How to Move with Pets in Los Angeles: Dogs, Cats and Move Day

Moving is hard on pets. Dogs and cats run on territory and routine, and a move takes away both on the same day. This guide covers the LA-specific parts — finding a pet-friendly rental, the heat, the canyons and coyotes, city licensing — and then walks through move day for dogs and for cats separately.

Finding a pet-friendly apartment in LA

• Pet deposit: often $200–$500 per pet and refundable if there's no damage. Since July 2024, California (AB 12) generally caps the total security deposit at one month's rent (two months for some small landlords), and a pet deposit counts toward that cap.
• Pet rent: $25–$100 a month per pet on top of base rent is common.
• Weight and breed limits: very common. Many buildings restrict dogs over 25–35 lbs, and some ban listed breeds regardless of temperament.
• Number limits: most landlords allow one or two pets.

Use the pet filter on Zillow or Zumper, then confirm with the landlord in writing — "pets OK" often turns out to mean "cats only" or "small dogs only."

Best LA neighborhoods for pet owners

• Silver Lake: reservoir walking path and the Silver Lake dog park.
• Los Feliz: direct access to Griffith Park trails.
• Culver City / Mar Vista: walkable streets and good neighborhood parks.
• Long Beach: Rosie's Dog Beach, the only off-leash beach in greater LA.
• Pasadena: more yard space and quieter streets for larger dogs.

The pet moving plan: week before, move day, first night

The week before. Book a vet visit: update vaccinations, get records to hand to your new vet, and ask about anti-anxiety options if your pet stresses easily (for a move out of state, ask about a health certificate too). Put your new address and current phone number on the microchip and ID tag now, not after. Leave boxes and the carrier out so they become furniture, and keep feeding and walk times exactly as they were.

Move day. The safest place for a pet is somewhere else — a friend, a relative, daycare or day boarding. If that isn't possible, use one closed room you'll load last, with water, bedding and a familiar toy, and a sign on the door so the crew leaves it shut. Pets ride in your own car, never in the truck. In LA heat, schedule an early start, keep the AC on and never leave an animal in a parked car, even for a few minutes. In an elevator building, take pets up or down outside the reserved move window so they aren't sharing a lift with dollies.

The first night. Set up one room first with food, water, bed, toys and the litter box, and let them decompress there before they get the run of the home. Expect a night or two of disturbed sleep. Keep dogs on leash for the first few weeks — a disoriented dog is the one that bolts.

Moving with a dog

Dogs read your stress and your routine, and a move scrambles both. Here's how to handle the days before, the move itself and the new place.

Before move day

Keep walks, feeding and play on the normal schedule while you pack around them — predictability keeps a dog calm. Make sure the microchip and ID tag show your current phone number; an open door on a busy day is the most common way dogs slip out. If your dog is anxious, ask your vet about calming options, and give them a long walk that morning so they're tired during the chaos.

Move day

The calmest setup is having your dog out of the house during loading. If they stay, use one closed room away from the carry path with water, a bed and a familiar toy, and tell the crew leader that door stays shut. Drive your dog yourself, with water in the car, and go straight to the new place.

Settling into the new home

Start with one room holding their bed, bowls and toys. Walk the new block on leash so they learn it and find their spots. Keep the same feeding and walk times as the old place for the first couple of weeks, and watch for stress signs (pacing, appetite changes) that usually fade within days.

LA-specific dog admin

In the City of Los Angeles, dogs over four months must be licensed with LA Animal Services and kept current on rabies vaccination — update the license with your new address. Most LA beaches and many parks restrict dogs, so find your nearest dog park and check leash rules before the first walk.

Moving with a cat

Cats hate change, and a move is change at full volume — strangers, boxes, noise and new territory at once. The plan is the same whether you're moving across the neighborhood or across the county.

Before move day

Get the carrier out a week or two ahead and leave it open with a blanket and treats so it stops being scary. Keep feeding and play steady while you pack. Check that the microchip and ID tag show your current phone number — an open door on a chaotic day is the number-one way cats go missing during moves.

The day of the move

Make a bathroom or bedroom the safe room and load it last: food, water, litter and a familiar item inside, door closed, sign on the door. When everything else is on the truck, carry the cat out in the carrier and drive them yourself.

Settling into the new place

Set up one quiet room with the litter box, food and the same blanket, and let your cat widen its range over a few days. Keep them strictly indoors for at least two weeks so they bond to the new territory — and in hillside areas, keep them indoors at dawn and dusk for good, because of coyotes.

How long pets take to adjust

• Dogs: 1–2 weeks. A consistent walk routine helps most.
• Cats: 2–6 weeks. Some hide for days — don't force interaction.
• Small animals, birds and reptiles: temperature stability matters most in transport. Cover cages to reduce visual stress, and move tanks empty with the animal in a separate travel container.

LA pet resources

• LA Animal Services: dog licensing and shelters across the city.
• 24/7 emergency vets: BluePearl and VCA run emergency animal hospitals across LA — save the nearest one to your new address before move day.
• Off-leash dog parks: Silver Lake, Laurel Canyon, Westminster (Venice) and Barrington (Brentwood).
• Coyotes: a real risk for small dogs and outdoor cats in the hillside neighborhoods — Silver Lake, Highland Park, the Palisades and the canyons — especially at dawn and dusk.

How our crew works around pets

Tell us when you book which room holds your pet. We'll load that room last at pickup and unload it first at delivery, keep that door shut, and plan the carry path away from it. Get a free quote or call (213) 679-6844.

Frequently asked questions

Full LA moving cost & FAQ guide →