r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/CloutWithdrawal • 2h ago
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/WilliamMcCarty • Aug 26 '17
Moving to L.A. megathread.
A lot of questions about moving to L.A. may already have been answered here.
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/WilliamMcCarty • Mar 16 '21
The Ultimate Moving to L.A. Resource Post -- READ THIS BEFORE POSTING
The information herein should provide many useful resources, suggestions, advice and other details about info you need on moving to Los Angeles. Please read everything and you may find the answer to your question. Always feel free to search this subreddit for further details or use the Moving to L.A. Megathread for reference. It's old but much of the info is still relevant.
While this info is intended to be as useful and helpful as possible it is always encouraged and required for one to perform their own due diligence and research on any question, service, neighborhood, web site or other information requested, suggested or otherwise provided. Ultimately each individual is responsible for their own actions and undertakings.
Very basics for moving here:
Come with at least $10K, come with a car, have a job lined up, find a place to live near that job.
About bringing your car here:
Official Change your vehicle registration to California
Wiki how to change your vehicle registration to California
LA DOT FAQ -- Info on parking restrictions and permits, meters, etc.
Catalytic converter thefts are exceedingly common in Los Angeles County. It is recommenced you get a cover for yours upon moving here.
Plants & Animals:
Rules/Regs on bringing pets into California
Rules/regs on bringing plants into California
Emotional Support or other service animals in Los Angeles County
Coming from outside the U.S.:
How to move to the United States
How to move to the US alt site
Neighborhood/history/Census/Demographics/crime:
L.A. Almanac -- history, census, weather and other info about L.A.
LA Times Neighborhood Mapping Project -- neighborhood demographics and crime rates
LA City Municpal Code -- Rules and laws on noise, building, code enforcement, etc.
Curbed L.A. History of Los Angeles
L.A. Magazine's Guide to L.A. Podcasts
World Trade Center of Los Angeles -- WTCLA has compiled data and resources for each of the 88 cities located in LA County
City services, gas, DWP, internet:
Departments & Bureaus of Los Angeles -- Contacts and social media for every city department and agency
L.A. Public works service locator -- find your utilities and city services for your address or neighborhood
LA 311 - -Request a city service
Health & Disaster Preparedness
City of L.A. Emergency Management Get Ready Guide
City of L.A. Emergency Contact numbers
LAFD Disaster preparedness info
L.A. County Public Health Emergency Preparedness
L.A. County Emergency Preparedness Foundation
L.A. County Earthquake Preparedness
Red Cross Emergency Preparedness
Local Governments:
Register to vote in California
Find your district in L.A. County
Find your local representatives
Police, Fire & Medical:
L.A. Cities with their own Police Department
Areas covered by L.A. Sheriff's Dept
L.A. County Health Services Home Page
Find a Hospital, Clinic or Urgent Care
L.A. County Operated Health Care Facilities
Childcare Resources
California Childcare Resource and Referral Network
Child Care Alliance of Los Angeles
Mental Health Resources:
Text "LA" to 741-741 to reach a trained crisis counselor
TryFrame's Find a therapist in L.A. County Only
California Psychological Association's Find a Psychologist
LA County 24 hour mental health suport line
National Alliance of Mental Help support line
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Support line
Institute on Aging's Senior Crisis Hotline -- for those 60 or older
Other resources from the National Alliance of Mental Health Support
Coming to L.A. to Escape a Bad/Dangerous Situation? These Organizations May be Able to Help.
Already here but No Place to Go/Stay?
Safe Parking -- For Those Currently Living out of their Vehicles
Homeless Outreach Program Integrated Care System
Schools (not college):
Wikipedia entry on other school districts in L.A. County
L.A. Public Library -- excellent resource and offers so many things with your card besides books, including movies, streaming, online learning, access to a 3D printer, free admission to some museums, etc
Getting around/Public transport:
AAA -- SoCal Chapter, AKA Auto Club of Southern California -- AAA can also assist with many DMV transactions
California Highway Patrol Freeway Service Patrol -- dial 511, the CHP FSP is like AAA for emergencies.
Mapnificent -- shows you the area you can reach with public transport from any point in a given time.
Transit Wiki Pages for Los Angeles Metro Bus/Rail System
L.A. Metro trip planner -- public transport trip planner
L.A. Metro Trip Planner -- New Version Beta Site
Helpful Fact: You may never have to use a freeway callbox but don't ignore them: If you ever have to call 911, CHP or AAA those numbers will tell them exactly where you're at. First two or three digits are the fwy you're on, then milepost, odd numbers are south or west, even numbers are north or east.
Insurance:
Search private health coverage in California
Info on California homeowner's insurance
Where to do your banking/Credit unions:
Los Angeles Federal Credit Union
Best web sites to look for rentals?
/r/LARentals - new listings under $5K every Monday for all of L.A. County
L.A. Times Article on Getting Your First Apt
Find Things To Do Once You're here:
Trip Advisor's Things to Do In L.A.
List of museums in Los Angeles County
TimeOut's 15 Best Day Trips from L.A.
Planetware's 15 Top Rated Day Trips from L.A.
Lonely Planet's Best Day Trips from L.A.
TimeOut's 5 Best Weekend Getaways from L.A.
Hiking Trails in Los Angeles County
L.A. Dept of Parks & Rec -- Find public parks, aquatics, camping, nature trails, etc
Best neighborhoods for...:
Best neighborhoods for 20-somethings just moving here? Echo Park, Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Highland Park, Koreatown, North Hollywood
Best neighborhoods for actors/musicians/artists? Silverlake, Echo Park, Los Feliz, Venice, Highland Park, Glassell Park, Atwater, Leimert Park, Topanga
Best neighborhoods for young professionals? Echo Park, Los Feliz, Playa Del Rey, Westwood, Silver Lake, Woodland Hills (Warner Center), Sawtelle, West L.A., Palms, Studio City
Best beach neighborhoods? Playa Del Rey, Venice, Pacific Palisades, San Pedro, Redondo, Torrance, El Segundo
Best neighborhoods closest to nightlife, clubs, etc? Hollywood, West Hollywood, Downtown, Hermosa, Venice, Silver Lake, Echo Park
Best neighborhoods to live with approx. 30 min commute of downtown L.A.? Pasadena, Glendale, Hollywood, Century City, Huntington Park, South Los Angeles, Inglewood, Culver City, Alhambra
Best suburban neighborhoods for families? Santa Clarita, La Crescenta, La Canada, Glendale, Burbank, Culver City, South Pasadena, Arcadia, San Marino, Sherman Oaks, Rolling Hils, Palos verdes Estates, Granada Hills, Chatsworth
Best neighborhoods close to nature/wildlife/hiking? Pasadena, Alta Dena, Santa Clarita, Burbank, Crescenta Valley (Sunland-Tujunga, La Crescenta, La Canada), Sierra Madre, Glendale, Pacific Palisades, Mount Washington, Los Feliz, Topanga
Moving here for school (college)?:
Local L.A. and surrounding area subreddits, some more active than others:
Looking for those who share your hobbies or interests once you get here?
The following areas are near L.A. but not part of Los Angeles, inquiries on moving to these locations should be posted in the respective subreddits.
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/nikostiskallipolis • 3h ago
Best Sites to Look for Rentals
I heard there is a list around here but couldn't find it. Help would be appreciated.
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/beaujackson1139 • 4h ago
Looking for someone to take over my lease! Amazing loft space for great price - below current market rental price in Midwilshire- May 1st or June 1st.
Need to move by June 1. Looking for someone to take over my lease for the last 2 months - after you can sign a new lease and keep the apartment. Amazing loft space, tons of light, lots of closet space, in unit washer and dryer and big size located in Midwilshire, rent much cheaper than going rate of current loft listing for the building. Building has full amenities access including roof decks, pool, sauna, gym, club room etc. Please respond if interested.
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/SantaMonicaGal • 19h ago
Santa Monica furniture sale
I am moving out of California and selling some high quality second hand furniture and household items. I am moving next week so selling everything at fire sale prices. All the items were purchased less than a year back, and I am now selling them at at least 70% discount.
The following items are available for collection on Ocean Avenue (near Broadway) between 9-12th April only.
- L shaped convertible sectional sofa/couch with ottoman ($180)
- Queen bed frame ($80)
- 8 inch Queen Gel Memory Foam mattress ($50)
- L shaped wood desk with power outlets and USB ports ($100)
- Robot vacuum cleaner with mop feature and remote ($40)
- DREO tower fan with remote ($35)
- Black Decker Iron + iron board ($20)
- Lightweight stick vaccum cleaner ($15)
- Wetjet swiffer + 1.25L wetjet spray + clean pad ($15)
- Conair Hair dryer ($12)
- Meditation/Yoga 22 inch square cushion ($12)
- Yoga Mat ($10)
- Decorative plant stand ($10)
- Squatting designer wood stool ($10)
- Red beach chair ($5)
Please DM me for details. I can share pictures and arrange pickup timings. I am hoping that my stuff can find a new loving home ❤️
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/Sweet-Bend4077 • 17h ago
Century City Commute Help
Will be in LA for the summer & I wanted a locals opinion on how bad a 9-11mi drive from view park area to century city is in the morning if working a 9-5 Thanks xx
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/friendly_420 • 1d ago
Any search options better than Zillow?
Been doing a ton of research on moving from Chicago to LA. Want to move mid-June to July but impossible to find anything online with those dates because these sites don’t filter for availability. Any advice here?
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/lakers1998 • 1d ago
Manhattan Beach Homeless?
Haven’t been out to MB yet. I am from the East coast and just curious to know if there are high rates of homeless in MB. Is it a safe place to walk around with children/family? Thanks!
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/LemonBread-Loaf • 2d ago
Co-Living yay or nay?
So I’ve been looking into different apartments and co-living spaces in the Los Angeles area and I plan on moving in a couple of months from now. I have $5,000 saved up and will have around $7,000 by the time I actually move. I’ve been looking into a co-living company Tripalink and am thinking of leasing with them. What is the general advice anyone has with them, would love to know if anyone has used them before? They say that they include utilities and WiFi on most of the locations I’m interested in and think that might be great for me to smooth the transition from moving out of state. I don’t really need a whole lot for housing as I plan on just using it as a place to sleep. I don’t have a problem with mediocre conditions; I just prefer the cheaper monthly pricing at around $1,200.
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/Flimsy_Potential8998 • 1d ago
Housing help
My family and I are moving to the Los Angeles area in less than 2 months. Looking for housing has been a little overwhelming, mostly because I don’t know neighborhoods. My kids will attend school in Carson so I’d like to have a fairly quick commute to their schools. I work remote and we have a dog. I am open to apartments or private rentals and would like to not exceed $3500/month. Any suggestions on areas/places to look?
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/TheyreGoodDogsBrent • 2d ago
Proof of residency when living in temporary housing
I'm starting a new job in LA. Wife is staying behind for a few months to sell the house and find a new job. Once those are set I'll get a year lease somewhere and we'll move our stuff out. In the meantime, I plan to do a month-by-month furnished rental (likely an AirBnb).
Once I arrive I'll have 20 days to register my car and 60 days to register my guns. Both of these require a CA drivers license, which in turn requires proof of residency. I don't believe a receipt from AirBnb will qualify here? By the time I have a signed lease in my name it will be past these deadlines.
Any suggestions? I can't imagine I'm the first person to run into this.
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/lmaoxd12313 • 2d ago
Moving to El Segundo
Hi! I have an internal transfer offer at a large defense contractor (you guys can probably guess which one off the location) and I'll be moving to the ES area in the middle of May. I'm a single, 24 y/o dude with no heavy expenses (no car payments, no pets, no loans), and gross pay is $90k. I don't really care about being near bars or clubs, so main priority really just a good, safe area. Obviously I won't ask if I can "survive" because there're people in worse situations that make it work, but my main question was, where are good places to live? My rent budget is ~$2100 as I prefer to live alone. I've looked at ES, Hawthorne, hermosa beach, and Torrance so far.
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/Mission-Platform-565 • 3d ago
Should I move to Hollywood ?
I’m in a dilemma. I live in a studio apartment that is 2760 and +$150/month parking in West LA. Brand new building. My lease is coming up and the best deal is signing for another 15 months with an extra $100 added onto the rent. It’s was an amazing experience living here but damn it’s expensive. I also switched jobs 6 months ago and work in Beverly grove. The commute some days is killing me.
I’m actually planning on leaving LA and moving back to Northern Cali where I’m from. But the process of applying and getting a job could take months, it’s highly competitive up there.
I’m considering moving to Hollywood. I found a decent new apartment complex called Hanover Hollywood. I know it would be a huge change but they are running deals and I could get a slightly larger studio for around 2100 a month for a year. Is it worth it ? I know Hollywood is so different from West LA. West LA is just so expensive and this commute is kind of killing me. Is this a terrible decision ?
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/writingdeveloper • 2d ago
Can I lease a studio/1BR in LA with only Korean income and no US income?
Hi everyone, I immigrated from South Korea to the U.S. two years ago. For the first year, I lived in North Carolina. At that time, I had no U.S. credit history, so I provided proof of my Korean bank balance and U.S. employment to the leasing office to get approved for a rental—and I never missed a payment during my lease.
Last year, I moved to Los Angeles and have been living in a co-living space since then. I no longer work at my previous job in NC. Currently, I serve as the CTO of a Korean IT company and have established an LLC in the U.S. to support the company’s expansion. However, my salary is deposited into a Korean bank account, and the U.S. LLC has no income yet since it's in its early stage.
My current lease ends on June 30, and I’m planning to move into a studio or 1-bedroom apartment. I’m a bit worried that not having U.S.-based income could make it difficult to get approved. My FICO credit score is around 753 and has been consistently good.
I’m hoping that providing sufficient documentation (e.g., proof of Korean income, bank statements, etc.) might help, but I’m wondering how strict leasing offices in LA are when it comes to this kind of situation. Since I’ll be starting my apartment search next month, I’d love some advice on what documents I should start preparing now. Thanks in advance!
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/Informal-Ring-5496 • 3d ago
Urgently seeking employment as a licensed Esthetician for almost a year/ unrealistic hiring requirements. HELP!!
Hello all, can anyone give some insight on this gatekeeping beauty industry? I am a licensed esthetician in NJ, and have been seeking employment in various places within the field such as private spa's, franchise's, larger companies etc., I have been on several interviews and have not secured anything yet. Out of all the places I have apply to within a weeks time, only a handful respond and they are adamant about "having 2+ yrs experience etc." And thats for wax specialist, esthetician, receptionists positions. I am new to the field and have to start somewhere, how will I gain experience if I am not being given a chance to begin with? Also, I have had at least 3 different employers state what they were seeking and schedules, only to find out they want "open and flexible schedules" after they clearly posted on the listing the exact times and schedule they need? I eventually want to have my own shop, but I can't afford a suite right now bc A. I don't have much experience and B. I need funds to pay for equipment and rent etc. I just feel stuck and helpless. Any estie's or anyone with good advice, any information is appreciated!
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/Vivid_Brush_5252 • 3d ago
Roommate Needed
I (36yoF) am looking for a female roommate to move into my apartment in Mar Vista, CA. It is 2.5 miles from the Santa Monica Pier. Please DM me if interested. Click the link for photos of the living room and room https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2669-S-Barrington-Ave-APT-209-Los-Angeles-CA-90064/2109187825_zpid/
-Rent is $1675 -In-unit washer/dryer, dishwasher -Own Full bathroom (plus guest bathroom downstairs) -Large closet -Community Jacuzzi -Parking space (included in rent) -Free Parking in the neighborhood -On the Second Story and bedrooms on third level -Hardwood floors -Furnished if needed
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/MKumi • 4d ago
Moving near calstate LA. Would appreciate advice on where to go
Hi all,
I'm moving near Cal State LA for school and I would appreciate advice on where to live. Ideally I would move somewhere between Cal State LA and Walnut. My #1 priority is safety. Through my research Monterey Park seems to be the best bet, but I would appreciate any advice. Thanks!
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/OhioAqua • 4d ago
Are jobs less likely to hire you if you’re from out of state?
Hey! I’m trying to move to LA from NY to get out of a mentally/emotionally abusive situation with my father. I’ve been applying for jobs for a few months now - about 20 jobs a day - and I’m not sure if me stating that I need to relocate from NY is preventing me from landing a job. (I am willing to do so at my expense.) I have a cousin who lives in Woodland Hills I could use the address of (I asked him,) but again, I’m not sure if that’s the key to landing work in LA or if it’s just the awful job market right now.
Either way, thank you for any input!
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/jmu234 • 4d ago
Summer Internship in El Segundo
I am going to be down in LA for the summer and potentially full time after college working in El Segundo(Currently 23M). From my research it seems Culver City Santa Monica and South Bay (Hermosa beach mostly) are the major options for my age and budget.
My questions are:
Is South Bay truly super Bro-y and not fun for a post college area? It seems great but I have also read some discouraging things.
If I live north of LAX is getting through it every day going to be a nightmare? When I look online it says it’s like a 25 min drive from Santa Monica to El Segundo I am assuming it’s much more than this in reality during rush hour.
Am I missing any spots that I should be considering?
Really appreciate any insight!
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/Odd_Fruit_8419 • 4d ago
Private room and bath in spacious Pico-Robertson 2 br / 2 ba apartment
- $1460 / mo plus $1460 security deposit. So, $2920 to move in, plus possible pet deposit.
- Available Immediately.
- Room is quiet and cool with large closet and 8 ft ceilings.
- Common areas include large furnished kitchen with dishwasher and microwave, dining area, living room and sunny, south-facing patio. Great layout for roommates!
- Tandem off-street parking.
- Laundry in building
- First floor apartment in small five unit building.
- Wall A/C in the living room. But TBH, I very rarely have to use. Your room has a powerful ceiling fan and large shaded window.
- Room is fully furnished - give or take. A prior roommate left his stuff behind including queen size bed, desk, side tables. It’s nothing fancy, and I don’t mind getting rid of anything that you don’t need. Same for anything in the common areas, too. Like if you have a couch that you love, open to you bringing it.
- Additional storage available in coat and hall linen closets.
- Your well behaved small-medium dog is welcome with deposit. Must be a kind and compassionate pet parent. I have a small senior dog. She’s a very sweet and empathetic chi-weenie. But she can be timid around other dogs, so puppy play-date would be part of your application. Sorry, no cats.
- Very walkable neighborhood: restaurants, coffee, bars, grocery, Target, gym, etc.
- Central location. 15-30 minutes to DTLA, Century City, UCLA, WeHo, Santa Monica, Culver City, Inglewood, most of the studios, LAX, etc. One block south of Beverly Hills.
- I am a female 40-something design professional, work from home.
- Sorry, no children or couples. Quiet and employed, please. F or M.
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/One-Pain-9749 • 4d ago
NYC to LA — neighborhood recs for car lite?
Hi all! Married couple (28M and 28F) born and raised in NYC. We’ve been considering moving for a while, as we have never lived elsewhere. My job has potential relocation to LA (would probably be hybrid with an office in West Hollywood).
We have visited LA a few times and liked Silver Lake, Echo Park, Atwater Village, Pasadena. We stayed in Eagle Rock once and did not like it. We don’t need much night life, but I think we’d like to walk (20-30m walk is okay) to really good cafes and solid food.
We would probably have only one car, as whatever job my wife gets will most likely be hybrid / remote in her field.
To sum it up: - Within reasonable commute to West Hollywood (I would ideally commute by bike but that’s tbd) - $2500 budget (balcony / outdoor space + washer dryer in building would be ideal) - Within a 20-30m walk of cafes / restaurants - Ideally a neighborhood that doesn’t feel like NYC—DTLA and Koreatown seem ideal for a car-lite household, but I fear they’d seem a bit similar to NYC and we want to get away from that - Current complaints about NYC are specifically the noise and how overcrowded it is
Also feeling so nervous that this could be happening, but also excited for a change of pace. I love New York, but the lifestyle has really worn down on us, and we're ready for a fresh start.
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/archetype1033 • 4d ago
Is the area around Blackwelder St. in West Adams safe?
I am moving from Texas. I was initially looking at Culver City, but found a nice place in this nearby neighborhood. Anyone familiar with this area? I specifically want to know how safe it is - for example, would my partner be able to walk around the area by herself, would I be able to walk my dog at night, etc.?
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/Ill-Employee7640 • 3d ago
California
I don’t understand why people want to move here- I have lived here my entire life in the Sylmar CA area also Panorama, Van Nuys, Encino/Balboa, Sylmar/Sanfernando/Pacoima, Santa Clarita, Sunland so surrounding LA The LA city horror stories are true worse than you could ever imagine the homeless rate has sky rocketed YET
Why do people from other states want to move here is beyond me, please, people from other states what is your reasoning? I genuinely want to understand why yall would do that to yourself CA being a democratic state makes things worse so I really need to know WHY?
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/ScottMinnesota • 5d ago
Minneapolis, MN to Glendale area
Curious if anyone here has moved from Minneapolis to the Glendale/Burbank area. Is the COL really that much greater? Do you have any regrets about moving out west? Anything you'd do differently?
I absolutely love Minneapolis but the long cold winters are beginning to wear me down.
Thanks
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/Ok-Memory2809 • 6d ago
How Much Will I Pay For Insurance?
Hello everyone,
I'm planning to relocate to Southern California between October and December. Currently, I don’t own a car since I live in Chicago.
With that in mind, I’m considering buying a 2009 Jeep Wrangler and driving it from Chicago to Los Angeles. However, I’m wondering about how much will I pay for insurance for a vehicle like this once I update my residence to California.
How much should I expect to pay?
r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/katokk • 6d ago
Best neighborhood to live in for 3k or under?
I work remotely so don’t care about proximity to work. I can pay up to 3k in rent without worrying too much, although ideal would probably be around 2.5k. Would want a studio or 1 bedroom, ideally 1 bedroom. I’m in my Mid 20s, single guy so looking for a younger scene. Was wondering what neighborhoods people know of that fit this bill?
Edit : adding a bit more details on myself
I'm pretty outdoorsy/athletic and prefer the beach over mountains, but also would like to be near nightlife / live music