to take meters out of service at least seven working days ahead.

If you are moving in from out of town, plan for someone to print and post the signs in person. They can only be printed at a kiosk and have to be up days before the truck arrives, so ask a friend in the city or arrange it before you travel.

If a car is parked in your signed space on move day, call 311, ask for parking enforcement, and have your permit number ready.

Your timeline

Permit rules were last checked in October 2026 at tops.ddot.dc.gov. Confirm there before you apply.

• 3 to 4 weeks out. Ask both buildings the three questions. Book your mover and send the insurance requirement sheet.
• 2 weeks out. Apply for the DDOT permit in TOPS if the truck will park on the street.
• 1 week out. Confirm the building accepted the certificate. Print the signs at a kiosk.
• At least 72 hours out. Post the signs on a residential block and photograph them.
• 2 days out. Reconfirm the elevator at both buildings.
• Move day. Meet the crew, check that the signed space is clear, and keep the permit on hand.

After you move in

If you moved to DC from another state, these are the first things to take care of.

• Convert your driver's license at DC DMV within your first 60 days.
• Register your vehicle within 60 calendar days of moving in. DC requires you to convert your license first, and the car has to pass a DC inspection.
• Apply for a residential parking permit after the car is registered, if your block is zoned.
• Set up Pepco for electricity, Washington Gas, and DC Water if your building does not include them.
• File a USPS change of address. It costs $1.25 online and is free at a post office.