Moving to Utah Checklist

So, you’re planning a move to Utah? Like any move to a new state, you can expect a unique experience that will take some time to adjust to. But don’t be worried, Utah is an incredible state to live in.

As you get ready to start the next chapter of your life in the Beehive State, here are some helpful resources and things you should know and take care of once you find your new Utah home. Check off these steps, familiarize yourself with the things that make this state unique, and enjoy a smooth, comfortable transition to becoming a Utah resident. We’re glad to have you!

1. Forward Mail to Your Utah Address

Don’t forget this important step. Fortunately, the United States Postal Service makes forwarding your mailing address fairly simple with their online Change-of-Address form. Fill it out with your new Utah address and make sure you don’t miss important mail coming to your old address.

2. Get Home Security

While Utah is, fortunately, one of the safest states in the country by crime rate, it’s always a good idea to protect your family and home. Home security systems are a popular safety measure employed at many Utah residences. While the overall crime rate is relatively low, the rate of property crime is closer to the national average than other categories.

Browse some of the most popular home security systems in Utah and get set up with the provider that best suits your needs.

3. Utah Internet, TV and Phone Service

Once you know where you’re going to live, you’ll want to quickly figure out your internet, TV and phone service. There is streaming, working and gaming to be done!

Beehive Broadband provides high-speed fiber internet to residences throughout Utah with no data-caps. You can also get your favorite TV channels with BEEtv, Beehive Broadband’s mobile streaming service for live TV. And for those interested in home phone service, Beehive provides that too.

Save big by getting all of your broadband services from one of the top providers in Utah.

To see if your new home is within Beehive Broadband’s service area, check your address and get signed up for high-speed streaming for all of your devices.

4. Change Your Driver’s License and Vehicle Registration

Now that you’re a new Utah resident, make sure your license and vehicle registration aren’t in need of renewal. For help in making the switch properly, check out the helpful info on the state’s websites:

Drivers License Division

Division of Motor Vehicles

Utah Transit Passes

Maybe you plan to get around on public transportation. You can choose from a variety of pass programs and transit fares available through the Utah Transit Authority.

The Frontrunner train connects the major cities along I-15 through Utah’s central corridor. Bus routes cover most of the state’s metro areas and Salt Lake City has its own light rail transit.

Change Your Voter Registration

It’s important to vote, so don’t wait too long after moving to Utah to change your voter registration.

5. Get a Local Bank Account

There are some great local banks in Utah where you may want to start an account in order to have quick and easy access to your money. Utah also has branches of most national and regional banks. You’ll have plenty of options to choose from.

6. Get Familiar with KSL

KSL is Utah’s local source for news and classifieds.

Buy and sell items, find jobs and gigs and get updates on local sports and other news at KSL.com. You are sure to hear other locals refer to it from time to time.

Things to Know Before Moving to Utah

Outdoor Adventure

Most Utahns are really into the outdoors, and we are proud of the diverse natural beauty that our state offers.

Utah is home to five national parks, 33 state parks, four national forests and three national recreation areas. From red rock canyons to high mountain forests, this state has outdoor adventure for every season.

Our state leads the world with nine designated International Dark Sky Parks — places where light pollution is restricted so that thousands of stars are clearly visible in the night sky. There are also miles of scenic highways ready to be explored.

Unique Address Format

Some newcomers get a little bit confused by the way the Utah streets and addresses are named. But once you get used to it, it can actually be easier to figure out where different addresses are.

Based on the format dating back to the early pioneer settlers, Utah’s roads are laid out in a grid system. The Salt Lake Temple served as the center of Salt Lake City for the Mormon settlers, and they created their road system around where Temple Square currently sits in a grid pattern.

Most main roads throughout Utah’s cities have numbers instead of names, like “200 South”, or “800 West”. You can read up in more detail about Utah’s unique system, but you’ll probably get the hang of it in no time.

Driving I-15

Highway I-15 cuts north/south through the center of Utah and connects most of its major cities. You’ll soon become very familiar with this road if you want to travel between any of Utah’s major cities. The speed limit ranges from 70-80 miles per hour and includes a High-Occupancy Vehicle express lane through the main stretch between Layton and Spanish Fork.

Home Prices on the Rise

If you recently purchased a home in Utah, you’ve probably made a really good investment. Home prices are on the rise, as population increases and Utah continues to establish itself as a thriving hotbed for business.

Distinct Seasons

Utah gets hot in the summer and snow in the winter. Fall and Spring have their moment too. The changing seasons contribute to the wide variety of outdoor activities to be enjoyed throughout the state.

While there’s nowhere in Utah you can really go to completely avoid the heat of summer or the cold of winter, the southern edge of the state does tend to have a warmer climate than the high mountains in central and northern Utah. The southern city of St. George serves as a retreat for many during the winter months.

Plenty of Churches

It’s true, Utah has lots of churches. As the number one state for finding members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, their church buildings can be found on many street corners. Of course, there are also many churches of other denominations too.

Most of these buildings add beauty to their neighborhoods and some have been long-standing historical icons.

Utah Sports Teams

Without many other professional sports teams to root for, the Utah Jazz have a rabid fan base here in the Beehive State. Home games are played at Vivint Smart Home Arena in downtown Salt Lake City.

Get your gear, buy your tickets and cheer on the Jazz with us!

Utah is also home to Real Salt Lake and The Royals Salt Lake, our mens and womens major league soccer teams. And don’t forget about the Utah Bees minor league baseball team and Grizzlies minor league hockey team.

Utah Slang

Utahns have some local slang you’ll probably hear regularly after spending some time here. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the most popular Utah terms and phrases you probably ought to know:

Fry Sauce

There is some debate on the “correct” way to make fry sauce, but Utahns are passionate about this dipping sauce.

At the most basic level, fry sauce is a combination of mayonnaise and ketchup. After that, different Utah restaurants and kitchen refrigerators add their own little twists on the recipe. Some add things like onion powder, pickle juice, sriracha, mustard, etc.

Make it yourself or order it with fries at most local burger joints.

LDS

“LDS” is an acronym for “Latter-Day Saint”, a nickname for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which make up a large portion of the Utah population. While still a popular abbreviation, LDS is a less-popular nickname for members of this church than “Mormons”.

Holy War

The Holy War is the nickname for the college football rivalry game between the teams from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and Brigham Young University in Provo. Due to religious history between these two cities that face off on the football field, this gridiron battle is referred to as “Holy”.

It’s the biggest college rivalry in the state, so hurry and pick your side!

Dixie

”Dixie” in Utah refers to the region around St. George in southern Utah where early settlers established cotton-growing farms many generations ago. Many of these cotton farmers came from the south and nicknamed it “Dixie”, in reference to the South.

While Utah’s “Dixie” region doesn’t have the same slave history as the original Dixie in the southern states, some have shied away from continuing this local nickname due to the connotations the name has for people outside of Utah.

Dixie State University is a school in St. George, Utah.

Powder

”Powder” is the fine, fresh snow on the mountainside, perfect for skiing or snowboarding. As the state that claims to have the best snow on earth, we get excited about riding the lift and hitting the powder each winter.

Pioneer Day

As a celebration of Utah’s pioneer heritage, July 24th is Pioneer Day. While Pioneer Day is celebrated by some outside of Utah, it is an official state holiday in Utah. Many businesses close for Pioneer Day, and some communities hold local parades or other events to celebrate.

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Areas we serve.

Utah

Bear River, Bothwell, Brigham City, Bullfrog, Caineville, Callao, Cedar Highlands, Centerville, Clearfield, Elwood, Enterprise, Erda, Eskdale, Gandy, Garrison, Gold Hill, Grantsville, Grouse Creek, Ibapah, Kelton, Kolob, Lake Point, Layton, Lehi, Lindon, Lofgreen, Lucin, Lynn, Marble Hill, Mantua, Midvale, Morgan, Mountain Green, Murray, Notom, Orem, Park City, Park Valley, Partoun, Payson, Perry, Petersen, Penrose, Pleasant Grove, Porterville, Providence, Rush Valley, Sandy Ranch, Skull Valley, SLC(Avenues), Snake Valley, Snowville, Stansbury, Stockton, Terra, Thatcher, Ticaboo, Tooele, Tremonton, Trout Creek, Vernon, Wendover, West Point, West Valley City, Woodland Hills

Nevada

Burbank, Deeth, Elko, Goshute, Independence, Marys River, Montello, Moor, Oasis, Pilot Valley, Pleasant Valley, Wells, West Wendover